If You Don't, Who Will?

(Photo: Qimono/Pixabay)

Everyone can exercise leadership by being an individual contributor at any level of an organization. What does that mean? Ultimately it comes down to looking for opportunities to make the world a better place. That sounds grand, but when people apply that idea to their work situations, it means having a vision of how your unit, or you as an individual, can be more effective and creative, go beyond day-to-day requirements, and energize others around that vision. ~ Helen Handfield-Jones

IGNITE: Being Strong

Be strong enough to stand alone, be yourself enough to stand apart, but be wise enough to stand together when the time comes. - Mark Amend

IGNITE: The Ability to Decide

Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide. - Napoleon

[Photo credit: Kari Greer/USFS]

Battle of San Pasqual Staff Ride

Wildland fire leaders are participating in the National Staff Ride Workshop sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service Leadership Development Program in conjunction with the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center.

Besides actually taking part in a staff ride, attendees create or refurbish staff rides.

Here is more about this U.S. Forest Service leadership event:

Situation
Develop a recurring program of national staff ride workshops that spawn five new or refurbished staff rides annually, both east and west of the 100th Meridian. Invite or nominate and select up to five 4-person development teams who will develop the newly spawned staff rides from resulting from each workshop.

Mission
Increase the cadre pool of wildland fire service operators qualified to work within their home units and geographic areas to help initiate, develop, and deliver staff rides into their annual training plan process. This will provide the foundation for a fully supported, resourced, and accepted program of multi-level staff rides that meet or exceed nationally established quality standards in the "Wildland Fire Staff Ride Guide."

Click here for more information on the Battle of San Pasqual.

Light Bulb Moments

(Photo credit: Pixabay/ColiN00B)

"Insights are unexpected discoveries about how things work and how to make them work better." - Dr. Gary Klein

Have you ever been trying to solve a problem (or not) when all of the sudden, an unexpected discovery "pops" into your mind. Whether  But where do insights come from? Gary Klein, cognitive psychologist, has conducted a lot of research on the subject of decision making. In his book Seeing What Others Don't, Klein goes into depth about insight and where insights come from.

IGNITE: Opportunities for Influence

Our opportunity for influence increases when we are open and ask great questions, listen to others with receptive minds, and offer playful ideas and novel perspectives. - Dacher Keltner

[Photo credit: Tallac IHC]

IGNITE: Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is an inward application of situation awareness. Fire leaders have an inner drive to analyze and know ourselves. – Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, page 59

[Photo credit: National Park Service]

Who Am I? A Tool to Help Build a Team

Who Am I? A Tool to Help Build a Team
by Bob Schoultz

A decade ago, when I joined my local Rotary club, part of the initiation process required that I introduce myself to the club in a 4 minute presentation – what they call a Who Am I? I wanted mine to be a little different from others I’d seen, so my wife Mary Anne joined me on stage, and as I went through the various roles I’d had in my life, she handed me the headgear – a hat, helmet, ball-cap, wrestling head-gear, swim cap – that represented that specific phase of my life. When we got to me being a father, she tossed me 1-2-3 dolls. The crowd loved it! How I delivered My Who Am I? was part of my statement, and it was appropriate that I had my life’s partner with me.

IGNITE: Leadership makes us...

Leadership makes us aim our efforts, give of ourselves, and create meaningful relationships and changes. - Brendon Burchard (The Student Leadership Guide)

[Photo: Plumas IHC]

IGNITE: Take Note & Reach Out

To become a leader, take note of the opportunities around you and reach out to others. - Beth Schaefer

[Photo credit: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC