The federal public service is undergoing a cultural shift which requires increased diversity throughout all levels. Facilitating this shift requires strong individual and collective leadership. As a result, the Centre on Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) at the Treasury Board of Canada is focusing on the Key Leadership Competencies for Executives and is adopting Character-based Leadership (CBL), now referred to as the Leader Character (LC) framework to develop leaders who are selected to participate in the Mosaic Leadership Development Program (Mosaic). This program will prepare them with the competencies, character and commitment needed to bring out the best in themselves and others and be well-positioned to be the leaders of the future.
The LC framework identifies the expected virtues, traits and behaviours needed to optimize individual and organizational performance. This framework is an evidenced-based approach that helps develop future leaders who exhibit traits of good leaders and have potential to grow. Because this framework aligns with the broader leadership modernization strategy, the CDI will be integrating LC into leadership programs to enable a culture of strong, resilient character and sound judgement.
Requirement
The Contractor is required to provide interventions with the Mosaic participants to assess leader character at the individual level and help participants to further develop and strengthen their leader character.
The purpose of these interventions will be to introduce the LC framework to deepen participants’ understanding of what leader character is, why it matters, how to develop leader character, and how to apply it in their day-to-day practices. These interventions will delve into how character underpins the participants’ physiological, affective, behavioral, and cognitive systems, and any other advancement in the field of leader character.
The Contractor will also be required to provide a series of learning modules which will be largely case study-based, and applicable to relatable themes for the public service.
Interventions will also augment the ability of future executives from equity-seeking groups to understand their role as leaders in building a culture of trust and a workplace environment free of harassment, discrimination, and violence.
The Centre on Diversity and Inclusion at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has a requirement to provide the learning services for one cohort of 50 participants for a Leadership Development Program targeted to equity seeking groups, called Mosaic, which includes training on Leader Character.
Needs
The Mosaic Leadership Development Program incorporates Leader Character as the foundational learning component of the program’s curriculum. The program was co-designed with equity-seeking employees who saw leader character as a central element to promote transformational change. The program is part of broader efforts to modernize the federal public service by responding to the Clerk’s Call to Action on Anti-Racism, Equity and Inclusion.
The Contractor will provide workshops within the learning component of the Mosaic program to selected equity seeking individuals within the federal public service on:
- The LC Framework and the 11 dimensions of character (courage, drive, accountability, transcendence, humanity, humility, collaboration, temperance, integrity, justice and judgment) and the underlying structure of traits-values-virtues;
- The Leader Character Insight Assessment will be used to explore these 11 dimensions of character and to identify where further development is required;
- Tools, training and practices for greater self and collective-awareness;
- How leader character translates into day-to-day corporate duties, as well as in interactions with employees and clients;
- Inclusive leadership;
- The interplay of power, privilege, positionality and prejudice;
- Financial management, data literacy, managing public projects and transformations, using a case study approach.
These activities will support in building a culture of inclusion within the federal public service, as well as sustained organizational excellence.
