Mastering the art of self-sponsorship

What is self-sponsorship?

Self-sponsorship is the act of putting your hand up for the right opportunities. This can include awards, promotions, projects and other opportunities. This act can elevate your credibility and increase your visibility, positioning you as a thought leader in your field.

The benefits of self-sponsorship

Chanile Vines has a master of science in psychology and has successfully pursued multiple career paths as a user experience researcher and wine importer. One of her biggest successes in self-sponsorship was receiving funding to turn a paper-based assistance tool into a digital dementia app while working as a research assistant at Baycrest. Vines notes that it was unheard of for someone at her level to get the funding she received, but because she saw the value in her work and raised her hand, she received the grant.

Vines says, "Self-promotion ensures that the right people know what you do and the value you bring. I found that aligning my personal goals (to do everything to the best of my ability) with my professional goals (to be of service through my work) allowed the confidence to self-sponsor come more naturally." Vines adds that it can be helpful to manage your expectations and know that rejection can be a part of the process. She says this ensures that your self-promotion becomes about celebrating and acknowledging where you are right now.

Breaking self-confidence barriers

Feelings of imposter syndrome or being conditioned to believe that asking for what you want is rude or that “good things come to those who wait” can make people hesitant to self-sponsor or advocate for themselves. Vines says she's been guilty of hesitating to self-promote because of the belief that great work will speak for itself.

Vines says, "One of the best things I heard this year was from an interview with Tyler, the Creator. While speaking to younger artists, he said something that applies to all of us: You must be a fan of your work. When you're a fan of something, you naturally want people to know about it, not just for exposure but also for the pride that comes with being associated with something great. Your work is great – be a fan of it."

Vines asserts that when you're doing great work and practicing gratitude, you start to recognize the people who help and cheer you on, and sharing your collective achievements becomes part of the process. Living and working in isolation without witnesses to your efforts is hard. You can share your work without needing approval to continue doing it.

Gaining the confidence for better self-promotion

Vines notes that her self-promotion is a work in progress, and despite her successes, she continually works on improving her self-promotion skills.

Her suggestions for self-promotion include:

• Understand the value you bring and who would benefit from it
• Ask for what you need and introduce yourself to others (remember, a “no” or a lack of response doesn't define the quality of your work)
• Run your pitch or award application by a public relations executive or respected mentor to get constructive feedback and ensure your message and goals are clear
• Create a promotion system and schedule time to work on your goals, because setting up a routine to pitch and follow up is important
• Sponsor others to increase your excitement around suggesting others for opportunities, and reduce the fear of asking for sponsorship for yourself

Practice makes progress

After you congratulate your colleagues and peers on their own professional and personal accomplishments, take time to make note of the timing of any awards, opportunities and deadlines that apply to you. Consider setting up Google Alerts for awards and opportunities that align with your goals.

Vines reiterates that self-sponsorship isn't a one-time action – it's an ongoing process that requires consistency and perseverance. "You have to believe in your potential and be willing to create opportunities when they don't seem readily available. Keep honing your skills, and don't be afraid to celebrate your wins – big or small. Also, figure out the form of self-sponsorship that best suits how you like to connect with others. Maybe you prefer to be introduced by someone, or maybe you'd rather pitch a collaboration where the value exchange is clear. Or perhaps you thrive in communities that encourage connections. Once you know the type of self-sponsorship that fits your personality, you can create a plan and maximize it."

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