Developmental Relationships
How leaders grow others
When engaging in developmental relationships, it’s important to be intentional about the type of support you’re offering. While these roles often overlap, and there are no clear lines, defining and designing the relationship between the person offering support and the person receiving it makes the interaction more effective.
Senior leaders are often eager to give back by guiding, supporting, and championing others. When I’m asked which skills are most valuable to develop for this purpose, I always recommend a focus on learning coaching skills.
Whether you’re acting as an advisor, mentor, sponsor, or coach, the ability to ask powerful questions, explore deeper truths, and listen without judgment is essential. In fact, coaching skills form the foundation for all meaningful developmental relationships.
Below are four types of developmental relationships. Which do you practice—and which might you want to stretch into?
1. Advising – Advisors provide specific expertise or information, typically for a short-term need. This relationship is often driven by giving direct answers and helping someone complete a task or solve a problem.
2. Mentoring – Mentors guide by sharing their experience and wisdom, often over the long term. The mentor’s role is to provide insights based on their own career path, but this is most effective when grounded in understanding the mentee’s goals.
3. Sponsorship – Sponsors use their influence and connections to create opportunities for others. They advocate for the person they sponsor, putting their own reputation on the line to open doors and offer recognition.
4. Coaching – Coaching is about fostering self-discovery and clarity. It’s driven by asking the right questions rather than offering solutions, helping individuals align their personal values with their goals.
Being intentional about which type of relationship you are fostering—and developing coaching skills to facilitate any of them—can make a profound difference in how you help others grow.