Find a Sponsor, Not a Mentor

Have you ever had a senior leader or a seasoned colleague take you under their wing, open doors for you and personally advocate for your success?  If so, you’ve experienced a sponsor relationship, which is mentoring on steroids!

Women Take Notice

Over the years I have met many women who claim to have mentors, who’ve invested in developing and supporting them, and as a result, they were well nurtured but under promoted and under paid.   They felt supported which is a wonderful thing, but when you looked at their career trajectory, they were flat lined.

On the other hand, I have met lots of men who talk about professional relationships they have with leaders and influencers who actively open doors for them and pave the way for their careers to take off.  These are sponsored relationships.   Most successful men have gotten to where they are because they’ve found sponsors who’ve allowed them to “draft” off of their network contacts at a vital point in their career.

According to Maureen Berkner Boyt, of Moxie Exchange women have the same access to sponsors as men do.  The difference is men ask for it.   Women tend to settle for the less active mentor “let’s meet for coffee and support each other” relationship.  These relationships are very important as well but aren’t going to do for you what a sponsored relationship can.

Julie from Michigan

Five months ago, I became an independent stylist for a new fast growing international social selling jewelry and accessories company called Stella & Dot. Because the initial investment required to become a rep is so small and I loved their product, I saw it as a win-win.  Immediately I began a sponsor relationship with Julie, a senior director from Michigan, whom I reached out to who was a neighbor of my best friend.

In my first conversation with Julie I told her about my goals and how I wanted this opportunity to support my speaking and training business.  Immediately, she offered to connect me with the Stella & Dot Director of Training who might be interested in hiring me to speak at their national meeting.  Julie went out of her way to open doors for me and committed to weekly sponsorship calls where she focused on my goals and what I wanted to do with this business potential.

Stella & Dot is one of the fastest growing social selling companies and I believe it’s because of the sponsorship culture they’ve created for women.  The relationship I have developed with Julie over the past five months has been incredible.  She has advocated for me, been a resource when I needed her and gone out of her way to connect me to the leaders of the company.  Her investment in my success motivated me to move beyond brand ambassador and I now have a whole new revenue stream and some fabulous jewelry!

Seven Ways to Finding your new Sponsor

Here are seven action steps you can take to help you discover potential sponsor relationships;

1. Show up. Actively seek opportunities where you will be exposed to senior leaders and influencers in your organization.  Volunteer to serve on employee committees, project teams or community outreach efforts.
2. Be a Resource. Actively look for opportunities to be a resource to an influencer and create some social economy by giving expecting nothing in return.  Do some reconnaissance work and find out what their interests, hobbies and passions are.  Find out what needs they may have (personal or professional) that you might be able to help with.
3. ASK. When you have developed a relationship with an influencer, ask them if they would be willing to sponsor you in your job/career.  Be clear on how they can help you and what your goals are.
4. Follow through. Take all recommendations your sponsor offers like recommended books, websites and blogs seriously and if they suggest you attend an association or meeting, go! Nothing is more pleasing to a teacher than an enthusiastic student.
5. Show the Love. Take time to send a quick card/note/letter when someone has made an important connection for you.  Network users do not get sponsored!
6. Join a Professional Association. Look for one that encourages sponsorship relationships and seek opportunities where you can volunteer your time & talents which will expose you to influencers.
7. Pay it Forward. Once you have experienced a sponsorship relationship, make sure you pay if forward and be on the lookout for someone you can sponsor.  What goes around comes around. It will also help you build networth with your network.

I can’t think of a better way to fast track your career and grow your access and influence with your network, than developing and nurturing a sponsorship relationship.  If you’ve been waiting for an invitation, consider this your invite!