Ms. Career Girl

Top Menu

  • Home
  • Media
  • About
    • Terms of Use & Copyright Notice
    • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • PR and FTC Disclosure
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Careers
    • Productivity
    • Career Confessions
    • #SideHustle
    • Job Search Advice
    • Resume Optimization Tool
    • Job Board
  • Lifestyle
    • Life After College
    • Health & Beauty
    • Style
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Product Reviews
  • Relationships
    • Dating
    • Marriage
    • Working Moms
  • Specials
    • Real Career Girls
    • Style Your Life
    • Book Club
    • Giveaways
  • Home
  • Media
  • About
    • Terms of Use & Copyright Notice
    • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • PR and FTC Disclosure
  • Subscribe

logo

  • Home
  • Careers
    • Productivity
    • Career Confessions
    • #SideHustle
    • Job Search Advice
    • Resume Optimization Tool
    • Job Board
  • Lifestyle
    • Life After College
    • Health & Beauty
    • Style
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Product Reviews
  • Relationships
    • Dating
    • Marriage
    • Working Moms
  • Specials
    • Real Career Girls
    • Style Your Life
    • Book Club
    • Giveaways
FeaturedSelf
Home›Featured›ARE YOU BEING MENTORED INTO A CORNER?

ARE YOU BEING MENTORED INTO A CORNER?

By Marne Platt
Sep 15, 2016
18021
0
Share:

Mentors provide a ‘safe space’ to improve your technical or interpersonal works skills. For years, only men had mentors, and it was one reason women didn’t advance. Now, women are being mentored like never before.

And that’s a problem. Women are finally being mentored; men are being sponsored. What’s the difference? Mentors help you ‘Skill Up’ and sponsors help you ‘Move Up.’ Without a sponsor, you may find yourself in a career corner: fantastic at your current role, but without the opportunity to do more. Many women, frustrated by the lack of real opportunity despite years of mentoring, give up on career progress or leave their company in disgust. Look at the different characteristics, and decide what you have, and what you need!

Mentors

A mentoring relationship has these characteristics:

  • Hierarchy Mentors come from any level in the company.
  • Insider or Outsider? Mentors can be in your company or an external organization.
  • Mutual selection: A mentor can offer to help you, or you can approach someone for advice.
  • Skill-focused Mentoring helps you develop a particular skill, helping you perform better right now.
  • Personally satisfying Both parties are emotionally invested: the mentee gets personal and professional development, and the mentor gets personal satisfaction from your growth.
  • Safe Space: You discuss your fears and failures with your mentor, knowing that she will keep your secrets.

Does that sound like a relationship you have at work? Congratulations, you have a mentor!

Sponsors

If you want to climb the ladder at work, a sponsor is essential. Look for these characteristics:

  • Senior Level The sponsor is always more senior, even at the top of the company.
  • One-way selection: A sponsor chooses a protégé, based on their performance.
  • Company Insider: Traditionally, a sponsor is inside your company, and gets you new opportunities there, though external sponsors also exist. Regardless, they fulfill the next criterion:
  • Control or influence over hiring decisions The sponsor either makes the hiring decision for that role, or influences the person making the decision.
  • Professionally mutually beneficial: This relationship is about your and your sponsor’s professional success. Your success increases their power; your failure decreases it.
  • Brave Space: Don’t show your sponsor your fears. Show your confidence! If want them to believe in you, show that you believe in yourself.

Consider Melissa, a mid-level marketing manager. Her mentor, Lynda, a Sales Director, helps her improve her public speaking style. Her sponsor, Nathalie a Regional Commercial Head, wants to make her a Regional Marketing Head, a 2-step promotion. Melissa tells Nathalie, ‘That sounds like a great opportunity. Let’s talk about what I need to focus on to really succeed.’ She tells Lynda, ‘I’m really nervous about such a huge stretch. How do I make a good start?’

See the difference? In the mentoring relationship, Melissa builds her confidence and her skills. In the sponsoring relationship, Nathalie offers Melissa a new job.

Are you being mentored into a corner? Assess your mentoring relationships objectively. If you want a sponsor but have only mentors, look for new ways to meet and impress your potential sponsor. Break out of your corner now!

Editors Note:

A warm welcome to our newest columnist,  Dr. Marne Platt.  She is the President of Fundamental Capabilities and the author of Living Singlish: Your Life, Your Way. She started her career as a veterinary practitioner in the US. After leaving practice, she worked for almost 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, in technical and commercial areas including Marketing, Regulatory Affairs and global management. Marne continues to work as a pharmaceutical consultant. Marne founded Fundamental Capabilities to ‘pay it forward’ by providing career development workshops and coaching for women based on her experiences. Her first book, ‘Living Singlish: Your Life, Your Way’ is available on Amazon.

Image:  Trapped 

Tagsdefinition of mentordefinition of sponsorFinding a mentormentoringsponsor vs. mentor
Previous Article

Exercising for the Time-pressed Professional

Next Article

8 Top HR Mobile Workforce Trends to ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0

Marne Platt

Dr. Marne Platt is the President of Fundamental Capabilities and the author of 3 books (so far): Living Singlish: Your Life, Your Way; Professional Presence; and PREP For Success. Originally a practicing veterinarian, she built a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry. She founded Fundamental Capabilities to ‘pay it forward’ by providing career development workshops and coaching for women. ‘Living Singlish: Your Life, Your Way’ is an ‘older sister in your pocket’ packed full of advice for young women on building their own independent and exciting life. 'Professional Presence' and PREP For Success' help you strengthen your spoken and unspoken communication and leadership presence.

Related articles More from author

  • success
    Career ConfessionsWork

    The 5 Professional Development Pillars of Real-Life Career Girls

    Jul 27, 2016
    By Ms. Career Girl
  • mentoring women in business
    Work

    Mentors: You Should Either Have One Or Be One

    Feb 24, 2017
    By Jackie LaMar
  • mentoring women in business
    FeaturedWork

    5 tips to finding a mentor

    Apr 5, 2017
    By Katie Evans
  • careers for young women
    FeaturedNewsWork

    5 Ways to Help Launch Careers for Young Women

    Aug 15, 2017
    By Sarah Landrum
  • FeaturedNewsWork

    Tips for Seeking Out a Mentor from Successful Women Who Have Done It

    Apr 10, 2019
    By Jessica Thiefels
  • ways women talk differently
    FeaturedNewsWork

    More Women in Business Means More Cash for Women and Their Employers

    Apr 12, 2019
    By Ms. Career Girl

  • Career ConfessionsLife After CollegeSelfWork

    A Tale of High Achieving Career Ladies

  • work in sales
    Life After CollegeSelfWork

    Why an entry level sales job is a great way to kickoff your career

  • Find a Career
    #SideHustleLife After CollegeSelfWork

    Get a Modern Day Career Path Dream Catcher

Subscribe

Job Search

As seen on

career advice blog badge oriel badge

Featured On

  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Resume Optimization Tool
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© Copyright 2021 Ms Career Girl