Last week, we celebrated the “Torch-Bearers” — the women at the height of their fields that are redefining what leadership looks like. It is easy to look at them and feel inspired. It also is easy to feel like their level of impact is out of reach.

However, the “Giants” of February and the “Pioneers” of March all share one secret: none of them got there alone.

If we are standing on shoulders, we have a biological and moral obligation to reach down. This week, we are talking about The Art of the Reach. Mentorship isn’t just a corporate buzzword; it is the mechanism of our survival and our success.

You Are Someone’s Giant

The biggest myth about mentorship is that you have to be “finished” or “at the top” to help someone else. The truth is, if you are even one step ahead of someone else, you have a vantage point that person doesn’t have. You are a Giant to the person behind you.

To master the “Art of the Reach,” we have to understand the three ways we can show up for others:

The Mentor (The Guide): You share the “secret menu.” You tell them about the mistakes you made so they can avoid making the same. You help them navigate the unwritten rules of the industry.

The Sponsor (The Advocate): This is the most powerful form of reaching. A sponsor is someone that mentions a person’s name in a room full of opportunities when that person isn’t even there to speak for herself or himself.

The Peer-Mentor (The Partner): Sometimes the best reach isn’t down, but across. Peer-mentors keep one another accountable, share resources, and ensure no one in the circle is left behind.

Breaking the “Scarcity Myth”

For too long, we’ve been told that there is only one seat at the table for “people like us.” This myth creates gatekeeping. But the Giants didn’t fight for one seat; they fought to build a bigger table.

When you mentor someone, you aren’t giving away your power. You are multiplying it. A room with ten empowered people always is more influential than a room with one.

The “Reach Out” Challenge

This week, I want us to move from theory to action. I am challenging myself and all of you to do two things:

Look Up: Send a 2-sentence email to someone whose shoulders you are standing on. Just say, “This month, I’m reflecting on my growth and want to thank you for the path you paved for me.”

Reach Down: Identify one person that is a few steps behind you. Offer her or him 15 minutes of your time, a resource that helped you, or a simple word of encouragement.

Who has been a “Giant” in your career? Or better yet, how are you planning to be a Giant for someone else this week?

Please stay connected with us at chrisokeynnokwam.com so you won’t miss the next deep dive!

May God help us and shower us all with both His blessings and the things that make life sweet.