Today’s topic is Best Practices for Being a Good Sponsor (and How is that Different from Being a Mentor?). A sponsor plays a critical role in advocating for and actively promoting the career advancement of their protégés within an organization. Unlike mentors, coaches, or advisors, sponsors leverage their influence and networks to create opportunities and visibility for their protégés. While Sponsors can also be Mentors (and vice versa) it is not necessarily so, and Sponsor do have a unique role and set of behaviors and skill sets.
Quick Reads
Why sponsorship in medicine matters Jain, 2020
What’s the Difference Between a Mentor and a Sponsor? Harvard Business Review
Mentors and Sponsors Make the Difference by Gallup
Why You Need Sponsors (Not Just Mentors) by The Muse
A Guide to Mentors, Coaches, and Sponsors by Harvard Business Review
Mentorship vs Coaching vs Sponsorship—Finally Explained by Mentorship Moment
Videos/Ted Talks
How to Find the Person Who Can Help you Get Ahead at Work
Career Mentor vs Sponsor: Why You Need Both
Inspiration
Best practices for being an effective sponsor:
1. Understand the Role of a Sponsor
- Advocacy: Actively advocate for your protégé’s career advancement within the organization.
- Visibility: Use your position and influence to increase your protégé’s visibility to key stakeholders.
- Opportunities: Create and provide access to career-enhancing opportunities, such as high-profile projects, roles, and networking events.
2. Select the Right Protégé
- Potential and Ambition: Choose a protégé with demonstrated potential and ambition for career growth.
- Alignment: Ensure your goals and values align with those of your protégé to foster a productive relationship.
- Commitment: Look for a protégé who is committed to their own development and willing to take on challenges.
3. Build Trust and a Strong Relationship
- Open Communication: Establish open and honest communication to understand your protégé’s career aspirations, strengths, and areas for development.
- Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality to build trust and encourage open sharing.
4. Actively Advocate and Promote
- Endorsement: Endorse your protégé’s skills and achievements to senior leaders and decision-makers.
- Opportunities for Visibility: Nominate your protégé for high-visibility assignments, committees, and leadership roles.
- Networking: Introduce your protégé to influential contacts within and outside the organization.
6. Monitor Progress and Adjust Support
- Adjust Advocacy: Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of your advocacy efforts and adapt your approach to meet changing circumstances.
7. Foster Independence and Self-Advocacy
- Empowerment: Empower your protégé to take ownership of their career development and encourage them to advocate for themselves.
- Skills Development: Help your protégé develop the skills needed to navigate their career independently, such as networking, negotiation, and leadership.
8. Be a Role Model
- Lead by Example: Demonstrate the behaviors and attitudes you want your protégé to emulate, such as integrity, professionalism, and resilience.
- Continuous Learning: Show a commitment to your own development and continuous learning to inspire your protégé.
By following these best practices, sponsors can effectively support and accelerate their protégés’ career growth, ultimately contributing to the development of future leaders within the organization.
Deeper Dives
Books
Inclusive Sponsorship: A Bold Vision to Advance Women of Color in the Workplace Tynan, 2022
The Sponsor Effect: How to Be a Better Leader by Investing In Others (BOOK: Hewlett, 2019)
Journal Articles
The role of sponsorship in achieving workforce diversity in academic pediatrics Raphael, 2019
Sponsorship and gender in academic medicine: A qualitative study (Levine et al, 2021)
Sponsorship: A path to the academic medicine C-suite for women faculty? (Travis et al, 2013)
Feel free to forward to others in your network and bring these topics to your next coaching session for deeper discussion and reflection. If you have a topic request, feedback, or would like to unsubscribe please email wendy@wardcc.org.