| | NOVEMBER 2023MANAGEHRMAGAZINE.COM8In MyOpinionJude ResserBy David Rhoden, Vice President of Culture and Inclusion, ChubbTALENT CHAMPIONSHIP: A STRATEGIC TALENT INITIATIVESetting the ContextAccording to the Women in the Workplace report, there is a disparity in the representation of women and racially diverse talent in senior career levels within corporate organizations. As a result, building a talent bench has become a key priority for many organizations as it will help to drive a stronger internal talent pool of candidates to be considered for key leadership roles. Several studies by various organizations across several years have established a clear relationship between career advancement and relationships, especially as it relates to underrepresented demographic groups. One of the initiatives I have found to be effective is a form of relational development I designed, referred to as a `talent championship.'What is Talent Championship?Talent championship is a form of relational development that pairs organizational leaders with early career and emerging talent to provide support and advocacy that is directly tied to career advancement. Talent Championship borrows the best elements of the worlds of coaching, mentorship, and sponsorship but maintains a unique identity. From coaching, it borrows the Socratic methodologies aimed at deepening self-awareness through questioning. From mentorship, it borrows the empathetic behaviors aimed at creating a strong bond and mutual respect, and from sponsorship, it borrows the advocacy actions aimed at career advancement.One of the distinguishing elements of the championship is the participants' engagement, their levels, and the roles they play. The leaders who occupy the talent champion role possess more than just the David Rhoden
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