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About this lesson
Every mentoring relationship has a natural endpoint, so we'll discuss ways to move forward in a positive way.
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Quick reference
Ending the Mentoring Relationship
This lesson discusses the importance of recognizing when and how to end a mentoring relationship effectively.
Notes
Recognizing the End
Every mentoring relationship has a natural lifetime. It may end when the initially set objectives are reached, or when circumstances change, making the current setup less effective. Recognizing these signs is crucial to concluding the mentoring relationship.
Positive Closure
Ending a mentorship doesn't have to be negative. It's an opportunity to celebrate the achievements, growth, and progress made during the journey. The mentor and mentee can discuss their gains from the relationship and express gratitude towards each other.
Maintaining Connections
Even when the formal relationship ends, it's good practice to keep lines of communication open for future advice, networking, or even just a friendly chat.
Moving On
After the end of a mentorship, it's important to remember the skills and confidence gained and apply these to future objectives.
- For the mentee, this could mean seeking a new mentor for different goals, or a new level of independence.
- For the mentor, it could mean taking on a new mentee or reflecting on the experience to improve future mentorships.
- 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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