The Power of a Story

(Photo: Morgan888/Pixabay)

Storytelling is woven into the fabric of our culture. When I became involved in wildland fire training development, I was told that one of the most important aspects of the NWCG curriculum is the instructor's experience. Being able to tell our stories is a powerful teaching tool. Not everyone has the gift of storytelling, but nearly everyone has a story to tell and can learn the skill.

Challenge #19 - The Art of Leadership

IGNITE: Leadership Is Hard

Leadership is hard, but the challenges you’ll face as a leader don’t require that you compromise your integrity, misuse your leadership power, or act obnoxiously and selfishly. - Bill Treasurer, The Leadership Killer

Challenge #18: The Art of Leadership

Survey your team members. What special gifts do they bring to the organization?

IGNITE: The Capacity to Develop and Improve

(Photo credit: Baker River IHC)

It is the capacity to develop and improve their skills that distinguishes leaders from their followers.

 Warren Bennis & Burt Nanus œ

Boise Helitack Receives the Lead by Example Award for Initiative and Innovation

Boise Helitack
Boise District - BLM
Honored for Initiative and Innovation

Boise District Helitack with their 2019 Gleason Award for motivation and vision

The Boise Helitack 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.

Pete Barry Receives LBE Award for Mentoring and Teamwork

(State Forester Mike Lester, right, presents the Lead by Example Award to Pete Barry)

Pete Barry
Colorado State Forest Service
Honored for Mentoring and Teamwork


Pete Barry 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.

Challenge 17: The Art of Leadership

Challenge #17: Art of Leadership
In your journal, ponder the following: Are you a leader who does fire work or are you a firefighter who does leadership?

IGNITE: Stress, Fear & Panic

Stress, fear, and panic predictably lead to the collapse of clear thinking and organizational structure. - Ted Putnam

Ted Putnam

Challenge #16 - The Art of Leadership

Challenge #16: The Art of Leadership

Be willing to follow should the need or circumstance arise.

IGNITE: Trading the Indulgences of Complacency

[Photo credit, Wayne Grieff, Cedar fire, 2016]

Fire leaders trade the indulgences of complacency, second-guessing, and fault-finding for the responsibilities of bringing order out of chaos, improving our people, and building our organizations. – Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, page 67

Do your part and share the word.

#fireleadership #fireminis

Innovation - Is the Risk Worth the Reward?

(Credit: Geralt/Pixabay)

(This is the last in a four-part series.)

"A measure of the degree of freedom from risk or conditions that can cause death, physical harm, or equipment or property damage." - Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations

RISK

Risk is inherent in life. We can do risk assessment after risk assessment, but each results in an estimate. The difference between risk and uncertainty is infinite. Therefore, we are faced with asking ourselves, "How much risk am I willing to assume?"

IGNITE: In Service

(Photo credit: Kari Greer/USFS)

If serving is below you, leadership is beyond you. – Anonymous

IGNITE the Spark for Leadership. LIKE and SHARE throughout your networks. #fireleadership #fireminis

Be sure to check out the Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program website.

Challenge #15 - The Art of Leadership

Challenge #15 - The Art of Leadership
When a team member is not performing to your standard, ask youself if you've done all you can to help them.

IGNITE: Inspired Leadership

Inspired leadership is created when the ego is destroyed.
 Mareo McCracken œ

Innovation: Disruptions

(Credit: Geralt/Pixabay)

(This is the third in a four-part series.)

Last week I wrote on the how leadership interaction can affect innovation. This week, we focus on disruption. The inspiration for this blog comes from a statement by Steven Justice - Advanced Development Programs, Lockheed Martin RET.

When you stand in the future and look back, you are not bound by what you currently know. Drag the future into the present. A true innovative idea is disruptive, especially if there is a legacy system in place. 

Challenge #14 - The Art of Leadership

Challenge #14 - The Art of Leadership
Model the emotions you want your team members to display.

IGNITE: Lessons Learned

We have to be willing to fail, to be wrong, to start over again with lessons learned. - Angela Duckworth

[Photo credit: Kari Greer/USFS]

Challenge #13 - The Art of Leadership

Challenge #13 - The Art of Leadership
In your journal, list your weaknesses. Next to each, write how you plan to turn that weakness into a strength.

IGNITE: Practice, Practice, Practice

Leading effectively is a composite skillset enhanced by practice. - Michael Useem

Innovation: Committees in Disguise

(Credit: Geralt/Pixabay)

(This is the second in a four-part series.)

LEADERSHIP

Last week I wrote on the necessity component of innovation. This week, we focus on leadership. The inspiration for this blog comes from a statement by Sean Roach Associate Deputy Director, CIA, Digital Innovation, in Blackbird - Legacy of Innovation.

"You can do a lot with a small team. In fact, you really want the smallest team possible. Over time, if you hire more and more people, they will do more and more good things for you; but you can lose agility and decision making, especially. You won't grow your people. They will self-select out of tough problems, and you won't groom the next generation to bring on the next kind of A-12."

Challenge #12: The Art of Leadership

Write what's important to you in your journal. Prioritize your list. Are you committed to upholding your list?

IGNITE: The Need for Ethical Leaders

The world needs good and ethical leaders who put their power to work on our behalf...and not for the gratification of their own egos! - Bill Treasurer & John Havlik