What is sponsorship?

- Sponsorship is when the senior person, the sponsor, takes on the responsibility of promoting the career advancement of a higher performer in the organization, the protege. Sponsors do this by using their own influence. Their power, relationships and gravitas to propel their protege's career. They help them to navigate organizational culture, intervene on their behalf when necessary, ensure key opportunities for career advancement, and business development. They raise their protege's visibility and act as their champion when it comes to promotions and compensation. They are the people who have the power and the position in their organization to make a difference on behalf of a talented person who is up and coming. Sponsorship is actually different from mentoring or coaching. Mentors and coaches don't have be in the senior position. Folks of many levels of the organization can provide mentoring. That is they can…