How to be an Effective Sponsor
Effective sponsorship can make or break cross-organizational work, whether a major transformation project or just a problem-solving team. Yet, it is rarely, if ever, taught. This video course both provides guidance to sponsors as well as those needing sponsorship.
Watch the How to be an Effective Sponsor videos on YouTube
Why learn about being a sponsor?
Discover the hidden power of effective sponsorship—a crucial yet rarely taught leadership skill that transcends traditional delegation. Unlike simple task assignment, true sponsorship creates both accountability and ownership across organizational levels, from major transformations to daily collaborations. Learn why conventional feedback mechanisms often fail sponsors and how mastering this critical skill differentiates high-performing organizations by fostering environments where initiatives thrive through clear accountability, appropriate autonomy, and meaningful support.
The Sponsor and Other Roles
Unveil the relational foundation of effective sponsorship, where success hinges not on tasks but on skillfully navigating connections with team leaders, facilitators, project managers, team members, and stakeholders. Discover the delicate balance between visibility and invisibility that sponsors must master, and learn to avoid common pitfalls like excessive stakeholder involvement that can derail projects. Understanding these relationship dynamics transforms sponsorship from mere oversight into a powerful catalyst for team success and organizational achievement.
Selecting the Right Sponsor
Uncover why selecting “the boss” as your sponsor often dooms projects to failure. Learn the three essential criteria for choosing the perfect sponsor: someone who can provide valuable input, genuinely cares about the results, and has the right organizational position—not necessarily the highest. This strategic approach to sponsor selection creates the optimal foundation for project success by aligning capability, commitment, and context rather than defaulting to hierarchical authority.
Pitfalls and Failure Modes
Expose the critical missteps that derail even well-intentioned sponsors. Discover why having co-sponsors often results in diffused accountability, how sponsor unavailability stalls progress, why generating solutions yourself undermines team ownership, and how misunderstanding your power as a sponsor can sabotage project outcomes. Understanding these common pitfalls helps sponsors create the right conditions for teams to thrive through clear accountability, appropriate involvement, and balanced authority.