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You know that bit in a gangster film when a ‘made guy’ ‘vouches’ for a new crew member? They become a ‘good fella’ which means they’re trustworthy. But if the wise guy’s wrong, well, watch Donnie Brasco. [1] The world of business may be less cut-throat than GoodFellas. [2] But getting vouched for – or sponsored – can help you get that pay raise or promotion. Here’s how.
Sponsors Vs. Mentors
They may be the two most important people in your career, so it’s important not to mix them up. Mentors and sponsors both help you grow professionally and personally. But they work in different ways. A mentor is someone you seek out, meet regularly and build a rapport with. Together, you share experiences, bounce around ideas and overcome work challenges. As Heather Foust-Cummings, vice president with Catalyst Research Center for Equity in Business Leadership, says, “A mentor will talk with you, but a sponsor will talk about you.” [3] While catching up with a mentor can help you build on the skills and character traits needed for career progression; it’s a sponsor who opens the door. Author Sylvia Ann Hewlett agrees in her book Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor: The New Way to Fast-Track Your Career. She says, “A mentor gives you friendly advice… A sponsor is senior in your organization or world and has the power to get you that next job.” [4]
The Benefits of Being Sponsored
If you have a mentor, you may meet for coffee regularly. But as Louise Pentland, senior vice president at PayPal, says, “You won’t always know who your sponsors are, but they are people who will advocate for you in the workplace when you need to be more visible.” [5] They may work in the shadows, but the success rates of sponsorship are clear to see. The Center for Talent Innovation (CTI) is a think-tank that tracks the ‘sponsor effect’. It found that 70% of men and 68% of women with sponsors are satisfied with their rate of career progression. That’s a jump of 23% for men and 19% for women without sponsors. [6] What’s more, the research found those with a sponsor are 30% more likely to ask for, negotiate and secure an assignment, promotion or pay raise. [7]
Who Are Sponsors?
So, who are these people who can impact your career for good? For Hewlett, sponsors:
- believe in your potential and are prepared to bet on you
- have political clout and are willing to be your champion
- support you to take the risks required to succeed [8]
How to Get a Sponsor’s Attention
It seems that sponsors are the agents in this relationship. But there are ways you can catch their eye.
- PR yourself – doing your job well is just the start. Share the numbers you hit by email, update met deadlines on social media and praise your team’s work next company meeting. Do that, and you’ll also make it easier for sponsors to point to your past successes when vouching for you.
- Go above and beyond – joining a special project, committee or task force will show your enthusiasm, quality of work and potential. Better yet, is the project run by a sponsor with a track record in vouching for people? [9]
- Show you’re trustworthy – research shows managers value loyalty as the no. 1 character trait in a protégé. [10] So, when you agree with their viewpoints, back them in public when the situatiuon comes up naturally. [11]
- Find your USP – Identify and develop a unique skill that sets you apart from your peers. Take it further and find something your sponsor lacks – from emotional intelligence to coding – and fill that gap. [12]
How to Be a Protégé
In a study of sponsors and protégés, views vary on their respective roles and responsibilities. For Anthony Carter, chief diversity officer for Johnson & Johnson, “all that sponsors really demand of their sponsees is honesty, passion, and a willingness to grow and learn." [13] But Carolyn Buck Luce, global life sciences sector leader at Ernst & Young disagrees. She says, “This is not a love relationship… When I ask people for favors or I know they have gone to bat for me, I always ask if there’s anything I can do for them in return.” [14] For Annmarie Neal, chief talent officer at Cisco, sponsoring is bigger than quid pro quo. “I give to the ecosystem, not the individual,” she says. “I may not get the chance to give back to my sponsors, but I take very seriously my debt to the next generation. I don’t expect anything from them. It’s just the right thing to do.” [15] Remember, this isn’t Donnie Brasco and you don’t have to whack your sponsor’s competitor to show your worth. Chances are, the skills, attitude and character which got you sponsored in the first place are a true guide to being a good protégé.
References[7] Ibid.
[14] Ibid.
[15] Ibid.
