Thursday, September 29, 2016

IGNITE: Difficult Right Over Easy Wrong

Choose the difficult right over the easy wrong. –Wildland Fire Leadership (wildland fire within the wildland urban interface. Firefighters in back yard of home.)

Choose the difficult right over the easy wrong. – Wildland Fire Leadership

Do your part and share the word.
[Photo credit: Star Fire Protection District, Table Rock Fire (2016]

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

New Feature Added to the LLC Product List


We are honored to help the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC) launch a new product. LLC staff have been working diligently to expand into the podcast arena. Exhibit your care for those around you – lead with compassion by triggering learning.


Monday, September 26, 2016

IGNITE: Performing to Our Potential

If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would astound ourselves. –Thomas Edison (Firefighters hiking)

If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would astound ourselves. 
– Thomas Edison

Do your part and share the word.
[Photo credit: Folsom Lake Veterans Fire Crew]

Thursday, September 22, 2016

IGNITE: Change Your Thoughts - Change Your World

Change your thoughts and you change your world. – Norman Vincent Peale (Firefighters standing, smoke all around)

Change your thoughts and you change your world. – Norman Vincent Peale

Do your part and share the word.
[Photo credit: Wyoming IHC]

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

In the Middle of a Burnout

Candle burning at both ends
(Photo credit: Photodisc)
"And there I was...in the middle of a burnout."

No, not a wildland fire burnout. The burnout I found myself in was when an individual feels "overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands." (HelpGuide.org) I was burning the candle at both ends and didn't think I would get burned.

Monday, September 19, 2016

IGNITE: Influence, Not Authority

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. –Ken Blanchard

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.  – Ken Blanchard

Do your part and share the word.
[Photo credit: Star Fire Protection District, Table Rock Fire (2016)]

Thursday, September 15, 2016

IGNITE: The Past

Successful leaders make the past a platform, not an anchor. – Dan Rockwell

Successful leaders make the past a platform, not an anchor. – Dan Rockwell

[Photo credit: Baker City IHC]

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

IGNITING Beyond Borders

Mentoring and sharing knowledge, skills and abilities is part of being a mission-driven culture. San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) is leading by example and sharing their service for the common good. In the video below, the common good stretches international boundaries to the firefighting brotherhood of Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia.



Service for the Common Good
Service for the common good is at the heart of the Mission-Driven Culture; it is the core value that motivates people to dedicate their time, talent, and energy to become members of incident organizations.

Although staff members consistently voice a strong motivation to serve the public, individuals express this commitment differently, and the resulting differences in behavior and attitude can generate friction and thwart concentric action.

At the core of this value is a commitment to ensuring that all actions and decisions promote the desired team result, which is the staff’s collective interpretation of how to serve the common good.

© Mission-Centered Solutions. Used with permission.

San Diego Fire Rescue Department logo - lighthouse next to a water with mountains in the background

Monday, September 12, 2016

IGNITE: Stepping Forward to Lead

Leaders in the wildland fire service chose to reach beyond the challenges of learning the craft of firefighting by stepping forward to lead people in complex and dangerous environments. –Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, page 67
Leaders in the wildland fire service chose to reach beyond the challenges of learning the craft of firefighting by stepping forward to lead people in complex and dangerous environments. – Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, page 67
[Photo credit: Midewin IHC, Pioneer Fire (2016)]

Thursday, September 8, 2016

IGNITE: Mastering Self

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power. –Lao Tzu
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power. – Lao Tzu
Do your part and share the word.
[Photo credit, Redding Interagency Hotshot Crew]

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

A Mission-Driven Culture

Values of a Mission-Driven Culture: Service for the common good, High trust state, Pursuit of truth, Form and function defined by the end state, Individual initiative, Continuous improvement

What happens when an incident exceeds your worst-case scenario—a situation so complex that chaos reigns supreme and the command and control structure fails?

San Diego Fire-Rescue found themselves facing just such a situation during the 2003 Cedar fire. In response to that event, SDFD evolved and began aligning themselves with the concept of a mission-driven culture.

Monday, September 5, 2016

IGNITE: Choosing Between Right & Wrong


Thank you to all the hard-working fire and emergency responders doing their jobs this Labor Day. We know your commitment comes at a sacrifice to family. Thank you for your service!
People of integrity separate what is right from what is wrong and act according to what they know is right, even at personal cost. – Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, page 66
Do your part and share the word.
[Photo credit, Justin Vernon]

Thursday, September 1, 2016

IGNITE: Respect First

To gain respect from our people, we first respect them. – Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, page 45
Do your part and share the word.
[Photo credit, David Morris, South Africa]