Sponsorship across differences

- One thing we know from numerous reports analyzing sponsorship is that when these relationships form naturally those in the more senior role choose people who are like them, this is not surprising. All of us tend to invest more readily in people who are from our same backgrounds or upbringing or culture or values, people who have a similar personality or a communication style or the same interests, social circles, education, or come from the same region or country. When people are like us, we feel more comfortable with them and they with us. We feel like we know them and what we can expect from them. We are more confident that our investment of time and energy will yield positive returns. However, if we are going to grow the diversity at the most senior levels of our organizations, leaders have to engage in building relationships across difference. The first thing to know is that your sponsor does not have to be the same…