Business Mentoring for Creatives
As a creative, the business side of your business may sometimes feel a little less exciting than the art itself, but a business mentor who understands that can help bridge that gap, bringing focus and structure to the business development side of your creative journey and growth.
Our Directors are experienced business mentors, having worked with creatives on behalf of Business Link, Creative Management Skills Bootcamps, The University of Portsmouth School of Business and Law and Solent Partners.
Here are some strategies to get the most out of your business mentoring session so you can reach your goals faster and feel empowered during the journey.
Business Mentoring for Creatives
Define Clear Business Mentoring Goals
The first step to a successful business mentoring relationship is to know what you want to achieve. This might sound obvious, but having clear, specific goals gives your mentor a direction to work toward and helps both of you measure progress.
Start by asking yourself:
- What’s my vision for my creative career? Is it expanding your client base, launching a product line, or even starting a creative studio?
- What skills or knowledge gaps do I want to fill? Maybe you’re looking to strengthen your business skills, manage your time better, or understand pricing strategies.
When you meet with your business mentor, share these goals upfront. Not only does this help you stay focused, but it also allows your business mentor to tailor their advice and guidance more effectively.
Be Open to Feedback
A good business mentor will push you, sometimes challenging your ideas or urging you to try new things that feel outside your comfort zone. This can be tough for creatives, especially when your work can be so personal and feedback feels like criticism. But remember that mentoring aims to help you grow and succeed.
Here’s how to embrace business mentoring feedback:
- Separate yourself from your work: Feedback on your work isn’t a critique of your identity but an opportunity to refine your craft and business approach. We often find that setting up as a limited company helps the creative to separate themselves from the business, which helps take the sting out of feedback. Learning to see yourself and your identity as separate from your business is really valuable in order to grow.
- Stay curious: Ask follow-up questions to better understand your mentor’s perspective. If they suggest a different approach, ask about the reasoning behind it and the potential benefits.
- Stretch your comfort zones: People say growth happens when we push past our comfort zones, and a mentor’s feedback is one of the best tools for reaching new heights. However, we sometimes prefer to stretch our comfort zones as different feedback approaches work for different people; this feedback can be tailored to your personality and learning style.
- Be open and authentically you: All of our mentoring sessions rely on us building solid relationships with you so that we understand and get to your preferred communication styles; we are able to communicate best when we have an honest and open dialogue about any neurodivergence or other communication needs. This allows us to stretch our comfort zones gently without causing upsets or being direct if that’s your preferred communication style.
Actively Participate
Business mentoring is a two-way street; you’re not just a passive recipient. To maximise your learning, show up prepared and engaged for each session. Treat it like an investment in your future.
Here are some tips to stay proactive:
- Come prepared: Bring questions, updates, or even challenges you’ve faced since your last meeting. Share wins, and don’t be afraid to talk about setbacks.
- Implement advice: If your mentor suggests specific actions, give them a try before your next session. Experiment with different strategies, and don’t wait for everything to be “perfect” before taking action.
By actively participating, you’ll gain more practical experience and create a feedback loop where your mentor can see your progress and give you insights based on your real-world attempts.
Networks and Resources
Your business mentor likely has a wealth of industry connections and resources that could be valuable to you, so don’t hesitate to tap into these. Often, mentors can introduce you to people who might be future collaborators, clients, or even future mentors.
When networking:
- Be specific about your needs: If you’re looking to break into a new market, for example, ask if your mentor knows anyone with experience in that area.
- Respect their network: Mentors trust you with these connections, so approach them professionally, and don’t overwhelm new contacts with too many asks at once.
A mentor’s network can be a significant advantages of a business mentoring relationship, and it can open doors that might otherwise take years to unlock.
Reflection and Application
Learning from a mentor is a continuous process. After each session, take a few minutes to reflect on what you’ve discussed. Journaling about your insights or keeping a “mentor log” can help solidify the knowledge and give you a reference to review later.
Some ideas for reflection include:
- What advice resonated with me?
- What actions do I plan to take based on this conversation?
- What follow-up questions might I have for next time?
These reflections will help you internalize the guidance and see the cumulative impact of each session.
Business mentoring is one of the most powerful resources for creative professionals to grow and succeed. When you go into it with clear goals, a willingness to be challenged, an eagerness to participate, an openness to networking, and a habit of reflection, you’ll be primed to make the most of every session.
Your mentor’s wisdom can’t do the work for you, but with these strategies, you can use it as a roadmap to success. So, take these tips, approach your mentoring relationship with intention, and watch how it transforms your creative career!
“
My mentor and I rapidly achieved some key goals for my business plan. The experience was fabulous. Not only did she help me understand my needs and priorities she delved also into my manifesto and helped me see deeper, in the core of my enterprise so my projects can have longevity and meaning.”
Vivi Markatos, Director Blue Bear Studios
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