6 Traits of an Amazing AA Sponsor (2024)

Last Updated: September 12, 2023|Author:Diana Lomont, MS

6 Traits of an Amazing AA Sponsor (1)

Walking through the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous requires nothing less than a soul-searching journey and open willingness to embark into the unknown. As easy as it may be to read a list of 12 steps, it’s much harder to live sober day-by-day with all of the challenges and surprises life throws your way. That’s why having an AA sponsor is so important.

While AA sponsorship is not required to join, having the support of a sponsor can be a big part of your recovery, especially as a newcomer to AA.

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How to Find an AA Sponsor

If you’re wondering how to find an AA sponsor, start with who you know. Has anyone been recommended to you? If not, keep your mind and heart open to other people you meet at AA meetings. Take some time to get to know them and see if you feel they have the right qualities to be your sponsor. Here are six traits to look for in an amazing AA sponsor:

  1. 6 Traits of an Amazing AA Sponsor (3)Someone You Feel Comfortable With
    Feeling at ease with your sponsor is one of the most important qualities to look for. This may start with someone you can identify with, for example, someone who shares a similar background or spiritual perspective as yours. While it may be helpful to have things in common with you, your sponsor should also respect you as a unique individual. Moreover, this person should be someone you’re comfortable sharing your innermost feelings and personal challenges with.
  2. Knowledgeable and Experienced
    Your sponsor should have completed AA’s 12 Steps of recovery and be living drug-free. As AA says, there are no specific rules for the length of time a person should be sober before becoming a sponsor. However, in their pamphlet about sponsorship, AA does suggest that a sponsor should probably have at least a year of sobriety under their belt. What’s even more important is that your sponsor regularly shares their AA knowledge and experience with you while supporting you on your path to recovery.
  3. A Good Listener
    A good listener is someone who listens to you with their heart and mind. When you share your thoughts and feelings with your AA sponsor, you should feel accepted and supported. You and your sponsor may not always agree with each other, but that’s okay. The most important thing is that you each listen to and respect one other’s feedback and perspectives.
  4. Motivational, Not Controlling
    Having a sponsor who motivates you to keep moving forward with the 12 Steps is extremely important. Motivation to attend meetings regularly and to do your homework can easily wane as other life priorities demand your attention. Your sponsor’s job is to help you stay on track with consistent communication that’s encouraging without being demanding or controlling. Your sponsor should not tell you what to do in your life but should motivate you to stick with AA and your commitment to sobriety.
  5. A Caring Personality
    Having someone support you with a sincere, caring concern for your life and future is even more important than having a lot in common with your sponsor. A caring sponsor will put the time in to think about your situation, refer you to helpful resources, or introduce you to other people who can support you in recovery in different ways. Caring also includes being dedicated to following AA guidelines for being a good sponsor. A caring sponsor is someone dedicated to serving your needs with healthy boundaries.
  6. Someone Who Is Available
    Make sure a potential sponsor has enough available time and flexibility to support your needs as part of AA sponsorship. This should include meeting with you one-on-one outside of AA meetings to discuss any questions, experiences, or concerns you would like to share. Keep in mind that your sponsor also has their own life to lead. Think about other AA peers you can develop friendships with in case your sponsor goes on vacation or is unexpectedly available during a critical time for you. It’s always helpful to have someone else to call.

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Asking Someone to be Your AA Sponsor

Now that you have more ideas on how to find an AA sponsor who is a good fit for you, don’t hesitate to ask. Anyone would be honored to be considered for such an important role in AA sponsorship. Just remember, your AA sponsor is not your therapist or life problem-solver. It’s still critical to receive professional treatment for alcohol use disorder. Treatment will provide you with a solid foundation for moving forward successfully in recovery.

If you’d like information about alcohol rehab options, call 800-948-84176 Traits of an Amazing AA Sponsor (5)Calls are forwarded to paid advertisers to take the first step toward your recovery.

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6 Traits of an Amazing AA Sponsor (2024)

FAQs

6 Traits of an Amazing AA Sponsor? ›

Your role as a sponsor is to share your experience, strength, and hope, support accountability, and share resources with your sponsee. In keeping with the 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, sponsors do not endorse or promote any cause.

What are the expectations of an AA sponsor? ›

Your role as a sponsor is to share your experience, strength, and hope, support accountability, and share resources with your sponsee. In keeping with the 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, sponsors do not endorse or promote any cause.

What does it take to be a good sponsor? ›

Great sponsors move beyond transactional conversations (“Where do you want to be a year from now?”) to invest in authentic connections with their sponsees. They don't interpret the absence of a target role as a bellwether of a sponsee's potential, and they don't withdraw if a sponsee needs time to formulate next steps.

What do I look for in a sponsor? ›

It's best if your sponsor is someone you respect and trust but not someone with whom you have long-standing personal relationship. Some people prefer a sponsor of the same gender or who has a similar backstory, but this isn't always necessary for a good sponsor-sponsee relationship.

What does the big book say about sponsorship? ›

Sponsorship becomes a part of the program. Sponsorship wasn't associated with Alcoholics Anonymous in the beginning; in fact, nowhere in the first 164 pages of the Big Book — the section of the A.A. “Bible” that has remained largely unchanged since it was first written — is the word “sponsor” even mentioned.

How to answer sponsorship questions? ›

“Yes, I need employer sponsorship to work within the United States. I am interested in the ___ visa but am open to other options (such as an H-1B visa, O-1 visa, or EB-2 green card).” “I have work authorization through my current visa until ___ (state month and year that your visa expires).

What does your sponsor do? ›

What is a Sponsor? Visa sponsor term is used simply for people who cover all the expenses for the ones who do not have an income certificate to pay their expenses during their travel abroad.

What are the characteristics of a sponsor? ›

Sponsors will have the inside track and have the ability to talk about you to people who know nothing about you. It's truly important to have an advocate who has access to closed door meetings. Sponsors help you bypass barriers, so that you can progress quickly and more smoothly in your career.

What are the three most important roles of a sponsor? ›

The major responsibilities of the project sponsor are to: Ensure the project's initial and ongoing validity and viability. Keep the project aligned with business objectives to achieve predetermined success criteria. Ensure the team initiates the project properly.

What are 3 positive benefits associated with being a sponsor? ›

Sponsorship offers several benefits for both sponsors and the entities they support. For sponsors, it can lead to increased brand visibility, enhanced reputation, access to a targeted audience, opportunities for direct customer engagement, and association with positive events or causes.

How do you impress a sponsor? ›

When you give your pitch, you need to highlight the appeal of your event but also demonstrate how it will benefit the sponsor. Emphasize the ways in which your event will attract new customers, increase revenues and boost marketing. After the pitch, thank the potential sponsors for their time.

How do I get the most out of a sponsor? ›

Understand their network and span of influence so that if they want to do something for you, they can make it happen. Make sure they are in a position to actually help you if they want to. And start small. You risk scaring people off if you ask them outright to be your sponsor.

How do you evaluate the success of a sponsor? ›

Many sponsors measure the impact of their partnerships by quantifying the output: the visibility of the logo, the traffic on site, the TV or web audience, the media coverage, the number of interactions with the public, etc.

What is the role of a sponsor in AA? ›

Defined, the primary role of an AA sponsor is to guide a junior member through the prescribed 12 steps of AA; a role identified in approved AA literature and recently confirmed in a qualitative study of the perceived roles of 38 AA sponsors (Whelan, Marshall, Ball & Humphreys, 2009).

Why is sponsor so important? ›

A sponsor will actively advocate for you, put your name forward for high-stakes assignments that win notice and promotion, and spend their political capital at work in your name. These roles are hugely important and can build your career in different ways.

Can you change sponsors in AA? ›

Whether you do not see eye to eye with your sponsor or you think you are looking for something more, it is okay to change sponsors in a 12-step program.

What does a sponsor do for an event? ›

What is an Event Sponsorship? Event sponsorship is when an organization provides financial assistance to an event to achieve promotional advantages. Sponsorships can come in the form of a cash exchange for assets or a barter exchange involving products or services.

What are expectations in AA? ›

In A.A. meetings we hear that expectations are premeditated resentments. This is very true. Expectations not only lead to resentments but they interfere with our growth and with a healthy connection with others. The Gestalt Therapy prayer comes to mind.

What does a project sponsor do? ›

A project sponsor is a senior management role that provides resources, support, and leadership to the project team and generally “owns” the project. This person also serves as a link between the project manager and other decision-making groups.

Is an AA sponsor helps a participant by providing support empathy and accountability True or false? ›

Furthermore, studies have indicated that individuals in AA with a sponsor report better attendance, increased involvement in the group, and improved treatment outcomes. A sponsor's support is instrumental in helping members stay abstinent and progress through the program.

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