What is a development activity that involves placing employees in more demanding jobs than they are used to?

Stretch assignments are development activities designed to challenge employees by placing them in more demanding roles than what they typically handle. This approach encourages individuals to expand their skills, capabilities, and confidence as they confront new responsibilities that push their limits. The idea is to create a learning opportunity through practical experience, allowing employees to work beyond their current comfort zone and develop new competencies that can enhance their performance and growth within the organization.

In contrast, job rotation involves moving employees between different jobs or roles to increase their experience and understanding of various functions within the organization, rather than focusing solely on challenging them in one specific role. Mentorship programs connect employees with more experienced colleagues for guidance and support in career development, but they do not inherently involve job challenges. Shadowing experiences typically involve observing a colleague in their role without active participation, thus not providing the same level of challenge or responsibility as stretch assignments do.