Do You Have a “Sponsor” at Work?

We’ve touted the benefits of mentors over and over again. They provide excellent advice and guidance as you navigate your career path and find your way. So what’s a sponsor? In a recent Forbes article titled, Get a Sponsor, Not a Mentor: 3 Ways to Skyrocket Your Career, writer Avery Blank breaks down what this means and why you need it.

A sponsor is an advocate. Someone who will spread the word about what a great employee you are. About how reliable you are and what great work you do. It’s the kind of person who will recommend you, write a LinkedIn endorsement for you, and sing your praises in front of other people. Sounds pretty nice, right?

But how do you get such a glowing review from your peers? Well, do great work! Be a reliable person. Go above and beyond. Be consistent. Be optimistic. Meet deadlines. Also, don’t be quiet–sing your own praises and the praises of others. Your peers need to know about your achievements. They’ll be more likely to pat you on the back if you’ve done the same for them.

Read the full article over on Forbes.

Image via Marcin Wichary/Flickr.