A PERSONAL SPONSOR
COULD BE THE KEY TO YOUR
CAREER GROWTH
An active supporter from within your business or industry – as opposed to a mentor – can
greatly enhance your career prospects and success, writes business leader Janine Garner.
T he uncertain future and ever
changing work landscape that we
are all now experiencing require
us to step up and become the
better someone that tomorrow needs. To
meet this challenge we need to embrace
curiosity, develop the skills to connect the
dots between data, skills and people, be
decisive despite not always having all the
answers and, ultimately, inspire others to
create a new future. Finding your own
personal sponsor – the CEO of your own
personal cheer squad and support crew – is
critical to helping you navigate your success.
This person will promote you whenever they
can, sponsor your growth, create
opportunities for you to shine and push you
to do more because they believe in you.
Sponsorship is key to your success in these
constantly changing times.
The role of mentor
While mentors can counsel an individual,
offering guidance and advice based on
their own experience, it is more of a softly,
softly approach; catching up for chats and
being a willing sounding board for thoughts
and ideas. Mentoring is more about giving
advice and listening to concerns than saying
‘yes, I will help you gain X’.
The role of sponsor
Active sponsorship, on the other hand,
is far more targeted and powerful. A large
obligation, it involves the intentional support
of someone who takes action, collaborates
and shares what and who they know to
proactively improve the way in which
you operate. The results for those being
sponsored are often far greater than for
those who are mentored. The renowned
economist and business consultant Sylvia
Ann Hewlett summed this up perfectly when
she said, ‘Mentors advise, sponsors act’.
Usually sponsorship is from someone
senior within the company that directs
opportunities to a junior employee they
believe shows strong potential. Sponsorship
requires a significant commitment, as the
sponsor essentially is willing to invest in your
career growth by using their own social and
political capital for your benefit.
In the 2018 TED Talk ‘How to find the
person who can help you get ahead at
work’, Carla Harris, vice chair and managing
director at Morgan Stanley said, ‘You are
not going to ascend in any organisation
without a sponsor.’
Sponsors:
• take action
• open doors
• make invaluable introductions
• give business/career leads
• are in it for the long haul
• help pave the path to success
• help others to achieve their visions, goals
and personal and business success
dreams
• build connections that influence activity
and decision-making.
Think of a sponsor as your own personal
champion. They are with you, by your side,
through thick or thin, never giving up on you,
always dreaming big with you. Sponsors
pull you towards your future dreams, make
a noise about potential opportunities, spend
time with you to explore how you’re going
to achieve your goals, and inspire you to
become more.
But don’t just take my word for it.
According to research from the Centre for
Talent Innovation (a Manhattan-based think
tank), people with sponsors are 23% more
likely to move up in their career than those
without them. In addition, a 2011 study from
the Centre for Work Life Policy published
by the Harvard Business Review found that
active promotion of others can result in a
30% increase in promotions, pay rises and
projects for the person being sponsored.
Success is a complex process, but someone
who has been there and done that can explain
exactly how it is, what to do and how to navigate
the journey – from their learned experience. A
sponsor can become instrumental in helping
build your confidence and supporting the
pursuit of your passion. They will help catapult
your career, unleash your brilliance so that you
are able to surpass your dreams and become
what you want to become.
Janine Garner
Janine is a global thought
leader on powerful
networking, collaboration and
transformational leadership.
A sought-after keynote
speaker, educator and best-selling author, she
works with high-profile global leaders, and helps
many of Australia’s top 50 ASX companies and
multinationals. Janine's book Be Brilliant – how to
lead a life of influence (Wiley) is available now.
NETWORK SPRING 2020 | 15