NSGConnect Spark! – The Value of Sponsorship
This quarterly email is sent to NSGConnect members to inspire self-reflection and discussions with colleagues relating to professional development topics. Add your thoughts on these topics on the NSGConnect Discussion Forum or find additional resources in the NSGConnect Library.
Sponsorship
"Sponsorship is about putting your name and reputation on the line for someone else. It could be as simple as recommending someone for a new role, yet it's one of the most powerful cultural tools any organization has." - Lynne Doughtie
What is sponsorship anyway?
This article explains some of the key differences between sponsorship and mentorship - they are not the same thing. "'Mentors give you perspective while sponsors give you opportunities.'"
https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-people-who-can-open-more-career-doors-than-you-ever-thought-possible
This handout courtesy of Stanford's SLAC Lab breaks down the differences between sponsorship and mentorship even further.
https://inclusion.slac.stanford.edu/sites/inclusion.slac.stanford.edu/files/The_Key_Role_of_a_Sponsorship_for_Diverse_Talent.pdf
TED Talk Spotlight
How to find the person who can help you get ahead at work
From TED: "The workplace is often presented as a meritocracy, where you can succeed by putting your head down and working hard. Wall Street veteran Carla Harris learned early in her career that this a myth. The key to actually getting ahead? Get a sponsor: a person who will speak on your behalf in the top-level, closed-door meetings you're not invited to (yet). Learn how to identify and develop a productive sponsor relationship in this candid, powerful talk."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpE_W50OTUc
Is this applicable for genetic counselors?
Check out this article from Glassdoor that explains how historically sponsorship opportunities were reserved for executives at larger companies. More recently however, this idea of career sponsorship is extending into smaller institutions and more industries. And this is for good reason- almost 57% of employees have sponsors, and these individuals tend to make 12% more than their unsponsored counterparts.
https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/can-anybody-have-a-career-sponsor/
Take home points for these professional relationships
- Mentors and sponsors are both valuable relationships to cultivate, and they are unique from one another – Mentors can take you under their wing and give you guidance or advice on anything from navigating a new role to planning long term for your career. Sponsors are individuals with power and influence that can recognize your value and advocate on your behalf for career advancement.
- A sponsor might be someone that identifies you, rather than the other way around – Many different articles on this topic discuss the typical path to a sponsor. It includes performing well in your role, being (or making yourself) visible to leaders, and sharing your career goals with them.
- Genetic counselors have experience with sponsorship – Remember those letters of recommendation that your graduate program required during the admissions process? You can think of that as a form of sponsorship. Your recommenders were individuals that knew your value, held positions with power and/or influence, and put their reputation on the line to encourage a graduate program to accept you.
Additional Resources
- Infographic: What makes a good sponsor?
https://jhaymeetynan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/5-C-s-of-Career-Sponsorship-New-Infographic.pdf
- Step-by-step guide: To help you grow in the directions that you desire, a sponsor needs to know more about your plans and goals for growth. This guide to creating a career development plan can help you articulate clear points to share with a sponsor.
https://contentsquare.com/blog/a-step-by-step-guide-to-creating-a-career-development-plan-infographic/
- Article: Invest in sponsors to invest in your employees' careers
This article reviews the ways organizations can support sponsorship programs for their employees.
https://projectinclude.org/investing_in_sponsorships#
This quarter's SPARK! Memo brought to you by Emily Collins and Joyti Khokhar.
We welcome your feedback on these memos at salma.nassef@bcm.edu (Salma Nassef) or cbrooksms@gmail.com (Carol Brooks).
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Joyti Khokhar, MS, CGC
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