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HBR – Sponsorship, or the tactical moves a leader makes on behalf of junior talent, is essential for advancement to senior leadership. This can be due to leaders being busy, not prioritizing sponsorship, or being drawn to sponsorees who are similar to them. To resolve this, many companies invest in “synthetic” sponsorship programs that formally assign sponsors to sponsorees. However, once the match is made, the parties need to build the relationship on their own. 4 strategies to help sponsorees maintain momentum in synthetic sponsorship matches:
Integrate Mentoring, Coaching, and Sponsorship: During the first, getting to know each other and establishing psychological safety before discussing career development issues.
Don’t Assume the Worst: Sponsorees should not worry about too much wasting sponsors’ time. Trust that taking meetings seriously and preparing accordingly benefits both sponsorees and the sponsors.
Utilize “Weak Contact”: Keep in touch with the sponsors by regularly sharing articles or podcasts, commenting on social posts, and sending holiday greetings. However, this should not replace substantive face-to-face interactions.
Find Shared Experiences: Engage in activities or meetings together to build mutual trust and understanding, helping alleviate the pressure to focus solely on the sponsorees’ development.
By Rachel Simmons | JUL 15, 2024
Read the original article at HBR
