While mentorship and sponsorship are pathways for career growth, their real value goes deeper than traditional advice or support. With structure, an eye for opportunities and the right nudge and follow-through, they can grow confident, forward-thinking leaders who drive an organization’s success and otherwise supercharge a career.

Following Adam Grant’s Give and Take philosophy to be a net giver, I have made it a priority to develop leaders whether they work at my current organization or are someone I have met along the way. As I have identified and cultivated individuals along their journeys to CEO, general counsel and other senior executive positions at companies and nonprofits, I have observed how important mentorship and sponsorship are to career growth.

At our nonprofit organization, BBB National Programs, where we aspire to expand the impact and broaden the reach of industry self-regulation as key goals, we realize that to do so effectively, we must create and develop our high-performing team. Mentorship and sponsorship are as vital to individual growth as they are to an organization’s success. And sometimes it also means giving folks the courage to take on a more senior role at another organization (where hopefully they will continue to be net promoters of our mission).

While mentoring benefits may be found in many employee handbooks, I have found that mentoring is an important way to learn from one another or to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and skills for professional growth by using tools such as business books, podcasts or videos. An effective mentoring relationship requires time, careful thought, contributions and effort from both the mentor and mentee. Mentorship can be through a formal program with your employer or through a career-related association or group, but it can also be more informal.

While the relationship may start off by giving tips and advice, its value builds over time as you guide someone’s thinking and open doors to self-discovery. That is why strong mentors are those who encourage their mentees to think critically, build networks and take charge of their own development.

Read the full article about mentorship and sponsorship by Eric Reicin at Forbes.