How do you balance your sponsor responsibilities with your other operational and strategic roles?

1 Align your roles

One of the first steps to balance your sponsor responsibilities with your other roles is to align them with the vision, goals, and priorities of the organization. Make sure that your transition project is aligned with the strategic direction and objectives of the organization, and that it supports your operational and functional goals. This way, you can avoid conflicts of interest, duplication of efforts, or misalignment of expectations. You can also leverage your existing relationships, networks, and influence to support the transition project and its stakeholders.

2 Delegate and empower

Another key step to balance your sponsor responsibilities with your other roles is to delegate and empower the project team and stakeholders. As a sponsor, you don't need to be involved in every detail or decision of the project. You need to trust and empower the project manager and the project team to deliver the project scope, schedule, budget, and quality. You also need to delegate some of your operational and functional tasks to your direct reports or peers, and provide them with the authority, resources, and feedback they need to perform well. This way, you can free up some of your time and focus on the strategic and critical aspects of your roles.

3 Communicate and collaborate

A third step to balance your sponsor responsibilities with your other roles is to communicate and collaborate effectively with the project team and stakeholders. As a sponsor, you need to communicate the vision, benefits, and impacts of the change to the organization, and address any concerns or resistance. You also need to collaborate with the project manager and the project team to monitor the project progress, risks, issues, and changes, and provide them with the guidance, support, and escalation they need. You also need to communicate and collaborate with your peers, managers, and other leaders to align your roles, expectations, and priorities, and share best practices and lessons learned.

4 Plan and prioritize

A fourth step to balance your sponsor responsibilities with your other roles is to plan and prioritize your tasks and activities. As a sponsor, you need to allocate enough time and energy to fulfill your sponsor duties, such as attending project meetings, reviewing project deliverables, approving project changes, and engaging with stakeholders. You also need to plan and prioritize your operational and strategic tasks and activities, such as managing your team, delivering your business objectives, and participating in other initiatives. You can use tools such as calendars, agendas, action lists, and dashboards to help you plan and prioritize your tasks and activities, and track your progress and performance.

5 Balance and recharge

A fifth step to balance your sponsor responsibilities with your other roles is to balance and recharge yourself. As a sponsor, you may face a lot of pressure, stress, and challenges in leading and supporting a transition project. You may also have competing demands, expectations, and responsibilities from your other roles. You need to balance your work and personal life, and take care of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. You can do this by setting boundaries, managing your workload, seeking feedback, asking for help, celebrating successes, learning from failures, and taking breaks.

6 Adapt and improve

A final step to balance your sponsor responsibilities with your other roles is to adapt and improve yourself. As a sponsor, you need to be flexible, agile, and resilient in dealing with changes, uncertainties, and complexities in the transition project. You also need to be open, curious, and willing to learn from your experiences, feedback, and results in your other roles. You can do this by seeking opportunities for improvement, innovation, and growth, and applying the lessons learned and best practices from your transition project and other roles. You can also seek coaching, mentoring, or training to enhance your skills, knowledge, and competencies as a sponsor and a leader.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?