Role Model, Mentor, Sponsor. What’s the difference?
"Love takes off the masks we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within." – James Baldwin
Finding Champions at Work
I love talking about sponsorship. As DEI initiatives continue to face pushback, companies keep looking for more ways to deliver successful results. I will say this a million times over - structured sponsorship opportunities lead to real results, when they are done well. Meaning we have aligned on expectations, we have set out goals, we have accountability, and we choose the right sponsors.
But how do you choose the right sponsors? Let's take it from three perspectives the next few weeks: the person being sponsored, the protégé, the person doing the sponsoring, the sponsor, and the company in which they both work.
Start from the perspective of the protégé. How do they know who the right sponsor for them should be? Let's talk role models, mentors, and sponsors.
Meet Amaya.
Amaya is a mid-level employee in a large corporation. And she's ready to move up to the next level. To get there, Amaya picked three people she thinks could help her - Grace, Jake, and Dave. Let's meet them.
Grace is a Role Model, Not a Sponsor.
First up, Grace. Grace is a high-level leader. And Amaya looks up to her. She’s impressed by Grace and what she does. They're two of the few women of color at the company. She’s stopped by Grace's office to talk, but Grace is never there. Because Grace is busy. She travels constantly. And, if Amaya's being honest, what Grace does isn't really what Amaya wants to do.
What about Grace? She likes Amaya and supports Amaya, but Grace doesn't necessarily have the time or ability to invest in Amaya, even though she may want to. See, there are a lot of Amayas who come through these doors. They all want her to mentor them. They all want her to help them. Not only is she exhausted from the emotional labor, she also has to keep hustling herself. And there are so many of them and only one of her, especially women of color. It's a demand we place on women leaders over and over again.
While Grace can be a mentor or a sponsor, right now, what Grace can best be for Amaya is a role model. Role models are crucial in the workplace. When you visualize who you want to be in the workplace, the role model is the one you look up to to see if there is space for you to be there. Amaya can admire Grace, and Grace can and should support Amaya when the opportunities arise, but Amaya will need to cast her net wider than Grace to find the success she needs.
Jake is a Mentor, Not a Sponsor.
Next up is Jake. Jake's a few years ahead of Amaya, working up the ladder himself. He and Amaya work well together. He’s been in her shoes so he gives her advice on what to do, where to go, what senior leaders to work with, provides useful feedback on her work, introduces her to the right people.
Jake has all the qualities of a great mentor. Mentors give because they like you. You remind them of them or they want to see you succeed. They advise you, where you go, what you need to do. They will teach you the unwritten rules of your workplace. They will help you connect to the workplace, to bring you in, to make you feel less isolated.
But they’re missing two things. First, they’re not invested in you. If you falter, they'll give you advice on how to pick yourself up. But mentors have no skin in the game. Your failure, while disappointing, doesn't reflect badly on them. And second, mentors don't need to have clout. Because clout matters in a sponsoring relationship. Mentors, on the other hand, are solely focused on your professional development. Their goal is to get you to that point where you are going to be sponsored. That’s where a sponsor comes in.
Dave is a Sponsor. I Repeat, Dave is a Sponsor.
This is Dave. Dave is a senior executive. Dave understands the challenges with building an inclusive workforce. Dave is willing to do that hard work, to step outside his comfort zone, and make the changes that he knows need to happen.
Dave is a sponsor. Why?
First, Dave has clout. He has a powerful voice at the table. And what he will do as a sponsor is use that voice to champion Amaya and convince others that she deserves to get those stretch assignments, to meet those high-profile clients, and to be in the space her performance has shown she should be in.
Second, Dave believes in Amaya. He believes in what she can achieve. Because he believes in her, he can push back on any impostor syndrome she has and speak out to support her. And if and when she stumbles, she knows that Dave will have her back.
Third, Dave invests in Amaya. Not because he’s a philanthropist, but because he expects return. Dave wants to know what Amaya can give him for his own professional goals. What new skills is she bringing to the table that Dave doesn't have? Maybe Amaya has insight into a new product line that Dave doesn't understand. Maybe Amaya knows about a certain customer base that Dave does not. Maybe Amaya has a skill that Dave never acquired. Maybe Dave is seeking to increase his reputational capital in the company or expand his internal network of support. Whatever it is, both Dave and Amaya have to identify it and work toward delivering it.
So, look up to a role model. Get a mentor. And find a sponsor to champion you. Make sure you find someone invested in your success. That's how we enter the spaces we know we belong and can thrive.
Do the work
This week, I commit to evaluating my professional goals and determining the best people in my organization who can help champion my career and goals.
Spread the word
If you want to keep going
What Sponsors and Proteges Need For Successful Relationships
Are you ready to deep dive into allyship at work? Then let's talk sponsorship. Sponsors, far more than mentors, play crucial roles in giving high profile work, promotions, and a seat at the decision table. But how do you get a sponsor? What tasks should sponsors complete? How can they help top performers stay and succeed? How can junior colleagues ensure continued interest and investment in their careers? I will share how to find a sponsor, how to be a sponsor, and how we can continue building our inclusive organization.
