How can you learn and grow from the end of a mentoring relationship?

1 Reflect on your journey

Before you end a mentoring relationship, take some time to reflect on your journey and what you have learned from your mentor. Think about the goals you set, the challenges you faced, the feedback you received, and the achievements you celebrated. Write down your key takeaways and insights, and how they have helped you grow personally and professionally. You can also ask your mentor to share their perspective and feedback on your progress and performance.

2 Express your gratitude

One of the most important things you can do when ending a mentoring relationship is to express your gratitude to your mentor. Thank them for their time, guidance, support, and encouragement. Let them know how much you appreciate their expertise, wisdom, and generosity. Share specific examples of how they have made a difference in your development and career. You can also give them a small gift or a card to show your appreciation.

3 Celebrate your success

Ending a mentoring relationship does not have to be a sad or somber occasion. You can also celebrate your success and achievements with your mentor. Recognize how far you have come, how much you have grown, and how much you have contributed. You can also celebrate your mentor's success and achievements, and how they have inspired you and others. You can celebrate by having a lunch, a coffee, or a virtual meeting, depending on your preferences and availability.

4 Maintain the connection

Just because you end a mentoring relationship does not mean you have to lose touch with your mentor. You can maintain the connection and continue to learn from them in different ways. You can keep in touch via email, phone, or social media, and update them on your goals, challenges, and accomplishments. You can also ask them for occasional advice, feedback, or referrals, as long as you respect their time and boundaries. You can also offer to help them in any way you can, such as by sharing your skills, knowledge, or network.

5 Seek new opportunities

Ending a mentoring relationship can also open up new opportunities for you to learn and grow from other sources. You can seek new mentors who can offer you different perspectives, experiences, and skills. You can also become a mentor yourself and share your expertise, wisdom, and generosity with someone else. You can also explore new courses, books, podcasts, or events that can help you expand your knowledge, skills, and network.

6 Learn from the feedback

Finally, ending a mentoring relationship can also help you learn from the feedback you received from your mentor. Feedback is a valuable gift that can help you improve your performance, behavior, and attitude. You can use the feedback to identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. You can also use the feedback to create an action plan for your future development and career. You can also ask for feedback from other sources, such as your peers, managers, clients, or customers.

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?