Any Questions?

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"Every answer given on principle of experience begets a fresh question." - Immanuel Kant 

As an educator, I love questions. I love seeking knowledge. I question solid answers. I question those who seem to be dug so far into their convictions that they see only their truth and are not open to experiencing another side or possible answer. I respect a person defending their position, but red flags go up for me when a person is so behind their beliefs that nothing else matters. When innovation is limited because we see only what we want to see.

IGNITE: Leadership - No Limits

(Photo credit: Kari Greer/USFS)

“Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible.” - Colin Powell 

IGNITE: And Many Chains to Go

[Photo credit: Kari Greer/USFS]

One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done… - Marie Curie 

Confidence and Your Decision Making

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With so much on the line, we have a responsibility to understand the decision-making process—the components, the flow, the effect of time—and to develop the skills and confidence that enables us to make the best decision possible with the information and time available. (Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, p. 30)

As a fire leader, do you have the confidence to make the best decisions you need to make on the fireline?

IGNITE: The Path to Usefulness and High Achievement

“Unswerving loyalty to duty, constant devotion to truth, and a clear conscience will overcome every discouragement and surely lead the way to usefulness and high achievement.”  - Grover Cleveland

[Photo credit: Pioneer Peak IHC]

IGNITE: Execution

All the talent in the world won’t matter if a player can’t execute; avoiding common decision traps, learning from results in a rational way, and keeping emotions out of the process as much as possible. - Annie Duke, "Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts"

[Photo credit: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC]

If You Don't, Who Will?

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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

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"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]