Читать книгу Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor - Sylvia Ann Hewlett - Страница 9

The Sponsor Imperative

Who’s pulling for you? Who’s got your back? Who’s putting your hat in the ring?

Odds are, this person is not a mentor but a sponsor.

Now don’t get me wrong: mentors matter. You absolutely need them—they give valuable advice, build self-esteem, and provide an indispensable sounding board when you’re unsure about next steps. But they are not your ticket to the top.

If you’re interested in fast-tracking your career, in getting that next hot assignment or making more money, what you need is a sponsor. Sponsors give advice and guidance, but they also come through on much more important fronts. In particular they:

 Believe in your value and your potential and are prepared to link reputations and go out on a limb on your behalf.

 Have a voice at decision-making tables and are willing to be your champion—convincing others that you deserve a pay raise or a promotion.

 Are willing to give you air cover so that you can take risks. No one can accomplish great things in this world if they don’t have a senior leader in their corner making it safe to fail.

It is this kind of heavy lifting that distinguishes a sponsor from a mentor. The data that underpins this book shows that sponsorship has a measurable impact on career progression. Men and women with sponsors are much more likely to rise up through the ranks and hang on to their ambition. Sponsors—unlike mentors—give you serious traction.