bout de papier, Vol. 29, No. 3 (2016), pp. 4–5
L’été est arrivé et bon nombre de nos collègues aux ministères des Affaires mondiales et d’Immigration Réfugiés et Citoyenneté partent pleins d’enthousiasme pour commencer leur affectation à l’étranger, alors que d’autres reviennent (parfois avec moins d’enthousiasme) à l’administration centrale.
J’ai l’habitude chaque année, comme mes autres collègues sous-ministres, de m’adresser aux nouveaux chefs de mission dans le cadre de leur programme de formation, afin de leur donner certains conseils avant le départ. Il y a quelques années, à l’occasion d’un autre discours prononcé devant un public en Allemagne, j’ai commencé par une citation de Marx :
« Ce sont mes principes… Si vous ne les aimez pas, j’en ai d’autres! » (Certaines personnes se sont rapidement rendu compte que je ne citais pas Karl, mais bien Groucho. Les autres sont restées perplexes.) Dans la même veine, je pourrais bien vous en donner d’autres, mais je préfère m’en tenir aux dix grands principes que j’ai élaborés pour guider nos nouveaux chefs de mission.
J’ose espérer qu’ils pourront aussi en intéresser d’autres, dont les lecteurs de bout de papier.
Remember who you are working for. As the senior representative of Canada in your country of accreditation or international organization, it is Canada, our country, its provinces and territories, municipalities and its people that you represent. This comes first. Beyond that, you are also representing Global Affairs Canada – much of your interaction will still be with our department -, but also others, among them CIC, the RCMP, CSIS, CBSA, DND and the provinces, which may have staff in your mission. As a head of mission you have to be capable of accurately reflect the policies of our government and represent many parties, but, ultimately, one country.
Remember you are a leader. Your staff, both Canadian and locally engaged, will take your measure and take it quickly; looking for attributes they like or flaws they dislike, as the case may be (and let’s be honest, we all have both). You do not control this observation, which will last throughout your posting, but you do control the interactions on which this perception is based. So I suggest you roll up your sleeves, manage by walking around and be accessible to all.
Remember you are in the public eye. Your new job will come with demands on your time. You will not be in Ottawa where your evenings are mostly your own. There will also be more visibility than at Headquarters. You will almost always be in the public eye, recognized and scrutinized by all. It is wise to conduct yourself accordingly.
Remember continuity is important. I do not recommend going into your new job with a fixed agenda for change. Assume that your predecessor knew what she or he was doing and give yourself and others some time to adapt to new realities before launching a “new” approach.
Remember to appreciate your Management and Consular Officers (MCO). Your effective collaboration is crucial to the success of the mission and to your own. Accountability matters and your MCO will be invaluable when you are being bombarded by reporting requests from Headquarters (and help you survive what I refer to as “death by template”). Being attuned to consular cases should also be part of your modus operandi.
Remember proportionality. We look for regular, strategic analysis across all aspects of the departmental mandate from our heads of mission. What distinguishes your work abroad from that at Headquarters is that you have to get out and around, desk time being less relevant. So get out there and learn about your new countries/ organizations and tell us what we need to know! However, there is no need for breathlessly written daily reports and photos. The preference is typically for quality over quantity.
Remember emotional intelligence. There is a story of the Emperor Hadrian returning home after a long, tiring day running the empire when an old woman approached his cavalcade and petitioned him to resolve a problem.
Irked by the question, he said, “I haven’t the time.” She quickly retorted, “Don’t be Emperor then. She received the audience. Make time for your staff and their concerns. It comes with the territory and it’s the right thing to do.
Remember psychological health and wellness. The notion that everything is urgent, important and necessary is a delusion we bring upon ourselves. Use your judgment – which is but one reason why you were selected to be a head of mission – and be discerning. Incorporate psychological health and wellness into your work. Celebrate your team’s hard work and victories and commiserate with your colleagues when things go sideways. Look after your own well-being: take leave, relax. We are committed, from the Clerk on down, to creating a healthy workplace and open, stigma-free dialogue on psychological issues. If you feel like you need help, please ask for it. In this regard, be aware of Global Affairs Canada’s support and counselling resources available to you, as well as our LifeSpeak video library.
Remember to absorb and enjoy the different cultural and foreign environment you are in. This can be very fulfilling and in turn give you a better appreciation as to who and what we are. It will also open doors.
Remember your commitment to values, ethics and exemplary conduct in the execution of all of your functions. Last but not least, we expect you to set the standard as you represent Canada on the world stage. Transgressions reflect badly not only on our department, but on our country, and as such cannot be tolerated. Be guided by Goethe, who said: “Behaviour is the mirror in which everyone shows their image.”
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Originally published in / Publié à l’origine dans bout de papier, Vol. 29, No. 3 (2016), pp. 4–5. Read the rest of this issue / Lire le reste de ce numéro →
