Negotiation Allies
When it comes to navigating your career, it is wise to seek advice and input from various stakeholders. One professional ally who can prove invaluable is a sponsor. Sponsors are individuals who hold senior roles in your organization or industry. As a result of their status and influence, they can:
Connect you with meaningful information and people
Open the doors to opportunities for advancement
Offer strategic support such as protection, promotion, exposure, recognition, etc.
It’s worth noting the distinction between a sponsor and a mentor. Mentors are usually trusted connections who provide useful advice, emotional support, and in some cases, an understanding of workplace politics. While a mentor serves as a sounding board, a sponsor serves as an advocate. Great sponsors are genuinely interested in empowering others so they can advance professionally and contribute meaningfully to the field. A sponsor’s unique perspectives can be especially insightful when it comes to preparing for a negotiation — for example, by validating your market value, reviewing your script, or helping you determine an ambitious yet realistic negotiation goal. Furthermore, they can help you make sense of organizational priorities, navigate the changing industry landscape, and provide relevant insights on when and whom to ask.
You may even discover that your sponsor can advocate on your behalf by sharing your goals directly with their own network. To take full advantage of this opportunity, be sure to equip your sponsor with key elements from your case, which include your relevant background, supporting data points, and most importantly, a clear, well-defined ask. Your sponsor can then easily distribute this organized information to relevant stakeholders and/or connections.
Here’s an example:
As you think about advocating for more, remember you don’t have to go it alone. Sponsors can offer unique access to information, opportunities, resources, and connections which can help you achieve winning outcomes.
In the next post, we will discuss how to find and forge relationships with potential sponsors who can help you aim high and achieve impact in your career.