Crafts Business Magazine

What exactly is mentoring?

The Elements of Mentoring, by W. Brad Johnson and Charles R. Ridley defines mentoring as “dynamic, reciprocal, personal relationships in which a more experienced person (mentor) acts as a guide, role model, teacher and sponsor of a less experienced person (protégé).” We are familiar with mentoring in the corporate world: a manager assumes the role of mentor or coach to guide the career development of an employee. Mentoring relationships occur in many different settings. In medicine and other health professions, a student completes an internship under an experienced clinician. Mentoring has been known in the art and craft world for many years as apprenticeships—students learning their craft by working as an apprentice with a veteran, master artisan. But all types of mentoring relationships share the following key components:

• Sharing - Mentors share their knowledge and experience, including their thought processes, perceptions, techniques and successes. But they may also share their bad experiences and failures.
• Challenge - Mentors should direct and advise “mentees,” but give them the tools to find answers themselves. This can still be collaborative, allowing the mentor to shape the process.
• Encouragement and support - Learning can often be intimidating and anxiety producing. Mentees will thrive in this environment with praise and support.
• Communication - Probably the most important aspect of mentoring is open communication.

Why seek out a mentor?

Emerging craft artists look for a mentor to guide them into a fine craft business, while more experienced artists might want to try wholesaling their work or learn more about the business side of their art. Mixed-media artist Pam Corwin sees mentoring as an essential part of her 8-week “Crafts as a Business” class, which she teaches nationwide. She assigns mentors to her students upon graduation. “My students who may leave the class with lots of energy and motivation, but without guidance and support can get easily overwhelmed out there in the real world. With a mentor, students can get ongoing help from someone who has already been through the journey of building their business.”

Jewelry artist Bonnie Blandford is on Corwin’s list of mentors. She didn’t set out to become a mentor. “It chose me. I kept meeting people just starting out who needed some direction, guidance or just plain help.” Bonnie and a new mentee are forming an unconventional mentoring relationship. Jim Rainwoods recently took Pam Corwin’s class to support his wife, who is the designated artist in the family. But Jim found the class to be the impetus to cause him to examine his own creative life. Jim feels personal and professional obligations have kept him from exploring his creative side. Jim hopes that Blandford can help him “believe that the creative urge is worth responding to. I’ve said ‘no’ to it for so many years.” Bonnie first asked Jim to think about his goals. As a result, Jim developed a comprehensive, yearlong plan, “not to a business, but to a life change.” Mentor and mentee have just begun to review the plan. “With goal clarity and Bonnie asking me for updates, I have no doubt I’ll progress.”