ACCOUNTABILITY IN MENTORSHIP

The parable of Talents

Can you remember any time in your life when you were not held accountable for your actions? Accountability is part and parcel of living. You would find that no matter how highly or lowly you are, you are responsible for your actions, and are held accountable for them. Sometimes you are accountable to yourself, but this does not diminish the importance of accountability. When listing the pillars of mentoring, accountability will most likely be one of the top three. In a mentoring relationship, both mentor and mentee are accountable to each other. They are held accountable by the goals and agreements they set at the beginning of the relationship.

A perfect example of accountability in mentorship can be found in the biblical parable of talents found in Matthew 25:14-30.

We see a man who is going on a long trip. He called his three servants and entrusted his money to them. To one, he gave five talents, to the second, he gave two, and to the third, one. He shared the talents according to their abilities. The first and second servant invested their talents and earned an additional five and two more, respectively. The third servant dug a hole and hid his one talent. After a while, the Master returned from his journey and asked each servant to account for his talents. The first two servants presented their investments’ returns; the Master was glad and celebrated with them. He gave them more responsibilities. The third servant came forward and presented his Master with the one talent initially given to him. These were his words: “Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate, I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.” NLT. The Master was angry and asked that the one talent be taken from him and given to the one with five talents.

As it is in the parable, it also is in mentoring. When your mentor has entrusted you with their time, wisdom and experience, it is left to you to do with it what you will. Whatever you do, bear in mind that your mentor expects results-the ROI on what they have given to you. What do you think will happen if you have nothing to show? Let us hope that does not occur.

Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV

Accountability should not be one-sided, as a mentor, you are also accountable to your mentee. Since you agreed to be a mentor, you are expected to give nothing less than your best towards the relationship.

A mentoring relationship where both parties are accountable to each other is an ideal one. It is the perfect ground for progress. If you have not been practising it, now is an excellent time to start.