What should you consider when choosing a sponsor for your Customer Experience career development?

Part I Begin by identifying individuals within your organization or network who hold senior positions directly related to CX, such as the head of customer service or experience. Assess their track record in fostering talent, considering factors like their involvement in mentorship programs or their sponsorship history. Seek out sponsors with a strong network and visible influence, as they can introduce you to key stakeholders and advocate for your advancement. Look for someone who not only understands the intricacies of CX but also aligns with your values and long-term goals. Assess their commitment to diversity and inclusion, ensuring they champion a supportive and inclusive work environment.

Part II Additionally, consider the practical aspects of their availability and willingness to invest time in your development through regular check-ins and mentorship. Lastly, initiate conversations to gauge mutual trust and respect, and explore how you can contribute to their goals in return, creating a symbiotic relationship that fosters your CX career growth.

Ensure your career goals align with the expertise and position of your potential sponsor. Alignment is key to receiving guidance that propels you towards your aspirations. I remember when i aiming to get a role in a leadership position I had to prove that I could lead in my current role solving cross collab initiatives. This alignment helped me not only to gain specialized knowledge from that team but also to become a part of significant projects with other leadership members accelerating my career advancement in this specialized area.

Influence, their network, circle of influence, reputation and credibility should be highly evident to match mine. Our passion must be on the same level as this is the way to bring out the best of what I can bring to the role.

Assessing your sponsor's influence is critical for ensuring they can effectively champion your Customer Experience CX achievements and potential within the organization or industry. Look for a sponsor who holds a position of seniority, providing them with access to decision-makers and senior leaders. Their ability to promote you, recommend you, or assign you to high-profile CX projects hinges on their credibility and influence. A sponsor's network is equally vital; they should have well-established connections with peers, mentors, and allies who can lend support and introduce you to new opportunities and challenges in the CX field. Evaluate their reputation and track record in CX, ensuring they have a strong standing within the industry.

Part II A sponsor with a proven history of leveraging their power and connections will be better positioned to advocate for your career advancement and create avenues for your growth in the dynamic landscape of customer experience. In essence, the depth of your sponsor's influence directly correlates with their capacity to propel your CX career forward, making it imperative to choose someone with a robust network and a history of impactful advocacy within the CX domain.

It is very important to know the genuine and trusting relationship as you need to have your morale intact throughout the journey in your career and successes. This journey involves your personal life too and you have to feel good to have the motivation to carry on with day to day challenges.

A strong relationship with your sponsor is crucial for your CX career development. Seek a sponsor who demonstrates genuine interest and trust in both you and your CX aspirations. Essential to this relationship is their willingness to invest time, energy, and resources in your growth. Look for reciprocity a sponsor who is open to a two way exchange, valuing not only what they can offer but also what they can learn from you. Effective communication is key; find a sponsor with whom you can engage regularly and openly, fostering a positive and respectful relationship. Expressing your gratitude and commitment is equally important consistently delivering quality CX work, actively seeking their advice, and openly acknowledging their

Growth is a continuous process and has to be fueled by a variety of sustaining channels of knowledge from various sources. New ways of doing things, new understanding, new processes and strategies cannot come only from one source.

Evaluate your career progress “GROW”th with the following model. Goal: Clearly define your career goals. What do you want to achieve? Reality: Assess your current reality. Where are you now in your career? Options: Explore and identify the various paths or options available to you. What opportunities or choices can you pursue? Way Forward: Determine the specific steps and actions you will take to progress toward your goals. What will you do, and when? I like to use the GROW model as a structured process of self-reflection and planning for career advancement. It encourages a holistic view of your career and helps me formulate actionable steps for improvement.

continue: support contribute to a healthy and symbiotic relationship. In summary, cultivating a meaningful partnership involves finding a sponsor who is not only invested in your success but also values the collaborative nature of the relationship, creating a foundation for mutual growth and shared insights in the dynamic realm of customer experience.