Challenge #11 - The Art of Leadership

Challenge #11 - The Art of Leadership:

Practice active listening. Be fully present during conversations.

IGNITE: Discipline

Discipline your thoughts to remain steadfast in what you know is right. - John Maxwell

Innovation - A Matter of Necessity

(Credit: Geralt/Pixabay)

(This is the first of a four-part series.)

My husband's favorite aircraft is the SR-71, Blackbird. We've gone to many an air and space museum to check out this iconic figure. I never caught "Blackbird Fever" until I watched the documentary "Blackbird - Legacy of Innovation." The second part of the documentary caught this leadership geek's attention and admiration. The connections to current wildland fire concerns (recruitment, retention, loss of life, global warming, etc.) caused me to pause.

American Public Television has the rights to this video until 2021, so I will try to highlight topics that relate to the wildland fire service. I challenge students of leadership to watch your public television station schedules for future broadcasts in your area.

Challenge #10 - The Art of Leadership

Make time in your daily schedule to take care of yourself (read, meditate, walk, etc.)

IGNITE: Sincerity

You can't fake sincerity. - Rob Goffee & Gareth Jones 

Kim Kelly Receives Lead by Example Award

(L to R: Mr. Bryan Mercier, Northwest Regional Director; Ms. Kim Kelly;
Darron Williams, Northwest Fire Management Officer;
Mr. Jim James, Deputy Bureau Director, Field Operations)

Kim Kelly
Fire Ecologist
NW Regional Office/BIA
Honored for Motivation and Vision

Kim Kelly has been selected as one of the recipients for the 2018 Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award. Three individuals and one group from across the wildland fire service have been chosen to receive this national award.

IGNITE: Beyond Limits

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

Don't Like the Answer? Don't Ask the Question!

A while back a friend told a story about a conversation she had with her husband. My friend asked her husband a question and didn't like the answer he gave her. His reply: "If you don't like the answer, don't ask the question."

How many times do we ask a question hoping to get the answer we want to receive? As leaders, we need to be willing to accept whatever answer we get to a question even if it isn't what we expected.In the HBR.org blog post "Don't Ask for Feedback Unless You Want It," Ron Askenas offers the following advice with regard to feedback:

Challenge #9 - The Art of Leadership

Challenge: Spend time with each team member individually.

IGNITE: The Power of Experience

A book may give us wisdom, but it cannot make us wise. - Kamlesh D. Patel & Joshua Pollock

[Photo: Carson City BLM]

Challenge #8—The Art of Leadership

Challenge #8—The Art of Leadership: Read the book "Be, Know, Do" by Eric Shinseki, Frances Hesselbein, and Alan Shrader (editor).

IGNITE: Leading Yourself

“The hardest person you will ever have to lead is yourself.” - Bill George

Looking at Judgment

(Photo credit: Norca98/Pixabay)

We all fall short; we make mistakes.  The point of this blog is not how we deal with our own shortcomings, however, but how we deal with the shortcomings others, specifically judging others.

Challenge #7 - Art of Leadership

In your journal, write down where you see yourself in 1 year, 3 years, and 10 years.

IGNITE: No Wiser Than Another

One sage is no wiser than another. - Epicurus

[Photo: Kari Greer/USFS]

Challenge #6 - Art of Leadership

Art of Leadership #6: Write down your personal values in your journal.

IGNITE: The Importance of Reflection

What happens to us does not become experience without reflection. 

 David Kolb œ

Doing Core Values

Does your team have the Wildland Fire Leadership Values and Principles hanging on your wall? Maybe you give Leading in the Wildland Fire Service to every member of your team or print them on a sticker and affix it to your hardhat.

Challenge #5 - The Art of Leadership

If you don't have a mentor, seek one or more out. 

Check out mentor selection tips from mentoring and career expert, Professor Ellen Ensher, Ph.D.

IGNITE: Leadership Beyond the Fireline

Leadership skills are life skills that can be applied to personal relationships as well as to work and organizational responsibilities. - Susan Komives, Nance Lucas, Timothy McMahon

[Photo credit: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC]