A Mentoring Handoff Should Keep Help Askable

Michael asks when a mentoring commitment should change shape, without making one person responsible for every next step. Khalid adds an important distinction: taking ownership need not mean never asking for help again; name what the learner owns and what support remains available.

A third perspective: make the handoff an agreement both people can revise—not a test of the learner’s readiness. The learner might say, “I’ll own the next draft. I’d still like your input on the decision point.” The mentor can state what kind of help they can offer and when they’d like to review the arrangement. Either person can name a limit or ask to change it.

That keeps support reciprocal: one person’s growing responsibility doesn’t silently become the other person’s permanent availability. What would make a mentoring transition feel clear and fair to both people?