How to Draft: Sponsors, Mentors & Getting Ahead
by Maureen Berkner Boyt
Women are mentoring one another to death, men are sponsoring one another to the top. That pretty much sums up what’s happening, based on the research on the topic and the observations many women have shared with me. It’s time to get ourselves some sponsors.
What’s In the Way?
Two big things- sex, or rather the implication of sex, and head trash. Research shows that women think differently about having a sponsor than men do, somehow seeing it as cheating, or an unfair advantage. It’s time to take that trash out and understand that sponsorship is simply a part of the leadership path, and part of the way things work. A sponsor won’t even consider taking you under their wing unless they think you've got what it takes because of the risk to their personal brand, so you've got to have the goods first, and the sponsorship comes second.The oft thought and rarely talked about barrier to sponsorship is the presumption that there’s an affair taking place when an older man takes interest in the career of a younger woman. Given the stats that men hold senior leadership position at a 10:1 ratio to women, the likelihood of an older man/younger woman sponsorship pairing is very high. Organizations need to take the lead on this one, and start an open dialogue on the topic and it’s impact on the availability of sponsor relationship for women. We need to make it safe for men and women to enter into a sponsor relationships, and that means talking about unwarranted perceptions.
What are sponsors looking for in a protege?
If someone is going to go out on a limb and sponsor you, they need to know you can deliver. They are hitching you to their wagon and their brand and want to see:
-A proven track record of results
-Growth potential
-Ambition & drive
-A strong personal brand
-Loyalty to the company & to them
In other words, a whole lot of moxie.
Resources to help you get started:
Sylvia Ann Hewlett has led the some great research on the impact of sponsorship on women’s careers and has just written a new book on the topic, “Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor”. Among her finding are the ‘Sponsorship Effect’, which amounts to 30%- more pay, more promotions, more stretch assignments. The Mentoring Women’s Network has some great resources for individuals and organizations ready to tackle the sponsorship challenge for women.
I’d love to hear some success stories, so if you've had a great sponsor do tell! Likewise, are there other barriers you've encountered?
Maureen Berkner Boyt
www.moxieexchange.com
Maureen@moxieexchange.com