Coming to closure is not an event. It is both a process for reflection on learning and a place marker for leveraging learning and moving on.
If closure is to be a mutually satisfying and a meaningful learning experience, mentoring partners must prepare and plan for it. Sometimes obstacles or circumstances force premature closure of the relationship. Think about coming to closure under the best circumstance as well as circumstances that are less than ideal and discuss how to be sure that you have a good closure experience with your mentoring partner.
- Talk about the specifics of what you learned: the process, the content and the outcome of the learning.
- Consider how to apply what you have learned and identify the specific action steps you will take.
- Look for meaningful ways to celebrate your accomplishment.
- Find opportunities to express appreciation as part of the celebration.
Your relationship with your mentoring partner will be different once the mentoring relationship ends. You may decide to continue the relationship on an ad hoc basis, or informally. Be proactive and talk about changes before they take place and then move on.
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