Creative Coaching
1 to 1 coaching for creative professionals seeking clarity, confidence and direction.
Illustration by Al Murphy from my book ‘Creative Demons and How to Slay Them’
When it’s going well making a living through your creativity can be hugely rewarding. Yet it’s all too easy to fall prey to the demon of self-doubt, to become burnt out and lose confidence in your voice, or to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about where you should focus.
The good news is that coaching can help.
“Working with Richard was eye opening and inspiring. Thanks to his guidance, I was able to resolve and understand some problems that I’ve been facing for years. Just what I needed to further my career and creativity. I highly recommend him.”
Who is creative coaching for?
Creative coaching is for anyone seeking clarity, confidence and direction in their personal or professional creative life.
Coaching can help you …
Define your creative identity
Rediscover confidence and overcome blocks
Improve skills like creative leadership, idea generation and pitching
Unlock new opportunities
Find a deeper purpose
There’s more about the process in this short video …
How does it work?
We begin with a free 30 minute introductory call to discuss what you’d like to achieve and how coaching can help. Then – if the fit feels right – we work together in 90 minute sessions, in person or online, typically spaced every two weeks. You can either book individual sessions or a block of six sessions as part of The Creative Transformation Programme.
“Richard is an inspirational man to learn from - kind with a warm demeanour that you can really connect with. He helped me hugely in being able to see the wood for the trees in my career. Can’t recommend him highly enough. ”
The Creative Transformation Programme
Together, over the course of three months in 6 x 90 minute sessions we’ll …
Clarify your creative identity
Grow your creative confidence
Develop your creative skills
Determine the best path to your creative future
“I was at what felt like a cross roads, and Richard really helped me find a stronger sense of direction. Since working with him a range of interesting work opportunities opened up and I’m about to start an exciting creative leadership role. ”
Each coaching journey is different and I’ll tailor my approach to your particular needs, but this an example of the kind of path we could follow …
Session 1 / Understand your creative self
In our first session we’ll identify your distinctive qualities as a creative. We’ll talk about the creative work you’ve made so far, explore what it says about your strengths and weaknesses, discuss your ambitions for the future and establish some clear objectives for the coaching ahead. I may give you a simple, regular creative exercise to complete between sessions.
Session 2 / Define your creative vision
For this session I’ll ask you to bring along a selection of creative work you really admire. We’ll discuss what great work means to you - and through that conversation define your own personal creative vision. You’ll take away a set of creative values that are unique to you and will help you evaluate and refine your own work in future.
Session 3 / Overcome your creative demons
We all carry with us a host of creative demons; self-doubt, procrastination and fear of failure among them. By working through the 7 stages of the creative process and talking about which steps you find easy and where you struggle, we’ll flush yours out. And I’ll provide strategies for you to manage them.
Session 4 / Develop your skills
To be a successful creative you have to draw on a portfolio of different skills. Midway through the program we’ll take the time to tackle any weaknesses you feel have. We can look at areas like pitching and presenting, creative leadership, copywriting or taking and giving feedback.
Session 5 / IKIGAI – Your path to purpose
In the fifth session we’ll turn our gaze to the wider world and consider what impact you’d like your creative work to have. We’ll use the IKIGAI model to help you clarify a deeper sense of purpose to motivate and sustain you through the challenges ahead.
Session 6 / Establish your North Star
In our final session we’ll recap on the key insights from your creative coaching journey and look at how they can orientate your creative future. We’ll consider practical steps you can take – like how you position yourself online – to make the most of creative opportunities that are right for you.
Why work with me?
As someone who’s made a living through their creativity, first at the BBC, then as the founder of a creative and design agency, and ultimately as a writer and coach, I know the joy and pain that committing yourself to a creative life can bring. I’ve even written a book about it. And woven through my successes have been a series of hard knocks that have given me a deeper empathy for anyone who feels like they’re struggling. Over the past seven years I’ve coached close to a hundred people so there’s a good chance I’ve worked with someone in a similar situation to you.
“Richard’s caring, personalized approach to coaching has changed how I work. I’m forever grateful for our conversations.”
How much does creative coaching cost?
Individual 90 minute sessions are £280 (inc. VAT) / €340 / $380. The creative transformation package of 6 x 90 minutes sessions over three months is £1440 (inc. VAT) / €1750 / $1950. Contact me directly for the corporate rate.
What happens next?
Hit the button below to book a free 30 minute introductory call. This is an opportunity for you to tell me about your situation and what you’d like to achieve, for me to answer any questions you have about the process, and for both of us to see if were a good fit for coaching. I look forward to hearing from you.
“Having Richard as a mentor not only broadened my experience, but also my understanding of the creative process and how to create truly impactful work. I wouldn’t have been able to take the next step in my career without him.”
“It was a pleasure meeting and working with you. It’s been truly a wonderful experience and I’ve learned so much.”
“The sessions with Richard brought me so much joy. It was an amazing space to think, talk and look at things from different perspectives. For these reasons and so many others, Richard is the best creative mentor one could dream of!”
“Thank you for all your insight during our sessions. Loved the time we spent talking together about ideas, process, inspiration and presentation.”