One of the powerful drivers on Steemit is the ability to upvote other people’s posts and comments. It is a systemic driver because it does not ‘cost’ you anything, but rather pushes the post upward, enabling it to gain even more traction and eventually giving you — as a curator — the ability to share in the rewards from that post.

This matters to the dynamics of Steemit and Steemians, not only because of the potential rewards, but more importantly because of the deeply human need to:

• Share your thoughts and emotions
• Be recognized for your contribution
• Get a sense that you have a place in the community

As each and any one of us experiences his or her own life-journey, every one of us can use some luck, some breaks and some support once in a while.

The best way to take care of one another is to offer a particular kind of support. It is not ‘helping’ some else out of a particular spot of misery. It is not offering the ‘solution’ to his or her problem. It is not telling him or her what to do.

It is providing 100% of your attention to a particular person at a particular time. As a coach, I call this ‘Authentic Sponsorship’. It is a kind of support that stems from the deep belief that another person has potential and deserves to be successful.

Authentic Sponsorship ≠ Commercial sponsoring

The origin of the word ‘Sponsorship’ comes from Latin: “spondere”, meaning to promise, to pledge or to vow. The root of this verb can be found in ‘responsible’, ‘spouse’ and ‘sponsor’.

Until a few decades ago, a ‘sponsor’ gave his or her support to another individual because he or she believed in the other person. This sponsorship could take to form of access to certain resources, promotion or money. In recent decades, this devolved into a mere opportunistic commercial transaction. More often than not, commercial sponsorship has nothing to do with the authentic belief in someone’s potential and the willingness to support this person.

One of my deep beliefs is that every person on earth has the potential — and deserves — to be successful. Sometimes your journey to success is being hampered by limitations and obstacles. More often than not, a person is confronted with limiting behaviours, limiting beliefs or a complex of systemic limitations.

Maybe you are lucky to live in an environment that already provides you with a lot of resources that support you in your life journey. But that doesn’t mean that what works well you, will work as well for another. We are all different, dealing with different situations and individual backgrounds, experiences and skillset.

Give authentic sponsorship messages

This is why it’s helpful to have one or more Sponsors. People who believe in you. Not only for your work, skills or achievements, but more importantly for who you truely are.

A true sponsor will move you forward by challenging your way of thinking. He or she will stimulate you to expand your boundaries, extend your relationships and explore possibilities. An authentic sponsor does this from a place without judgement. A place of trust, courage and compassion with true and positive intention towards the other.

A sponsor can make this clear by giving positive Sponsorship messages:

“I see you!”
“I believe in you!”
“I value your vision!”
“I support you in your ambition!”
“You belong here!”
“You’re a valuable member to our community!”
“Your contribution is important!”
“What you do is worth the effort!”

But saying these sentences in a one-on-one conversation is not always as easy as it seems. As a friend or colleague, you’ll quickly find yourself judging the other. Or thinking you know the ‘solution’ to his or her problem. Sometimes you’ll catch yourself being too quick in offering some ‘good advice’. Or sometimes you are a part of his or her problem and you find yourself unable to be authentic…

As a sponsor it’s important to develop a mindset of openess, receptivity, connection and holding the space for another person in order for him or her to explore and grow. It’s as if you are an active witness to another person’s life journey.

Wherever it may lead…

As you take on the role of Active and Authentic Sponsor for someone, you’ll notice that you’ll get much in return. By giving authentic sponsorship messages you’re actively reinforcing a systemic feedback loop. Sponsorship leads to appreciation, which leads to reciprocity. By being and active and authentic sponsor, you’re feeding a powerful human impulse, with emergent effects for the whole community that you are part of.

Back to you

So what do you think?
What are your experiences when offering Authentic Sponsorship messages?
How does it feel when you are receiving such messages?
What's holding you back?
How has active sponsorship moved you forward?
What are good practices on Steemit for providing Authentic Sponsorship?

Share and let us know!