Ending the Mentoring Relationship

Quick reference

• 00:04 Welcome back.
• 00:05 In this lesson, we're going to discuss a subject that's often overlooked,
• 00:10 but is vitally important, how and when to end a mentoring relationship.
• 00:15 Every mentorship journey has a natural lifetime.
• 00:19 The mentor and mentee may have reached the initially set objectives, or
• 00:24 circumstances may have changed, making the current mentorship setup less effective.
• 00:30 Recognizing these signs is the first step to concluding the mentoring relationship.
• 00:36 Ending a mentorship doesn't have to be negative, it's an opportunity to
• 00:41 celebrate the achievements, growth, and progress made during the journey.
• 00:46 A mentor and mentee can discuss all they've gained from the relationship and
• 00:51 express their gratitude towards each other.
• 00:54 Just because the formal relationship is ending doesn't mean all contact needs
• 00:59 to stop.
• 00:59 It's a good practice to keep lines of communication open for
• 01:04 future advice, networking, or even just a friendly chat.
• 01:08 Moving on after the end of a mentorship can sometimes feel uncertain.
• 01:12 The key is to remember the skills and confidence you've gained, and
• 01:17 apply these to your future objectives.
• 01:19 For the mentee, this could mean seeking a new mentor for
• 01:23 different goals or a new level of independence or authority.
• 01:27 Working without a net, so to speak, can be an exciting development for
• 01:32 a career, not to mention a boost for self-confidence.
• 01:35 Meanwhile, for the mentor, it can mean taking on a new mentee or
• 01:39 taking some time to reflect on the experience.
• 01:42 Make note of what worked and what didn't, but
• 01:45 know that every relationship will be different.
• 01:49 So let's consider a practical example.
• 01:51 A content writer in a marketing team has been receiving mentorship from
• 01:56 a senior editor to improve her writing skills.
• 02:00 After several months, the writer now regularly produces
• 02:03 high-quality content and feels proficient in her role.
• 02:07 So both of them agree that the mentoring objectives have been met.
• 02:11 They celebrate this accomplishment, swap words of gratitude, and
• 02:16 agree to an open-door policy for any future guidance needed.
• 02:20 Now the writer may look for mentorship in a different area,
• 02:25 like content strategy, and the editor is free to mentor a new team member.
• 02:30 So remember the end of a mentoring relationship is a natural phase.
• 02:36 It's an opportunity to celebrate growth, say thank you, and move
• 02:41 on to new opportunities, equipped with new knowledge and an expanded network.
• 02:47 In our final lesson coming up, we'll explore how to
• 02:52 take mentoring to the next level by establishing
• 02:56 a successful mentoring program in your own company.
• 03:01 We'll see you then.

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