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Coach, Mentor, Sponsor & a Personal Board of Directors? Yes, You Need All of Them

By Kristin Withrow posted 10-31-2022 03:26 PM

  
woman in white coatBy Ayanna Castro, PMP, CGMP


I truly believe that in order for one to be successful, you need a combination of personal and professional coaches, mentors, sponsors and a stellar personal board of directors. To date, only one of my mentoring relationships was/is formal. My coaches, mentors and sponsors have been seasoned co-workers, supervisors who acknowledged I’m a sponge and love to learn and executives with the power to put me in rooms I otherwise would not have entered. It is a combination of those relationships that cultivated my ability to communicate and connect with just about anyone and take criticism constructively, no matter how it’s delivered. My board of directors has evolved over time with some steady members. While there might be some similarities, the roles of a coach, mentor, sponsor and a personal board of directors are quite different.


Coach:
Newsweek reported that a life coach is part consultant, part motivational speaker, part therapist and part rent-a-friend. Coaches work with managers, entrepreneurs, and just plain folks, helping them define and achieve their goals — career, personal, or most often, both. They often act as a sounding board through tough decisions, help sharpen skills, and motivate. A life coach can help you find clarity when your objective seems vague.

 

Mentor:

Mentoring is a long-term relationship where the focus is on supporting the growth and development of the mentee. The mentor is a source of wisdom, teaching and support, but not someone who observes and advises on specific actions or behavioral changes in daily work. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines a mentor as “a trusted counselor or guide.” Others expand on that definition by suggesting that a mentor is “someone who is helping you with your career, specific work projects or general life advice out of the goodness of his or her heart.

 

Sponsor:

A sponsor is someone in a position of power who uses his or her influence to advocate on your behalf. A sponsor could be your boss, your boss’s boss or anyone who’s in a position to influence others and who knows you well enough to put his or her reputation on the line for you. That’s in contrast to a mentor, who is typically someone who provides advice and helps you develop skills. Mentors help individuals get better, while sponsors help individuals get ahead.

According to Joann M. Eisenhart, senior vice president, Human Resources, Facilities and Philanthropy at Northwestern Mutual, there are three facts about sponsorship: sponsorship is earned, it doesn’t have to be formal and they are two-way streets.


Board of Directors:

A board of directors can go by different names such as “inner circle” or “advisory board”. How can you be sure if you have a board of directors? Here are a few questions to consider:

  • Are you surrounded with people who push you towards being extraordinary? Or are they okay with you settling for mediocrity?
    • Do they challenge you?
    • Do they support you? Do they show up? Do they tell other people about how awesome you are?
    • Do they expand on your ideas by saying, “Yes and did you think did you also think about…”

 

Your board composition should be eclectic with various backgrounds, educational levels, professions, interests and passions. Embrace having diversity of gender and ages on your board so you can benefit from different perspectives. 

Take an inventory of who surrounds you. Some of the qualities a stellar personal board of directors include:

  • Consistently having your best interest at heart without having a hidden agenda.
  • Supporting you when you want to give up.
  • Introducing you to people to can propel you to the next level of your journey, whether it be professionally or personally.
  • They are not bobbleheads. They are not “yes” women and men. There will be times they will disagree with you.

 

Here’s the truth about having a personal board of directors. The table will not always be full. When a seat is vacant, it is your turn to sit on their board and support them. You have to be open to having a mutually beneficial relationship and it’s not about keeping score. If you are keeping score, then it isn’t authentic and it will not last.

 

So, do you have a coach, a mentor, a sponsor and personal board of directors? If not, think about the people around who can step into those roles. Who do you go to for advice? Who to do go when you need clarity on how to get a task or a project done? Who do you know who is where you want to be and has the gravitas to introduce you to the right people?  Take the time to talk to them, find out if you have similarities and are compatible. Find out how you can assist them before asking them to help you. Make it a win-win situation for everyone.


Ayanna Castro is a global speaker, life coach and author with expertise in helping others see their potential and overcome self-imposed obstacles in pursuit of their goals.  As the Founder and Chief Maven of Work Your Package™, her mission is to educate, encourage, and equip others to enhance what they already have to become the “total package” and be extraordinary.  She will be our keynote speaker in November at our Board Secretary / Clerk Conference.  




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