Learn the Difference Between a Sponsor and a Mentor & the Significance of Both for Your Career
Do you have “Sponsors” or “Mentors” in your professional life? An even better question: do you know the difference between the two, and understand the impact these very disparate roles can have on your career development and progression? Not comprehending the distinction between the two can derail your career in more ways than one.
To avoid bumps on the road in your career progression, it’s important to understand how to appropriately leverage these key people in your career life when determining your next career move. Let’s shed some light on these two very distinct roles, so you can remain in control of your career:
Mentor
What role does this individual serve in your career life? Simply put, a Mentor helps you become a more productive and effective leader. This person could be a peer, depending on their background and experience level, or someone in a higher or lower position than you. This individual helps you navigate through the day-to-day business politics and activities, to advance and broaden your skills in the areas of people, projects and communication. In essence, this person is your personal “sounding-board” and is someone whom you can call on to obtain advice, ultimately helping you to mature in your leadership abilities.
Sponsor
What role does this individual serve in your career life? To be frank, this individual is your “career angel.” This person is of C-Suite status, has “a seat at the table,” and has major influence on the organization’s profit- and people-based decisions. This person also has access and numerous internal and external industry-wide contacts and resources.
This individual also provides strategic career advice meant to position you to achieve your career goals more swiftly, utilizing their personal influence, contacts and resources. Simply put, this person works “behind the scenes” and can essentially make (or break) your career without you even knowing it right away — hence the name “career angel.”
What’s the Difference Between a Mentor and a Sponsor?
A Mentor helps you navigate through your organization and/or career, and a Sponsor navigates you through your organization and/or career.
Although they are very different roles, business professionals striving for upper mobility need both Mentors and Sponsors in their career life. They keep you balanced and sharp as you go through the various phases of your career. They can also keep you honest about your abilities and push you to achieve greatness, even when you don’t think you can. It’s like having your own personal board of directors!
To break it down a bit further, a Sponsor has true clout and influence to make powerhouse decisions that can immediately elevate, escalate or reposition your career path, whether it’s convincing senior leadership to assign a high-priority project that results in greater exposure for you, or recommending a promotion that instantly catapults your career to the next level. An example of this in action would be if Oprah Winfrey referenced you or your service on social media, and then instantly you are an overnight success. This is an extreme example — but you get the point!
So, that leaves the Mentor role, which is powerful in its own right. What the Mentor may not hold in influence, he or she holds “in access” for long-term career development. This ongoing guidance and access helps to develop you into a strong leader, by shaping your leadership style so it is attractive and marketable, not only inside but also outside the organization.
Do You Have a Mentor and Sponsor?
Take a few moments and reflect on your career life. Think about all the people in whom you confide, whom you trust, and from whom you seek guidance on a periodic basis. Is there someone who you now realize fits either of these descriptions, but you weren’t aware of it yet?
Or maybe, there is someone who you thought was a Mentor, but they are actually a Sponsor, or vice versa? As you take personal inventory of “your team,” consider adding and/or removing individuals. This may be necessary if you have changed career paths and need to re-align with different individuals to achieve career success.
If you discover that you do not have a Mentor or Sponsor, it’s never too late. To start considering people to add to “your team,” start observing individuals who are in the position you are trying to secure; are demonstrating leadership qualities that you desire to enhance; or are exercising a performance-based skill that you desire to enrich. These are just a few characteristics to consider when selecting individuals who could add value to your career life.
Are You Appropriately Leveraging Your Mentor and Sponsor?
By understanding the uniqueness of each role, and its individual purpose, you can strategically direct the right “ask” or advice to the right individual, for faster career success. For instance, you don’t want to spend time discussing a Sponsor-appropriate question with a Mentor who does not have the authority or influence to impact the overall outcome. Or asking your Sponsor a project-based question that is best directed to your Mentor. This doesn’t mean you can’t ask these types of questions to these individuals; however, it just means to have purpose when asking them to gain the best value out of your time and theirs.
To sum it all up, without Mentors and Sponsors, many business professionals find themselves lost and wondering why others around them are excelling and achieving their career goals. While a great work performance gets you noticed, it’s only 50% of the formula for success. The other 50% is the professional guidance and advocacy done on your behalf by your Mentor and Sponsor along the way. This completes the formula for purposeful, steady career growth and success, as defined by you!