IGNITE: Safety - The Foundation of a Strong Culture

[Photo credit: Mark Von Twillow, sundowner effect on Whittier fire, July 14, 2017]

Safety is not mere emotional weather but rather the foundation on which strong culture is built. - Daniel Coyle

America's Prepareathon! - Building Relationships with Community Partners

(Credit: FEMA/Ready.gov)

As wildland fire leaders, we look beyond ourselves and to the greater good. Involvement in community wildfire preparedness is one way we can nurture our mission-driven culture. One way to build relationships within your community is to hold an America's PrepareAthon! Day of Action.

Happy Memorial Day 2018

[Photo: Pioneer Peak IHC]

“The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.” ~ Benjamin Disraeli ~

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! 

We send our gratitude to all those supporting operations this holiday.

IGNITE: Your Behavior Speaks Volumes

Photo: Kari Greer/USFS

“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”

Thank You - Thank You - Thank You

(Photo credit: Mohamed Hassan/Pixabay)

A few weeks ago, I got to spend time with a co-worker who was in town for a meeting about leadership. One would expect that members meeting to talk about leadership would lead by example. This person embodies the values of duty, respect, and integrity. I am honored to call him "friend." (For the sake of this blog, I shall call him "John.")

IGNITE: The Power of "No"

(Photo: Kari Greer/USFS)

A ‘No’ uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble.” — Mahatma Gandhi

IGNITE: Bringing Your Best

(Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC)

Self-awareness enables you to bring your best self to others. - Dan Rockwell

Culture Clash

While searching for inspiration for this week's blog, I picked up my copy of Gilbert W. Fairholm's book Leadership and the Culture of Trust. The first three paragraphs of the book inspired post.

It is clear that much of current American culture works against internal unity and cohesion. Multiple competing cultures and subcultures with attendant different value systems are challenging our cultures from within and without. We are now in a situation in America where most organizations try to cope with multiple diverse value systems espoused by each of their stakeholder groups.

IGNITE: Connections

[Photo credit: La Grande IHC]

Group performance depends on behavior that communicates one powerful overarching idea: We are safe and connected. - Daniel Coyle

IGNITE: Happy Mother's Day to All

Photo: Gannett Glacier Fire Crew

Nurturing has the ability to transform people's lives.

~ John C. Maxwell ~

IGNITE: Lead by Example

(Photo: Josh Shroyer)

A leader leads by example not by force. - Sun Tzu

Jolly and Bradshaw Receive 2017 LBE Awards

(Photo credit: Rob Chaney, Missoulian)

Matt Jolly and Larry Bradshaw

USFS Fire Sciences Laboratory
Honored for Initiative and Innovation

Matt and Larry have been selected as two of the recipients for the 2017 Paul Gleason Lead by Example award. Four individuals from across the wildland fire service have been chosen to receive this national award.

Henry Receives 2018 LBE Award for Mentoring and Teamwork

(L to R: Craig Cunningham, Wells FOS; Matt Murphy, Elko FMO; Chris Henry; Paul Petersen, NV SFMO; Jerry Drazinski, Ruby Mtn. IHC)

Chris Henry

Ruby Mountain IHC
Bureau of Land Management

Honored for Mentoring and Teamwork

Chris Henry has been selected as a recipient for the 2017 Paul Gleason Lead by Example award. Four individuals from across the wildland fire service have been chosen to receive this national award.

IGNITE: By Endurance We Conquer

[Photo: Gannett Glacier Fire Crew]

“Fortitudine Vincimus”

(by endurance we conquer) 

- Ernest Shackleton -

Madrid Receives 2017 LBE Award

(Aden Seidlitz, NM Acting State Director; Hector Madrid; Eric Walker, NM State AFMO)

Hector Madrid

State Fire Management Officer

Bureau of Land Management
Honored for Motivation and Vision

Hector Madrid has been selected as a recipient for the 2017 Paul Gleason Lead by Example award. Four individuals from across the wildland fire service have been chosen to receive this national award.