Sponsorship – a two-way street
Sponsorship is a professional relationship in which an established or rising leader identifies an outstanding junior talent and develops that person’s career and reaps significant benefits for these efforts. Sponsorship is a two-way street. The sponsor invests belief and willingness to take a risk, advocacy, and cover. A protégé will deliver performance, loyalty, and added value. Unlike a mentorship relationship, a sponsorship relationship places both the sponsor and the protégé in the position of actively and publicly working for each other’s success, this mutual commitment and effort lead to a boost for both parties. Sponsors will be taking a bet that their own careers can benefit if they invest in a promising individual’s talent, skillset, and trustworthiness.
Read more about the sponsorship relationship in the Sponsor Effect: how to be a better leader by investing in Others’ Sylvia Ann Hewlett
