Quiz - Build Your Power Team: Do You Need a Coach, Mentor, or Sponsor? Take this short quiz to discover which type of support your career needs right now. This quiz is adapted from Chapter 4: The Opportunity Pillar of Beverly Vanterpool’s book Build Your Table: Find Career Clarity, Make Bold Pivots and Thrive . Many professionals confuse mentorship with sponsorship, yet they play very different roles in your career success. As author Beverly Vanterpool notes, “You go to a mentor for advice and knowledge while you go to a sponsor for their power and influence.” This simple quiz will help you determine what type of support, coach, mentor or sponsor, might be best suited to your current career needs. 1. What is your primary reason for seeking support right now? a) I feel stuck or unsure. I want help clarifying my direction, overcoming patterns, and working on my mindset. b) I generally know my direction but want practical guidance and wisdom from someone who has “been there and done that.” c) I need the “inside scoop” on how to navigate the specific politics or career paths within my current organization or sector. d) I am ready for a specific promotion or opportunity, but I need someone with influence to advocate for me in rooms where I am not present. 2. How clear are you on your career direction? a) Unclear. I feel conflicted and need a safe space to explore my options and values. b) Reasonably clear. I know broadly what I want (e.g., “become a VP”) but need advice on the general skills to get there. c) Very clear on the where, but I need help understanding the how, specifically the unwritten rules of this company. d) Crystal clear. I have the skills and the plan; now I need a decision-maker to use their political capital to open the door for me. 3. What type of interaction do you prefer? a) A structured partner who asks probing questions to help me find my own answers. b) A supportive relationship where I can listen to stories, ask for advice, and learn from their experience.
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Build Your Power | April 2026
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