Strength, Stretch, Struggle
In every professional role, we each bring a unique combination of natural talents and areas that require more intentional effort. The Lead-Develop-Care framework offers a powerful lens through which we can understand our own professional tendencies and growth opportunities.
The Three Dimensions of Professional Responsibility
When we examine our professional responsibilities through the Strength-Stretch-Struggle framework, we gain valuable insights about where our energy naturally flows and where we might need to apply more conscious effort. Let's explore each dimension in depth:
Your Strength: Natural Excellence
Your strength represents the primary responsibility that comes most naturally to you. This is where you shine without considerable effort—the area where your inherent talents, preferences, and past experiences converge to create exceptional performance.
Think of your strength as the professional equivalent of running downhill. You move with ease, confidence, and joy. This doesn't mean you never face challenges in this area, but rather that you approach these challenges with enthusiasm and a natural aptitude for overcoming them.
When operating in your strength, you likely experience a state of flow—that wonderful feeling of being fully immersed and energized by your work. Time passes differently, and you find yourself thinking, "I can't believe I get paid to do this!"
Your Stretch: Potential for Growth
Your stretch represents the primary responsibility that doesn't come quite as naturally as your strength, but where you can still be highly effective with some intentional focus. This is your growth zone—the area where development happens most productively.
The stretch domain requires more conscious effort and energy than your strength, but the investment yields significant returns. With practice and attention, you can develop considerable skill in this area, even though it may never feel as effortless as your strength.
Consider your stretch as the professional equivalent of running on flat ground. It requires more energy than running downhill, but it's sustainable and becomes easier with conditioning. The key to mastering your stretch is consistent practice and deliberate skill-building.
Your Struggle: The Challenge Zone
Your struggle represents the primary responsibility that requires significant intentional effort. This is where you must be most deliberate and structured in your approach to achieve effectiveness.
Working in your struggle area often feels like running uphill—it takes considerable energy and determination. Without systems and support, you might find yourself avoiding these responsibilities or completing them with less satisfaction and success.
The struggle zone doesn't indicate inability—rather, it highlights where you need to implement more robust systems, seek additional support, or develop specific strategies to compensate for what doesn't come naturally.
Applying the Framework in Your Professional Life
Understanding your unique Strength-Stretch-Struggle profile creates powerful opportunities for personal and professional development:
Self-awareness leads to strategic choices. When you recognize your natural patterns, you can make more informed decisions about role selection, team contributions, and areas for development.
Team complementarity becomes possible. A team composed of members with diverse Strength-Stretch-Struggle profiles creates natural balance, where each person's strength compensates for another's struggle.
Targeted development becomes more effective. Rather than trying to improve in all areas simultaneously, you can focus your development efforts on your stretch area for maximum return on investment.
Struggles become manageable with the right approach. By acknowledging your struggle areas, you can develop compensatory strategies, systems, and supports rather than being frustrated by perceived shortcomings.
Embracing Your Complete Professional Profile
The most fulfilled professionals aren't necessarily those with the most strengths, but rather those who understand and embrace their complete Strength-Stretch-Struggle profile. They leverage their strengths, develop their stretches, and create effective systems for their struggles.
Remember that this framework isn't static—as you grow and develop, your profile may shift. What was once a stretch might become a strength, and new challenges may emerge as your professional journey evolves.
By approaching your professional development through this nuanced lens, you create opportunities for more authentic contributions, targeted growth, and ultimately, greater satisfaction in your work.
What does your Strength-Stretch-Struggle profile reveal about your professional journey? How might you leverage this understanding to create new opportunities for growth and contribution?
For a full treatment of this topic see: Lead Develop Care by Terry Cook