Creating an Effective Sponsorship Approach

Why Sponsorship? Sponsorship ……… Complements mentoring Builds on the benefits of networking as the sponsee now has access to the sponsors network Promotes thought diversity, which enables organisations to innovate more effectively and gain the competitive edge Improves talent retention by increasing engagement between the individual and the organisation

5A’s Effective Sponsorship Model ActionAwarenessAcknowledgmentAdvocacyAdvancement

Leadership Actions Advocacy. Seek opportunities to tell others about your sponsee. Recommend your sponsee Awareness. Notice who makes a difference in your organisation. Actively look for emerging talent. Acknowledgment. Give praise, recognition and reward. Advancement. Actively encourage and support your sponsee to seek promotion and recommend them for more senior opportunities as they develop.

Individual Actions Action Do something outstanding Awareness Tell someone what you did Advance Set, seek and achieve your goal

Underpinning Process Establish a pool of senior staff who are willing, able and equipped to provide sponsorship to talented staff. Seek agreement that sponsors will actively seek to identify and sponsor talent within their part of the organisation. Make links with existing mentoring and networking schemes so mentors can help individuals to access sponsors. Publicise the existence of the sponsorship approach so employees can approach sponsors. Measure success by asking employees whether they have benefitted from sponsorship.