When you train as a practitioner, you’re surrounded by friends. Everyone’s excited about the future and building their practice but the reality of working as a practitioner can be very different.

The feeling of isolation can creep in when you start to build your practice. Many aspects of setting up and running a business mean you're working alone – even when you’re seeing clients, you can still feel lonely. It doesn’t help that most friends and family don’t understand the challenges of running a business or working with clients.

Sadly, I’ve known amazing practitioners, who stopped doing the work they love, because of loneliness.

Build Your Support Network

A basic human need is for connection and community. Being in business is no different and with all the new skills you will have to learn - you need your support network more than ever. A team of people behind you who’re there to celebrate your wins, assist you when you need help, and support you through the challenging times.

Being surrounded by people you trust will help you navigate life as a holistic business owner and keep you company along the way.

Here are 5 ways to build your support network:

Peer Support

When you studied to be a practitioner, you spent time building relationships with others on the course. Continue these by creating peer support groups, where you're helping each other as you set up and grow. They can be a sounding board for ideas and inspiration for working with clients, help you understand and adopt developments within your discipline, and build your businesses.

Business Buddy

This is where you buddy up with a friend or peer and commit to supporting each other. Find someone who has an understanding of what you do, so you can act as a sounding board for each other.

My business buddy is someone I trained with as a marketer and has their own small business.  It’s been priceless knowing there’s someone I trust who’ll listen when I need to offload without judgment or criticism and provide constructive feedback when I need it. We’ve been having weekly catchups for years which are a highlight of my week.

Online Community Groups

These have become popular and can be a brilliant way to find a community of like-minded people. Groups have been created around any topic you can think of, and they can be a great way to build relationships for your business and find new friends, and even new clients.

If you want a support group specifically for therapists, coaches, and healers, come and join Holistic Business Matters. It’s a safe space to share ideas and inspiration, ask questions, and discuss anything that matters when creating a sustainable business – join here. 

Mastermind Group

Mastermind groups are peer-to-peer support groups where the members mentor and coach each other to solve their problems. They’re a great way to build your network, find new business friends, and feel like part of a like-minded community. They are such a great way to bring new ideas and inspiration to your business.

You can create a mastermind group with other practitioners, or small business owners.  It doesn’t matter if they don’t do the same work as you, look for those who have similar business models and values to you.

They can be free where you have an agreement amongst yourselves, but the downside is there is often a lack of commitment to show up and these often dwindle over time. Paid masterminds led and managed by a coach or professional in a specific area are a great option if you want a combination of expert and peer support. These groups create a powerful community built on trust and commitment to support each other and are a great way to move your business forward.

Coaches and Mentors

Coaches and mentors have traditionally different roles, but both support you in creating a thriving business.

Coaches don’t need specific knowledge or experience of your discipline. They facilitate change by exploring your values and aspirations and helping you to find solutions, set goals, create action plans, and keep you accountable.

Mentors will have achieved what you aspire to achieve, and use their experience to advise and support you, providing answers to speed up the process.

I love this quote that describes the difference brilliantly: “A coach has some great questions for your answers; a mentor has some great answers for your questions” Unknown

Combining these approaches is the most powerful option for my clients, hence I call myself a coach-mentor. Yes, I’m a qualified coach but I’m also a chartered marketer and I’ve set up and run my own holistic business, so mentor clients to market themselves and the practicalities of running a business too.

Ultimately, your coach-mentor is there to support you, believes in your potential, and will work with you to help you achieve it in the best way possible. Having this person on your side is a huge support and helps stop feeling like you’re alone.

So as you can see, even though you may work on your own, you don’t have to feel alone on the journey. 

Holistic Hub Mastermind - Doors Open

The doors are open to the Holistic Hub Mastermind for new members starting July 2024.

It’s an exclusive community of 8 like-minded holistic practitioners, all passionate about making a difference and creating a successful business.

If you're fed up with battling alone, this is your chance to surround yourself with the right people - like-minded individuals who get what you do and will support you through the rollercoaster ride that is building a business.

Sound interesting? Get the full details here.