Small Law Firms

If You Want To Advance Your Career, Find A Sponsor

Columnist Shannon Achimalbe explains why she thinks having a sponsor is better than having a mentor.

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Career success cannot be achieved alone. You’ll need the help of others. And not just anyone can help you. They must be able to introduce you to the right people, take you to the right places, and give you the right advice. So who are these people?

They are not mentors. Mentors, for the most part, provide practice advice. They may have some career advice, but they probably don’t know you too well and they are too busy with their own lives.

What you want to look for is a sponsor.

A sponsor is basically your career advocate. They have two qualities. First, they want you to succeed. A sponsor is willing to go to bat for you and put their reputation on the line. Second, they have the resources and connections to help you do it.

Finding a sponsor

In the legal field, sponsors can be anyone, but tend to be colleagues, well-connected clients, and key people in organizations. Most of the time, they may not be sponsor material in the present, but can be in the future. Ideally, you want to find someone who is connected to the firm or the industry where you want to work.

So how do you find a sponsor? One way not to do it is to directly ask someone you hardly know. This can be a turnoff to most people. Not only that, you open yourself to being exploited in all kinds of demeaning ways.

Sponsored

According to an article in the Harvard Business Review, leaders will give their time to people who perform exceptionally well. They also tend to support people with similar mindsets, values, or backgrounds.

But for this relationship to realistically work, the relationship has to be mutually beneficial. The sponsor is more likely to invest the extra time or take the risk if there is something in it for them.

Maintaining the relationship

If you manage to find people who are sponsorship material, it is imperative that they remember you. Try to stay in touch with them regularly without giving the stalker vibe.

The best way to stay in the sponsor’s good graces is to make them look good. So if a sponsor gives you an assignment, exceed their expectations. If you have the ability to bring in business, don’t just talk the talk. Bring the clients into their office.

Sponsored

Be honest about your weaknesses. And if you make mistakes, own up to them and explain what you learned from it. You want your sponsors to tell their contacts that you are human and make one-time mistakes from time to time.

Finally, always keep the relationship professional. In light of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, even nonthreatening male executives are being more cautious with their interactions with women in order to avoid misunderstandings that can ruin careers. While this is a good thing, this could possibly jeopardize close relationships which lead to promotions and collaborations on projects.

Is it worth it to be someone’s sponsor?

Previously, I wrote about how helping young lawyers can be beneficial, especially if you can get them their dream job. While I believe that veteran attorneys should make an effort to pay it forward, I also understand that it is a time commitment. Also, most people will disappear once they get what they want.

While everyone’s return on investment will vary, I found that most of the successful and respected attorneys are the ones who try to help their colleagues without considering what is in it for them. Why? Because they are not seen as selfish. And by helping, they are also seen as knowledgeable. And when some of these young attorneys eventually establish themselves, they will think of you when they need a speaker for an event. Or if they need to nominate someone for a prestigious award.

Having a sponsor is the best way to advance your career because they will go the extra mile for you. But you will have to find a way to prove yourself and make your sponsor look good at the same time.

Shannon Achimalbe was a former solo practitioner for five years before deciding to sell out and get back on the corporate ladder. Shannon can be reached by email at sachimalbe@excite.com and via Twitter: @ShanonAchimalbe.

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