How to Find a Sponsor to Help You Advance at Work

It is critical to be noticed by people in power in order to help yourself advance your career and fully pursue your passion. Sponsorship is one of the most important factors that aids you in doing so. Unfortunately, it is also the most frequently overlooked. It is imperative for you to understand why sponsorship is important and how you can find a sponsor to help you advance at work. To assist you with all of your sponsorship-related queries, Carla Harris discusses the importance of sponsorship, the difference between sponsorship and mentorship, and how you may find a sponsor to help you advance at work; in this podcast episode which you can find on TED Business.

Carla Harris begins the episode by discussing how employees are evaluated based on their performance in top-level meetings by supervisors, commentators, and managers. She explains how the entire employee evaluation process works. She emphasizes that a meritocratic environment cannot exist when there is a human element involved in the evaluating equation. She then goes on to explain the distinction between a mentor and a sponsor. She defines a mentor as someone who guides you through tailored advice that works in the favor of your career vision. A sponsor, on the other hand, is someone who represents your case in employee evaluation meetings. The podcast episode then discusses how to find a sponsor to help you advance at work, and more importantly, why you even need one. Carla Harris believes it is critical to have a sponsor who not only has to speak about your performance at meetings but also has your best interests in mind. She discusses the concept of currency and how it affects your ability to find a sponsor to help you advance at work. In any situation, there are two types of currencies: performance currency and relationship currency. ‘Performance currency’ refers to your ability to deliver on what was asked of you and possibly a little bit more. Every time you complete an assignment above expectations, you earn performance currency. She explains why the performance currency is important in three ways. The first is that performance currency can help you get noticed. It establishes your reputation. The second benefit is that it gets you paid and promoted at an early stage in your career. And, finally, and most importantly, it aids you to find a sponsor to help you advance at work. Having strong performance currency is essential because it increases your visibility in the environment, making it easier to find a sponsor to help you advance at work. Carla Harris advises that if you find yourself in a situation where it is difficult to find a sponsor to help you advance at work, exercise your power and ask for one.

Carla Harris then claims, near the end of the podcast episode, that relationship currency is crucial. She refers to relationship currency as currency earned through investments in people. Spend time engaging, impacting, and allowing people in your environment to get to know you. Carla suggests that when you begin to find a sponsor to help you advance at work, you should consider three factors. She suggests selecting someone with a seat at the decision-making table, exposure to your domain, and some power.

Understanding sponsorship is critical, and finding a sponsor is even more critical. However, it remains one of the most underutilized and unknown strategies. Having a sponsor not only serves as a guide but also allows you to advance in your career more quickly and easily. Carla Harris’ advice in this episode will undoubtedly help you to find a sponsor to help you advance at work.