Types of Support for Growth
“What is a mentor?”
“What’s the difference between a sponsor and a mentor - aren’t they the same?”
These questions come up often in our conversations with leaders who are looking to provide the right kind of support for career growth in their organizations. They might have a general understanding of the different roles people can play in one’s professional and personal growth and need clarification. Or, they’re working to educate leaders within their own organizations.
It’s also important to recognize the power of combining different types of support at the same time, or along one’s career progression. Each one of these types of support serves different objectives and goals, and when combined can make a significant impact.
The role differences are not always clear, so we pulled together a handy reference guide to help you understand the differences and commonalities across different types of support needed for career growth and success.
“You have to do it by yourself, and you can’t do it alone.”
- Martin Rutte
Mentor
Talk About Themself | Match is Critical | Address Personal | Address Professional
A person who shares relevant experience, insights, and personal lessons learned to help you explore and work towards achieving your desired goals. They help you see things with a different perspective, and champion you.
Recommended Reading:
The Business Case for Mentorship | Ceresa Perspectives
How to Find a Mentor | Business News Daily
Mentoring Helps Employees and Leads to Better Business | Association for Talent Development
Sponsor
Talk About Themself | Match is Critical | Know Your Abilities | Address Professional
A person with whom you have built a trusting relationship inside or outside of your organization, who understands your performance and potential, and works to create opportunities by advocating on your behalf or opening up their network.
Recommended Reading:
The Relationship You Want To Get Right | Harvard Business Review
Coach
Deeply Skilled | Address Personal | Address Professional | Pay for Time | Match is Critical
Career and executive coaches are professionally trained and certified. They can help you drive reflection, set life aspirations and specific goals, and create accountability as you move forward.
They are deeply skilled professionals with many years of experience. The most common and well-respected certifications for career coaching are ICF (International Coach Federation) and BCC (Board Certified Coach).
Recommended Reading:
Therapist
Deeply Skilled | Address Personal | Address Professional | Pay for Time
Therapists typical function is to help you overcome issues and manage mental health or illness (can be work-related). Their focus is traditionally on the past to analyze current behavior, usually helping you figure out your “why”.
Therapists are deeply skilled professionals with many years of experience. Therapy is more accessible than ever before through providers like Talkspace or BetterHelp.
Recommended Reading:
Peer Group
Talk About Themself | Address Professional | Address Personal | Match is Critical
People at a similar career or life-stage, who can offer informal support and championing, as well as sharing their experiences in different areas for mutual learning.
Recommended Reading:
The Surprising Power of Peer Coaching | Harvard Business Review
The Role of Peer Relationships in Career Development | The Acadamy of Management Journal
Trainer
Deeply Skilled | Address Professional | Pay for Time
Professionals who increase knowledge and skills that help you perform a job or activity more effectively.