The Power of Sponsoring
I am often asked what the difference is between mentoring and sponsoring. There seems to be a good deal of confusion between the two since both are centered on asking people to help you advance in your career. So what is the difference between mentoring and sponsoring? Mentoring is about advising and sponsoring is about acting. In a New York Times op-ed article by Sylvia Ann Hewlett, she explains the difference between sponsors and mentors this way: “Mentors act as a sounding board or a shoulder to cry on, offering advice as needed and support and guidance as requested; they expect very little in return. Sponsors, in contrast, are much more vested in their protégés, offering guidance and critical feedback because they believe in them.” Sylvia has also written a [...]