Almost everybody has heard about the benefits of having a work mentor, such as offering advice and support, and helping with goal-setting and skills refinement. Often the focus is on a mentor for development, that seeking a work sponsor is lost.
You should have both a work mentor and a sponsor, and they should serve different purposes.
Work Mentor
A mentor is somebody who works with someone who is usually more junior. There is often more of a formal relationship and structure in a mentorship; it might be part of an organized program, or sought out by the mentee.
The mentor is a resource to answer questions, model workplace behavior, help the mentee with goal-setting and achievement, and help the mentee navigate the company, job and career overall.
Anyone who wants to put the time and effort in can be a mentor. That said, it is beneficial to have someone who can bring a value or perspective to help the mentee grow (for example, is in a role the mentee would like or has the same role in a different part of the business).
Work Sponsor
A sponsor or champion is very often initiated by the sponsor themselves, without the recipient even knowing.
They often see potential in more junior employees that they want to develop or help the junior employee get opportunities to rise to a more senior leadership level. The sponsor or champion also acts as a cheerleader, speaking highly of the recipient on their behalf. It’s getting the good news out there without the bragging, or getting credibility from an outside voice.
Managers are often a logical choice for a sponsor, since they know you and your capabilities well, and can give you stretch opportunities or ways to use your talents to grow and develop.
Why Not Both?
It’s best to have or be both. A mentor can give you advice and feedback, teaching you. A sponsor helps you grow into a larger role in a strategic manner. I have been both a mentor and sponsor to coworkers, and it’s rewarding to be on both sides.
I enjoy reading about and listening to work and leadership information. Adam Grant, quoted below, and Harvard Business Review are some of my favorite authorities on work life. Adam succinctly explains why sponsors and mentors are important, and the HBR podcast tells the benefits of being a sponsor.
Are you ready to grow or help others? Start a mentorship or sponsorship relationship today. I find it very rewarding, personally.
