There’s something about spring that makes us believe in starting again.
Not from scratch. Not perfectly. But intentionally.
In the Resilience Tree, growth doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens through what I call branches (the people who support, stretch, and sustain us over time).
And here’s what I’ve learned, both in leadership and in my own journey:
Support doesn’t come in just one form; and it’s rarely found in just one person.
For a long time, I thought I needed one mentor who could be everything (someone who could guide me, advocate for me, challenge me, and understand me fully).
When that didn’t happen, I felt it.
I questioned myself. I wondered if I was missing something… or missing out.
What I didn’t realize then was this:
I already had support. I just didn’t have language for it.
Naming the Branches
Over time, I began to notice patterns in how support showed up in my life and work.
Not everyone supported me in the same way; and not everyone was meant to.
That’s when I started naming what I now call Branch Archetypes.
These aren’t formal roles or titles. They are ways people show up in our growth.
When we can name them, we can:
- recognize support more clearly
- release unrealistic expectations
- and intentionally build the ecosystem we need
The Witness
There are people who don’t just see your outcomes, they see your journey.
They remember where you started. They understand what it took to get here.
In the workplace: This might be a colleague who knows the backstory behind your work, or a leader who sees beyond your performance to your persistence.
Reflection:
- Who knows my story, not just my success?
- Where might I need to let myself be more seen?
The Believer
Some people see something in you before you’re ready to claim it yourself.
They name your potential, sometimes long before your confidence catches up.
In the workplace: This could be the person who recommends you for an opportunity you didn’t think you were ready for.
Reflection:
- Who has spoken possibility into me that I initially dismissed?
- What belief might I need to reclaim in this season?
The Encourager
Not every season requires strategy. Some require support.
Encouragers remind you to keep going, especially when things feel heavy, uncertain, or quiet.
In the workplace: This might be the person who checks in after a long meeting, a tough week, or an unseen effort.
Reflection:
- Who helps me stay steady in demanding seasons?
- How do I allow myself to receive encouragement?
The Challenger
Growth often comes from someone who sees what you’re capable of, and doesn’t let you stay where it’s comfortable.
Challengers invite you into opportunities you might not choose on your own.
In the workplace: This is the leader who pushes you to apply, speak up, or step forward when you might hesitate.
Reflection:
- Who stretches me in ways that lead to growth?
- Where might I be holding back out of comfort or fear?
The Space-Holder
Some people don’t rush your growth.
They give you room to process, learn, and evolve, without pressure to perform or produce on demand.
In the workplace: This could be a supervisor who allows for learning curves or a colleague who doesn’t rush your decision-making process.
Reflection:
- Who gives me permission to grow at my own pace?
- Where might I need to offer myself more space?
The Connector
There are people who expand your world by connecting you to others.
They open doors, share opportunities, and extend trust beyond themselves.
In the workplace: This might be someone who introduces you to new collaborators, recommends you behind the scenes, or creates access you didn’t have before.
Reflection:
- Who has expanded my access or opportunities?
- How might I use my own network to support someone else?
The Branch Gatherer (You)
Perhaps the most important shift is this:
You don’t have to wait for support to be assigned to you.
You can learn to notice, name, and nurture the branches already around you, and seek new ones with intention.
In the workplace: This looks like building relationships across roles, asking for guidance, and recognizing informal support systems.
Reflection:
- Where do I already have support I haven’t fully acknowledged?
- What kind of branch do I need more of right now?
Closing Reflection Prompts
Spring doesn’t rush growth. It creates the conditions for it.
As you move through this season, consider:
- Which branches are already supporting my growth?
- Which ones do I need more of?
- And how might I be a branch for someone else?
You don’t have to grow alone. You were never meant to.
Written by Dr. Shauna T. Sobers, author of Resilience Tree: A Model for Women Leaders of Color and Those Who Support Them available for purchase on Amazon or www.shaunatsobers.com/books
Drafting assistance provided by OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The thoughts & stories are my own.