How to find professional Sponsors

Having professional sponsors is crucial for your career advancement.

At recent events that I attended, the essential role sponsors play in our career advancement has been discussed and promoted. My motivation for writing on how to find sponsors increased following the feedback I received after I shared my insights from WIL Conference 2018 in a recent blog post. 
In this post, I will share some valuable information and tips I found during my research on who a sponsor is, benefits of having sponsors and effective ways to find sponsors. This post is very personal as I recently did not get a promotion I deserved and worked hard for because I did not have sponsors that supported me during the process. I am taking the opportunity to act and find my sponsors.
 
Starting point - We women need sponsors to be successful in our careers.
Let's start by looking at some facts:

• Women who have sponsors are more likely to negotiate a pay raise, request getting assigned to a high-visibility team or coveted project, stay employed full time as mothers and feel they are progressing through the ranks at a satisfactory pace (Source: Want The Support Of A Professional Sponsor? Earn It.)
• With a sponsor advising and cheering them on, women are more likely to ask for a pay raise and a stretch assignment. (Source: The Two Secret Weapons Women Need to Succeed)

 
Who is a sponsor?
There are many definitions of sponsors and the roles they play. These are some that resonated with me:

• “A sponsor is someone in a position of power who uses his or her influence to advocate on your behalf.” (Source: Want The Support Of A Professional Sponsor? Earn It.
• “Sponsors are people in positions of power who work on their protégé’s behalf to clear obstacles, foster connections, assign higher-profile work to ease the move up the ranks, and provide air-cover and support in case of stumbles.” (Source: Big Idea 2014: Find a Sponsor Who Believes In Your Potential)
• “A sponsor is someone who uses chips on his or her protégé’s behalf and advocates for his or her next promotion as well as doing at least two of the following: expanding the perception of what the protégé can do; making connections to senior leaders; promoting his or her visibility; opening up career opportunities; offering advice on appearance and executive presence; making connections outside the company; and giving advice” (source: The Real Benefit of Finding a Sponsor)
  

 
What is the difference between a mentor and a sponsor?
Sponsors and mentors are a very crucial part of our professional journey. It is key to understand that they serve different purposes. The following points outline some differences between mentors and sponsors:

• Mentors advise; sponsors act.
• Mentors proffer friendly advice. Sponsors pull you up to the next level.
• Whereas mentorship is about building relationships, sponsorship can be a true game-changer
• Mentors help individuals get better, while sponsors help individuals get ahead.

 
How can sponsors support you?
Here are some ways sponsors can provide value and support you on your professional journey.
Increase your advancement opportunities
Advancement and progress in our careers keeps us motivated and happy. Good sponsors help you advance by speaking out for you when it matters the most. During my research, I found some statistics that support the point that women with sponsors are more likely to advance in their careers: (Source: Don’t Just Mentor Her, Sponsor Her).

• "CTI found that professionals in the US who have sponsors are more likely than those who lack them to be satisfied with their rates of advancement, be ambitious, stay at their companies longer, and ask for pay raises. Seventy percent of men and 68 percent of women say they are satisfied with their rate of advancement, versus 57 percent of men and women who do not have sponsors. 
• "…and it becomes even more dramatic when it comes to the careers of employees of color, who are 65 percent more likely than their unsponsored peers to say they are satisfied with their rates of advancement.

 
Assists you in navigating the complexity of your organization and industry
Our professional journey is very complex. Imagine how much further you can go if you have someone within your company that helps you navigate complexity. Especially as women of color, we should get all the support we need. Research from the Center for Talent Innovation shows that the vast majority of women (85 percent) and multicultural professionals (81 percent) need navigational help. (Source: Big Idea 2014: Find a Sponsor Who Believes In Your Potential). Get all the support you can get on your journey.
 
What do I need to do to find effective sponsors?
As with everything we desire, we need to act to get the outcomes we want. The tips below serve as a starting point to get you started on your journey.
 
Prepare yourself
To make yourself desirable for a sponsor there are some things you can start learning to do and practicing. It is essential for you to know what you bring to the table.

• Know your skills.
• Note the ways you add value.
• Acquire additional skills that set you apart.
• Actively step out and be an active contributor to the team.
• Talk about your achievements.
• Be clear on how your sponsor can support you.

 
Search for sponsors
When search for a sponsor it is essential for them to be a fit and can support you in the ways you need them to. There are many ways to begin your search for sponsors as outlined below:

• Look in your current network- You might already have a sponsor in your court and not even know. Seek out someone with real power to change your career.
• Reach out to some trusted leaders directly - get visibility and ask.
• Ask a mentor you have if they want to move away from an advisory role and be sponsors.
• Ask mentors and your manager if they have a recommendation.

Build your relationship with your sponsors
Building your relationship with your sponsors is essential. You would want to meet with your sponsors regularly. I would recommend at least every quarter. As with every relationship find the right frequency that works best for you and your sponsors.
 
Offer your sponsors something
Sponsors will need to invest some time with you, make it valuable for them. Think of ways you can give back to your sponsor for example:

• Make them look good by speaking on their behalf
• Share insights from the team that they might not be able to see

 
Final Thoughts

• Sylvia Ann Hewlett is a thought leader on the topic of Sponsors and author of many articles I referenced in this post. Follow her on Twitter (@SAHewlett‏) and LinkedIn to see her recent publications.
• Do you have a sponsor? If no, what are you going to do within the next six months?
• I am committed to finding a sponsor within the next six months - I will share my journey as I go through it.
• As we go through this journey, it is essential to share our experiences with one another and encourage one another through the journey.
• Give back: we can be sponsors for other women. Look out for my post on "How to be a sponsor."

Great resources
For your self-study, I am sharing links to all the articles referenced in this post:

• https://hbr.org/2013/09/the-right-way-to-find-a-career-sponsor
• Want The Support Of A Professional Sponsor? Earn It
• The Two Secret Weapons Women Need to Succeed
• The Right Way to Find a Career Sponsor
• Big Idea 2014: Find a Sponsor Who Believes In Your Potential
• The Real Benefit of Finding a Sponsor
• Don’t Just Mentor Her, Sponsor Her
• Deconstructing Executive Presence
• Assessment:  Are You Ready for a Sponsor?