IGNITE: Emotional Abilities Matter

 

“If your emotional abilities aren't in hand, if you don't have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can't have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far.” - Daniel Goleman 

[Photo: David Carerra/BLM, Owens Fire]

Challenge #43 - 2021 WFLDP Campaign

Challenge #43: Good leaders help their teams build strong cultures.

• As a team, read Daniel Coyle’s book “Culture Code.”
• Use the guide created as part of the 2019 Professional Reading Program recommended books to discuss the book.

IGNITE: The Principles of a Mission-Driven Culture

 Principles 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

IGNITE: The Power of Group Culture

 

(Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC)

Group culture is one of the most powerful forces on the planet. - Daniel Coyle

A Look at Culture

“Culture is an emergent phenomenon produced by structures, practices, leadership behavior, incentives, symbols, rituals, and processes. All those levers have to be pulled to have any chance of success. However, one driver of culture change is more important than the others. Culture change fails when the most visible symbols of it fail to change. Those key symbols are almost always the top leader’s behavior, which speaks much louder than anything they might say.” - Paul Gibbons, “The Science of Successful Organizational Change”

What is Corporate Culture?
Let's take a look at corporate culture by watching "It's All About Culture - What is Corporate Culture."

Thoughts to Ponder

• What is the personality of your organization?
• What are your culture's norms of behavior?
• Does your culture feel right?
• Does your culture bind your time together?
• Is your culture influenced by your leaders?
• Do you fit within your culture?
• Do you know what type of culture you work within?

Over the last two decades, leaders in the wildland fire service have become well acquainted with the concept of a high reliability organization (HRO). According to Karl E. Weick and Kathleen M. Sutcliffe, an HRO is “as organization that operates continuously under trying conditions and has fewer than its share of major incidents. HROs following these principles:

IGNITE: Strong Cultures Build Strong Organizations

“Building a strong culture is what builds a strong organization..” ♦ Simon Sinek ♦ 

[Photo: Midewin IHC]

#fireleadership

Challenge #42 - 2021 WFLDP Campaign

 

Challenge #42: Feedback is a vital part of the leadership environment. 

• Watch Sheila Heen’s TedX video “How to use others' feedback to learn and grow.”
• Read Stone, Patton, and Heen’s book “Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most.”

IGNITE: Opinions Come Last

“Tell me what you know, then tell me what you don't know, then finally, you can tell me what you think.” ♦ Colin Powell ♦

[Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC]
#fireleadership

Leading Authentically: How Do I Tell the Emperors?

 

(Photo: By Alfred Walter Bayes, Dalziel Brothers [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)

Timeless leadership is always about character, and it is always about authenticity. ~ Warren Bennis

I take pride in being a squeaky wheel, a BS caller, a canary in the coal mine. I’ll tackle the hard topics, often saying what many are thinking but don’t want to speak up about. I like that about myself, but not everyone likes that about me. As I have matured as a person and an employee, I’ve gotten better at being a bit gentler with it than I used to—at least when the situation warrants it. I’m still not great at sugar-coating things, and I feel that I shouldn’t have to when addressing my peers and my higher ups.

IGNITE: Invite Input

To create safety, leaders need to actively invite input. - Amy Edmondson

[Photo: La Grande IHC]

#fireleadership