The shortage of sponsoring leaders
Observing the current state of companies and their leadership, I must conclude that we have a shortage of sponsoring leaders. Instead, more self-serving and short-sighted leaders are rising to power.
I’ve heard from countless talented professionals who say their leaders are solely focused on protecting their positions and results, without investing the time to develop their employees, offering little guidance, and failing to advocate for their growth.
Hence, my conclusion is that we are missing sponsoring leaders!
I was very fortunate to have a couple of strong sponsoring leaders who represented me in talent discussions with senior executives and human resources, sharing important information about my skills, performance, and leadership style. Their support made a lasting impact, and I carry deep gratitude for it.
So, let’s talk about what it means to be a sponsoring leader:
Start by identifying the talents within your team, specifically those who have demonstrated outstanding performance and leadership skills, whether or not they hold a formal leadership title, and consistently uphold essential values such as integrity, respect for others, and impartiality. A person who walks the talk and keeps their promises.
Those are the talents you need to know everything about, including their strengths, potential opportunities for improvement, personal situation, availability to relocate, educational background, achievements, and experiences.
And when I say, “know everything about them,” I mean know it by heart. You never know when an opportunity will arise where you’ll need to advocate for them.
The good sponsor does not miss a chance to showcase their talents; they are at the top of everything and act with agility regarding opportunities for their sponsored individuals.
An excellent sponsor is passionate about people’s development and growth; they feel satisfaction and accomplishment in sponsoring talents and celebrate their success as if they were their own.
If you’re already a leader, take a moment to reflect: Are you just managing performance? Or are you also sponsoring talents?
Now is the time to lead with purpose, by lifting others as you climb. Think about it!
By Erika Molina
