Diversity, equality, and inclusion are crucial for any organization that wants to succeed in today's society. Essential tools for promoting these values in the workplace are mentorship and sponsorship, which have become increasingly important in today's diverse and competitive job market. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they have distinct differences that are important to understand.
Mentorship
Mentorship is a relationship between a more experienced employee (the mentor) and a less experienced employee (the mentee). The mentor offers guidance, advice, and support to help the mentee grow and develop in their career. This can include sharing knowledge, providing feedback, and introducing the mentee to new opportunities. For the mentee, mentorship can provide valuable guidance and support, as well as access to new opportunities and networks. For the mentor, it can be a chance to give back to the community, develop leadership skills, and gain a fresh perspective on their own career.
Sponsorship
Sponsorship, on the other hand, is a relationship where one person (sponsor) advocates for another person and actively works to champion them and advance their career. This can include recommending the person for new roles, introducing them to key stakeholders, advocating for their promotion and championing them even when they are not in the room. Whilst the sponsor may often be in a more privileged position, they do not necessarily need to be more senior or experienced than the person they are sponsoring. Anybody can sponsor another person within the business or their networks, regardless of seniority.
A few examples could include a white sales manager highlighting a black sales managers excellent work and high billing, a male construction worker advocating for their follow female construction worker even when she is not on site or a business owner promoting for an entrepreneur’s services whilst playing golf with fellow business owners. For the person receiving sponsorship, this can be a life-changing experience, providing them with access to new networks, opportunities, and experiences. For the sponsor, it can be a chance to contribute to the organization's success while also honing leadership skills and building a more diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
While both mentorship and sponsorship involve a more experienced employee helping a less experienced employee, the key difference is that sponsorship does not necessarily need a hierarchical dynamic and involves a more active role in advocating for the individuals career advancement.
How to Be a Mentor
Mentorship is a powerful tool for professional development and can be a fulfilling experience for both the mentor and mentee. However, being a mentor involves more than just offering advice and guidance. It requires a deep understanding of your mentee's needs, goals, and challenges, as well as the ability to provide constructive feedback and support. Here are some practical tips for being a successful mentor:
• Build a relationship: Building a strong relationship with your mentee is key to a successful mentoring relationship. Take the time to get to know your mentee, their goals, and their challenges.
• Listen actively: Active listening is an important skill for any mentor. Make sure you are fully present and engaged when your mentee is speaking and ask questions to clarify their goals and challenges.
• Share your experiences: Your mentee can learn a lot from your experiences, so be open and honest about your own career journey. Share your successes and failures, and offer insights and advice based on what you have learned.
• Provide feedback: Providing feedback is an important part of the mentorship process. Be constructive and specific in your feedback and offer suggestions for improvement.
• Encourage growth and development: The ultimate goal of mentorship is to help your mentee grow and develop in their career. Encourage them to take on new challenges and seek out opportunities for growth.
How to Be a Sponsor
Being somebody’s sponsor involves more than just endorsing people for a promotion. It requires a commitment to their success, as well as the ability to advocate for them and provide them with opportunities to grow and develop. Here are a few tips for being an effective sponsor:
• Build a relationship: Like mentorship, sponsorship is built on a strong relationship between the sponsor and the person they are sponsoring. Take the time to get to know the individual, their goals, and their challenges.
• Advocate for them: Advocacy is a key part of sponsorship. Be proactive in advocating for the individual, whether it's recommending them for new roles or introducing them to key stakeholders.
• Provide opportunities: Sponsors should provide opportunities for the person they are sponsoring to develop their skills and gain experience. This can include offering stretch assignments, introducing them to new networks, and providing access to training and development programs.
• Offer feedback and support: Like mentorship, sponsorship involves providing feedback and support, for growth and career development. Be constructive and specific in your feedback, and offer support and guidance as needed.
• Monitor progress: Sponsors should monitor the progress of the person they are sponsoring and be prepared to adjust their approach as needed. Regular check-ins and feedback sessions can help to ensure that the sponsorship relationship is on track.
Breaking Barriers
Sponsorship also doesn’t have to be a full-time commitment to one person. It’s about recognising and advocating for those who may have been overlooked or have barriers in the way of them reaching their full potential. You can sponsor many of your fellow employees every day with small meaningful actions to uplift them and promote their fantastic work, even if they are not in the room with you.
Mentorship and sponsorship are essential tools for promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion in the workplace. By providing mentorship and sponsorship opportunities to underrepresented groups, organizations can help to break down barriers, develop future leaders, and create a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
About Harper Fox Partners:
Harper Fox Search Partners are a purpose led business, providing leadership talent and executive search solutions for the global energy, engineering, technology manufacturing, transport and utilities sectors. Get in touch today to find out how we can add outstanding value to your business.
