Supporting Your Team Through the Stretch

Dear Uncommon Leaders, 

Hope you all had a nice weekend and if you were in the line of the snowstorm, hope you fared well.

As we head into the last week of this month, be sure to make the most of it. 👊

This Week's Question:

How are you supporting your team through stretch assignments?

This Week's Challenge: 

Last week, we talked about the importance of taking on stretch assignments—those challenging tasks that push us out of our comfort zones and grow our capacity.

But here’s the flip side: as leaders, we also need to be great at supporting others through their stretch assignments.

Stretching without support leads to stress.

Stretching with support leads to strength.

Most people won’t grow simply because we give them harder tasks. They grow because we walk with them—asking good questions, offering feedback, and reminding them why the stretch is worth it.

5 Ways to Support Others Through a Stretch Assignment:

• Set clear expectations. Make sure they understand the goal, timeline, and the why.
• Check in intentionally. Don’t micromanage, but don’t disappear. Ask how it’s going, and listen.
• Be available for coaching. Expect mistakes. Use them to teach. Mistakes are part of the learning and growth process.
• Celebrate progress. Recognize effort, not just outcomes. Stretching takes courage.
• Reflect afterward. Ask what they learned and what they’d do differently next time.

Your challenge this week:

Think of one person on your team who’s in a stretch season right now. How can you come alongside them, support them, and help turn that challenge into a breakthrough?

Growth doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens through intentional leadership.

Let’s go be Uncommon.

This Week's Quote to Ponder:

“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” - Simon Sinek

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Until next week,

LET'S GO BE UNCOMMON!

W. Kevin Harrison

Founder and Executive Coach

Uncommon Influence