How do you learn from mentors and develop your own style?

1 Choose your mentors wisely

Not all mentors are created equal. Some may have more experience, expertise, or influence than others, but that does not necessarily mean they are the best fit for you. You want to find mentors who share your values, vision, and passion, who respect your goals and aspirations, and who are willing to invest time and energy in your development. Look for mentors who have diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, who can expose you to new ideas and opportunities, and who can offer constructive feedback and support.

2 Learn from their actions and words

Mentors can teach you a lot by their actions and words. Pay attention to how they plan, execute, and evaluate events, how they communicate, collaborate, and negotiate with clients, vendors, and stakeholders, how they solve problems, handle stress, and overcome challenges, and how they celebrate successes, learn from failures, and improve their performance. Ask them questions, listen to their stories, and observe their behaviors. Try to understand their logic, reasoning, and intuition behind their decisions and actions.

3 Apply their lessons and advice

Learning from mentors is not enough. You also need to apply their lessons and advice to your own projects and situations. Experiment with different techniques, tools, and strategies that they suggest or demonstrate. Adapt them to your own context, preferences, and goals. Test them in practice, measure the results, and reflect on the outcomes. Keep what works, discard what does not, and tweak what needs improvement. Do not be afraid to make mistakes, learn from them, and ask for help when needed.

4 Develop your own style

While mentors can provide valuable guidance and inspiration, they cannot tell you how to be yourself. You need to develop your own style as an event producer, based on your personality, strengths, interests, and values. Your style reflects your identity, vision, and voice as a creative professional. It is what sets you apart from others and makes you stand out. To develop your own style, you need to explore your passions, experiment with your ideas, express your opinions, and embrace your uniqueness.

5 Seek feedback and recognition

Feedback and recognition are essential for learning and growth. They help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, improve your skills and knowledge, and boost your confidence and motivation. Seek feedback and recognition from your mentors, peers, clients, and other sources. Ask for specific, honest, and constructive feedback that can help you improve your performance and achieve your goals. Appreciate and acknowledge the recognition that you receive for your achievements and contributions. Use feedback and recognition as tools to enhance your style and showcase your value.

6 Keep learning and evolving

Learning from mentors and developing your own style are not one-time events. They are ongoing processes that require continuous effort and commitment. You need to keep learning and evolving as an event producer, as the industry, the market, and the audience change and demand new and innovative solutions. You need to keep seeking new mentors, new sources of inspiration, new challenges, and new opportunities. You need to keep refining your style, adding new elements, and removing outdated ones. You need to keep growing as a creative professional and as a person.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?