Building relationships is important at all stages of your career. But which ones are most important to your future success?
Harvard Business Review offers five relationships that will help you become the leader you aspire to be.
- Mentor: A mentor keeps you on track when you are feeling lost at work. He or she is the one person you can turn to for guidance about expanding your industry knowledge, navigating a difficult conversation, etc.
- Sponsor: Sponsors advocate on your behalf—especially in front of other company leaders—and sometimes directly bring you career opportunities.
- Partner: A partner is an ally or peer who serves as a sounding board to broaden your perspective. This relationship is fueled by trust, a shared drive to succeed and recognition you can do better together.
- Competitor: Competition between peers is inevitable and can be healthy. When used appropriately, a friendly contest can inspire you to perform better, generate new ideas and accomplish more.
- Mentee: Becoming a mentor teaches you how to bring out the best in others, recognize their strengths and give feedback. It also pushes you to do your own job better and strive for more.
