Roles and Responsibilities of Mentors
What is a mentor?
A mentor:
- is a seasoned public servant who can offer advice and support to shape the mentee’s career vision
- should, as a best practice, be willing to undertake a self-assessment of intercultural competency and unconscious bias with a view to being a more inclusive leader and a stronger mentor
- supports mentees through formal or informal discussions on building skillsets and developing qualities and confidence for career advancement
- demystifies the path for mentees to navigate the public service
- provides mentees suggestions on how to expand their network and provide feedback to help a mentee’s professional development
- could be more senior than their mentee, however it is not a requirement. A mentoring relationship is one of development, skill-building and guiding of the Mentee with learning in mind.
Key activities
Once paired with a mentee, a mentor will generally:
- meet with their mentee to discuss and identify the parameters of the relationship including the objective and the goals moving forward along with the frequency and modality of their meetings
- meet regularly with their mentee to assist the mentee to identify career objectives, strengths, weaknesses, and areas for development
- suggest training and development opportunities for the mentee to consider
- provide mentees with feedback and recommendations periodically to support their development
Tools and Resources:
Public Sector:
Ontario Public Service:
Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Training from Canadian School of Public Service:
- Understanding the Employment Equity Act (INC 108)
- Moving from Bias to Inclusion (INC123)
- Adopting an Inclusive Mindset at Work (INC122)
Indigenous Learning Products from the Canadian School of Public Service:
- Reflecting on Cultural Bias: Indigenous Perspectives (IRA101)
- The Uncomfortable Truth: A Brief History of the Relationship Between Indigenous Peoples and the Government of Canada (IRA102)
- Cultural Competency: Indigenous Perspectives (IRA142)
- KAIROS Blanket Exercise (IRA140)
- Reconciliation Begins with Me (IRA141)
- Podcasts – Sitting by the Fire
Values and Ethics:
- Values and Ethics Foundations for Employees (FON301)
- Values and Ethics Foundations for Managers (FON302)
Learning Series from the Canada School of Public Service:
Mentorship from the Canada School of Public Service:
- Fostering Mentoring Relationships (TRN212)
Private Sector:
- Self-Assessment Tools on Intercultural Competency: Intercultural Development Inventory (Not free) (English only)
- Project Implicit (English only)
- Ted Talk video - What does my headscarf mean to you? | Yassmin Abdel-Magied - YouTube (English only)
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