Loud Thinking

How to Choose the Right Protégé

Hopeful protégés are hungry for sponsorship. Naturally, good leaders attract a wide field of qualified candidates. How should you decide whom to sponsor?
Limit yourself to a select few. Sponsorship is a high-energy commitment. Most senior leaders can effectively sponsor three to four individuals, maximum.
Pick people you can trust. When a sponsor doesn’t really know the person he or she advocates for, his or her credibility in the organization can take a hit. If your protégé isn’t doing a good job, it reflects badly on you.
Fill in your gaps. Some protégés bolster your brand through their technical expertise or social media savvy; others contribute fluency in another language or culture, or help you with their ability to build teams and coach raw talent. Hire people to complement your strengths by addressing your weaknesses.

Adapted by HBR from “How to Choose the Right Protégé” by Sylvia Ann Hewlett.