More than 55 women from across Synergy gathered this week for a Women in Synergy peer group session led by leadership coach Wyetta Ford. The conversation focused on a simple idea: successful careers are rarely built alone.
Wyetta introduced a framework centered around four important relationships that help leaders grow throughout their careers:
- A mentor who shares knowledge and experience.
- An ally who offers encouragement and support.
- A challenger who provides honest feedback and helps you improve.
- A sponsor who advocates for you and opens doors to new opportunities.
One of the biggest discussion points centered on sponsorship. Research shows that while women are just as likely as men to have mentors, they are significantly less likely to have sponsors. Mentors help people prepare for opportunities. Sponsors help create them by recommending others for leadership roles, promotions, and new responsibilities.
Wyetta encouraged participants to be intentional about building these relationships rather than assuming opportunities will naturally appear. That includes making career goals known, increasing visibility within an organization, asking for new responsibilities, and following up on those conversations over time.
During breakout discussions, members reflected on who currently fills each of those four seats in their own careers and where gaps still exist. Just as importantly, they considered another question: Whose table are you sitting at? Many recognized that they also have opportunities to serve as mentors, allies, challengers, or sponsors for others.
The session reinforced an important reminder for leaders at every stage of their career: professional growth is strengthened through relationships. Investing in the people around you, while also seeking those who will invest in you, creates a stronger foundation for long-term success.
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The Women in Synergy peer group brings together women from commercial HVAC and mechanical contracting companies to share experiences, discuss leadership challenges, and learn from one another throughout the year. If you’d like to learn more about membership, visit synergysolutiongroup.com/join.
