Occasionally, and often without reason, creative enterprises can come unstuck; mired in creative battles, confused by lack of direction or just a little lost in a challenging environment! In times like these, an independent, experienced voice can analyse effectively the business challenges involved, mentor a renewed sense of purpose and re-establish an enterprise with clear direction.
Often it is said that experience is what we get, when we dont get what we want! Perhaps this is true, in part. My experience, over twenty years of successful engagement within the creative industries, has shown me that, whether its business development or strategic planning, personnel or financial management, no situation is intractable. Given space, and maybe a clearer view from some distance, every business challenge can have a positive outcome.
Reflecting on these challenges, my office offers your enterprise an independent Mentor. Someone you can trust. A discreet professional who brings credible experience and proven insight to finding the right path for businesses perhaps uncertain about their direction!
Why is Mentoring important? Mentoring can play a critical role in the advancement of business professionals and their enterprise. Lack of mentoring, exclusion from networks, and the absence of role models are often cited as the key barriers to business advancement for owner/managers of SMEs.
A mentoring relationship can provide structure for the development of individual skills and business capacities. It offers a pathway for creative entrepreneurs to have the professional role model they need to ignite them towards increased professional success.
How does Mentoring work? A mentoring relationship, developed around the model outlined below, is based on sharing my professional experience and knowledge with a client. It will address specific personal projects, business challenges and general conditions in the clients profession.
The success of a mentoring programme depends directly on the engagement of both parties and responsibility of both for its progress. As mentor, my role is to share relevant experiences, and primarily allow the client to apply that knowledge in a way that best suits their purpose but which is demonstrated in concrete actions. Our success will be measured as the achievement of the initial goals and our satisfaction with the mentoring relationship.
Meetings can be arranged on or off site, and regular contact by email, phone or skype will facilitate efficient communication.
Step 1 Trust and Respect
Establish a personal credibility and rapport; Understand the business: services, revenue streams, capacity and history. Step 2 Plan
Content Establish/renew: Individual goals and needs with distinction in corporate & individual ambitions, expectations and requirements; Brand position; Enterprise's position in the business cycle. Context Analyse conditions: environment for future development, growth and success. Circumstances: abilities, strengths and weaknesses across the business profile - creative, finance, organisation/logistics, focus, personality, etc. History: proven abilities; established networks. Step 3 Support.
Motivate and encourage Participate and facilitate brainstorm/sound board sessions. Assist a process that facilitates the principals to work on rather than in its business. Provide guidance through complex bureacratic environment. Guidance in crises management. Step 4 Coach
Transfer skills; stimulate and guide. Communication skills: language and presentation. Management models: Strategic planning, Project, Marketing, IT, Operations. Process and planning: market research; brand development; positioning & promotion. Step 5 Challenge
Reason and rationale Establish clear consequence/outcomes for actions taken. Ground rules for decision-making. Objective assessment.
Step 6 Growth
Contribute to identifying new markets and opportunities. Examine viability of new concepts/ideas/products and services. Assess impact to the business of any potential new developments. Expand and improve mentor/peer group.
FEES There will be no fee charged for an initial exploratory consultation.
An agreed hourly rate will be charged for each subsequent session and, where applicable, travel and administration expenses incurred will be passed on.
If you think I could assist, then give me a call: +353 87 2568692 or, if you prefer, drop me a mail to info@eunanmckinney.com
