Engagement: Mentors Help Creative Professionals Grow

Remember the teacher who encouraged you, or even pushed you, to try something new? Or that supervisor who took you under their wing to show you “how things really get done around here?” Maybe you had a business associate who met you for coffee to talk through a troublesome problem. We may not call these people “mentors,” and they may not have even realized it, but these trusted counselors, supporters, advisors and guides help us to navigate the tricky waters of career and life.

For creative people having mentors is especially important. Many of the skills and nuances of our work is not easily learned in a classroom or from a book. It’s often learning-by-doing or, more specifically, learning-by-watching-someone-else. Our peers show us how to best apply a new technique or new tool, which then distinguishes our output from the pack. Often the way we get to work on a great project in the first place is by having another recommend us. Having a well-connected mentor keeping an eye out for you can open doors and accelerate the pace of your career.

So, how do you go about finding a mentor? There are some formal programs--if your company, school or organization offers one, join immediately. You never know who you’ll be matched up with, but they’re participating because they want to help the next generation grow and develop. At minimum you’ll learn something, and you could end up with an amazing lifelong relationship that benefits you both.

If you don’t have access to formal mentorship program, don’t let that stop you. Think about people you know or respect within your professional field or industry, or just somebody that you think is interesting and open to sharing advice with you. Look for people who can be teachers, guides, advisors, supporters, counselors and role models.

Once you’ve identified a person or two, approach them to see if they would be open to chatting with you about your career. Keep it casual--don’t ask them to be your formal mentor. Ask for the opportunity to talk to them, work with them, meet occasionally for coffee, or whatever makes sense. Then be a sponge and soak in everything you can. Come prepared with things to talk about, and thank them for their time and advice. Finally, give back to your mentor as much as you take.
A good mentor/mentee relationship is symbiotic, with each person feeling truly rewarded by the experience.

This article may be reprinted when the copyright and author bio are included. ©2011 Kristen Harris, Portfolio Creative, LLC.