Start Your Career on the Leadership TrackWith Jo Miller

Jo Miller

•Founding Editor of BeLeaderly.com and CEO of Women’s Leadership Coaching, Inc. •Helps women create a roadmap to advance into management and leadership roles.•A leading authority on women’s leadership who delivers more than 60 speaking presentations annually to audiences of up to 1,200 women for women’s conferences, professional associationsand corporate women’s initiatives.

I have some unique

KOALAFICATIONS

Don’t be the best kept secret in the organization!

You Can’t Afford to Wait

Don’t wait for permission or an invitation to be a leader.

Don’t wait for someone to promote you.

Take charge of your career trajectory.

In This Session

• Identify your leadership niche• Build your brand as an emerging leader• What’s a sponsor?• The difference between mentors and sponsors• Attract the attention of influential sponsors

Your Leadership Niche

“Be famous for something! Know what is

your claim to fame.”

— General Manager, software industry.

Who do you know who has branded themself well?

3 Essential Elements of a Great Leadership Brand•

Your Leadership Niche

What are you passionate

about?

What does your organization/ industry need

and value?

What are your skills and talents?

Exercise

What is your leadership niche?

Your Leadership Niche

What are you passionate

about?

What does your organization/ industry need

and value?

What are your skills and talents?

Download This Presentation

BeLeaderly.com/cli

Your Leadership Brand

“Be authentic about your own leadership style. Don’t try to

change it.

Own it. Communicate it. Put a value on it. Put a brand on it.”

— Dr. Rohini Anand, SVP, Global Chief Diversity Officer, Sodexo

The Change Agent

The Change Agent

“Make your brand scalable.”

— Krista Thomas, VP of Marketing, Rubicon Project

Ask yourself

• Where do I want to be in 2 years? In 5 years?

• What brand do I need to become known for now, in order to get there?

Your brand must evolve as you develop your career

• Entry-level brandsValuable contributor. Team-player. Specialist. Go-to person.

• Mid-level brands Strategist. Innovator. Subject matter expert. Change agent. People motivator. Project leader. Builds things that work. Turnaround architect. Intrapreneur.

• Senior-level brandsVisionary. Thought leader. Leader who develops leaders. Charismatic leader. Rainmaker. Quiet Leader.Delivers results.

Communicate your brand

Sponsors

“There is a special kind of relationship — called sponsorship — in which the mentor

goes beyond giving feedback and advice and uses his or her influence with senior

executives to advocate for the mentee.Our interviews and surveys alike suggest that high-potential women are overmentored and undersponsored relative to their male peers — and that they are not advancing in their

organizations.”

“Why Men Still Get More Promotions Than Women,” by Herminia Ibarra, Nancy M. Carter and Christine Silva.

“A sponsor is someone who will use their internal political

and social capital to move your career forward within an organization. Behind

closed doors, they will argue your case.”

— Cindy Kent, GM, 3M.

Four U.S.-based and global studies clearly show that

sponsorship — not mentorship — is

how power is transferred in the

workplace.

“Why You Need A Sponsor — Not A Mentor — To Fast-Track Your Career,” Business Insider.

What’s the difference between mentors and sponsors?

Have you had a sponsor?

• How did the sponsorship begin?• How did you benefit from being

sponsored?

Only _____ % of women and _____ % of

men employed in large

companies have a sponsor.

13

19

“The Sponsor Effect,” Hewlett, Peraino, Sherbin and Sumberg, 2011.

Women who have sponsors are at least 22% more likely to ask for

stretch assignments and

raises.

Men and women feel more

satisfied with their career

advancement when they have

sponsors.

Ambitious women

underestimate the difference sponsorship can make.

“The Sponsor Effect,” Hewlett, Peraino, Sherbin and Sumberg, 2011.

What a sponsor does What a protégé does1. Believes in you, understands and values that you can be a leader, and is willing to take a bet on you.

2. Is prepared to go out on a limb for you and publicly support you.

3. Is in your corner and gives you “air cover”.

1. Exceeds expectations, and make their performance known.

2. Demonstrates that they are trustworthy and loyal.

3. Brings something special and unique to the table.

“Mentors Are Good. Sponsors Are Better,” Sylvia Ann Hewlett, New York Times.

“… having an active advocate completely

changes your career.”

—Kerrie Peraino, Vice President for Human

Resources and Chief Diversity Officer, American Express.

Qualities of a Good Sponsor

• Influential• Respected• Has a track record of:

a) Developing talentb) Providing exposure opportunities to

protégés c) Providing ‘air cover’ from negative or

damaging publicityd) Providing a ‘safety net’ during

downsizing, reorgs and leadership changes

“A sponsor does not have to be an executive, but they do

need to have influence.”

—Millette Granville, Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Delhaize Group.

“Are all your advocates in the management chain directly above you? I recommend that everyone have three to four advocates outside of their direct

management chain.”

—Michelle Johnston Holthaus, GM, Channel Platforms and Strategy Division, Intel.

“So, how do I get a sponsor?”

There is no “silver bullet” for attracting the attention of a high-level sponsor.

—“Sponsoring Women to Success,” Catalyst, 2011.

Attracting the Attention of Influential Sponsors

8. Perform!

7. Know who the good sponsors are.

6. Observe the protocols: How does sponsorship work in your organization’s culture?

5. Network beyond your direct management chain.

4. Raise your hand for exposure opportunities to work with or for potential sponsors.

3. Make your value visible.

2. Have clear career goals.

1. Share your goals with leaders.

Attract the Attention of Influential Sponsors8. Perform!7. Know who the good sponsors are.6. Observe the protocols: How does sponsorship work in your organization’s culture?5. Network beyond your direct management chain4. Raise your hand for exposure opportunities to work with or for potential sponsors.3. Make your value visible.2. Have clear career goals.1. Share your career goals with your leaders.

a) Which of these steps are you doing well?b) Which of these steps will you work on?

Self-assessment

8. Perform!7. Know who the good sponsors are.6. Observe the protocols: How does sponsorship work in your organization’s culture?5. Network beyond your direct management chain.4. Raise your hand for exposure opportunities to work with or for potential sponsors.3. Make your value visible.2. Have clear career goals.1. Share your career goals with your leaders.

Attract the Attention of Influential Sponsors

After participating in this session, you should now be able to:

• Identify your leadership niche• Build your brand as an emerging leader• Describe what a sponsor is• Understand the difference between mentors

and sponsors• Attract the attention of influential sponsors

Download This Presentation

BeLeaderly.com/cli

“Sponsorship can come to you in different ways.

You never know who is watching you, so be “sponsor-ready” at all times.

—Millette Granville, Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Delhaize Group.