Working with a coach can give artists space to step back and see how well your current work aligns with where you want to be.
We all exist in the overlap between our various priorities. You might have multiple projects at different stages: new ideas brewing; some that need focused production time and others that are ready to be out in the world.
Ideally these three stages are well balanced and you have the resources you need to take care of yourself and your needs as a human being at the same time.
But often our available time and attention gets used up by whatever’s urgent and we don’t often take time and space to reflect on the overall direction of our practice and how well it fits with our needs as an artist and as a person.
www.herdingfish.co.uk
I offer a free 30 min call to anyone who wants to know more about how I work.
PLOT
n area of land
v to plan a journey/progress
Using language and processes associated with gardening has helped me unpick some of the chaos that’s crept into my creative practice recently.
Thinking of my studio as an overgrown garden helps separate the things I can control from the things that just are.
As part of my coaching work, I’ve created an online workshop to share the process with others at the start of the new year.
https://herdingfish.co.uk/product/plot-january-2024/
Coaching is a process that supports artists who want to focus on exploring and developing their work with intention. As a coach, I help individuals get really clear about the work they make and why they do it. Life is full of urgent things that endlessly demand your attention. Getting clear about your priorities will stop you from geting pulled all over the place and make time for the work that matters.
I’m delighted to see coaching becoming more present in the arts. Many artist support programmes now include or encourage an element of one-to-one support. This is often labelled as coaching and/or mentoring, without clearly defining which. A coach works with their clients by helping them identify and achieve their own personal goals. A mentor has specific expertise relevant to their clients’ needs and supports them by giving access to that experience.
Coaching supports artists by providing a focused thinking space to explore creative ideas and personal motivations. A coaching session could be used to devise a project plan or map out structures. Artists often resist ambitions and goals, but these are central to coaching. In this context a goal can be anything that stops you going round in circles and sets you up to complete something. You start by declaring what you want to get done – then work back and figure out how to get there.
My work as a coach is person-centred. Who and how my clients are as individuals is central to how they are as artists. Their available energy and focus set the tone for whatever season of practice they are in. I provide a space for self-observation, curiosity and focus. From there clients untangle themselves and connect with the possibilities of their work. Together we set goals, and a block of sessions creates accountability.
Introductory Calls
Coaching usually starts with a short Introductory Call (or Chemistry Call). I offer free 30-minute slots for this as way for both of us to find out if the artist’s expectations match what I offer. In that call, I ask about the main reason for wanting coaching at this point, and what the artist hopes to get from the process. All coaches offer these calls and it’s worth speaking to a few people to get a taste for variations in approach so you feel confident in whoever you chose to work with.
People often ask about the difference between coaching and mentoring. The definitions I use are:
- a COACH works with their clients by helping them identify and achieve their own goals (internal answers)
- a MENTOR shares their own experience so the other person can benefit from knowing how the mentor’s career unfolded (external answers)
In reality, these meanings aren’t fixed. The terms gets used in different ways, and some people blend them into their own unique style.
If you’re looking for support, the key difference is whether you want someone to review your work to date and steer to you towards possible next steps (external answers), or you want to work on your personal connection with your practice and by deepening your understanding of your process, identify your own next steps (internal answers).
Both approaches are useful. There are times when it’s really valuable to sit down with someone who can view your work in a wider context and suggest directions, opportunities and resources that might be relevant for you. And there are other times when it’s important to reflect on what your work means to you as a person and how your practice reflects your overall values and intentions.
I believe that when you really understand the core of your work, and what makes it uniquely yours, the next steps become much more obvious. When we stop thinking about what we should do and start doing work that really resonates with who we are, all the external stuff falls into place much more easily.
