Identify the correct sequence of the four phases of mentoring.

• A. involvement, development, independence, conclusion.
• B. inclusion, integration, individuation, termination.
• C. introduction, nurturing, separation, closure.
• D. initiation, cultivation, separation, and ending.

Answer: (D)

Understanding how a mentoring relationship unfolds helps you see why this sequence fits best. The journey begins with initiation, where the mentor and mentee establish rapport, clarify goals, roles, expectations, and boundaries. This stage sets the foundation and direction for the work to come.

Next comes cultivation, the core developmental phase. The mentee builds skills, receives guidance and feedback, and gains access to opportunities and networks that push growth. The mentor actively supports, challenges, and models ways to apply new learning in real situations.

After sufficient development, the relationship moves to separation. The mentee takes more ownership, relies less on the mentor, and gradually assumes greater responsibility for progress. This transition is planned and paced so independence feels natural, not abrupt.

Finally, ending marks formal closure. There’s reflection on what was achieved, consideration of next steps for continued growth, and a sense of completion for the mentoring arrangement.

This ordering—from establishing the purpose and bond, through active skill-building, to increasing independence, then concluding—best captures how mentoring typically develops. The other sequences use terms that don’t align with the standard progression, or mix in stages that don’t clearly map onto how mentoring relationships grow and wind down.