I was recently asked what advice I have for young women building their professional careers. Without much thought, I quickly said, “Do not believe the lie that your work will speak for itself.”
I had no plans to say it, no list of talking points, but apparently it is something I have needed to say for quite a while.
I used to believe it. I actually used to think and say this out loud: “I don’t need to stand in front of my work-it’s not about me. The quality of the work will be recognized.”
Oof. Not so much. There is so much evidence that speaks to the contrary for women.
So, what do you do when the caravan of fail forward, remarkably mediocre, and epically ineffectual whizzes by you?
SPONSORSHIP.
We all have varying degrees of comfort with self-advocacy (again, not always with the desired results for women) but sponsorship- someone who will speak your name in rooms where you are not, who looks out for you, who actively supports your advancement- this is a game changer.
What sponsor role can you play for someone’s career? We need both- sponsors and being sponsored- now more than ever.