2019 WOR Day 1: A Focus on Normal Work

Last known group photo taken of the Granite Mountain Hotshot Crew. (Eric Marsh and Chris MacKenzie not pictured.)

This Week of Remembrance is dedicated to all those who have fallen in the line of duty and is intended to serve as an opportunity to renew our commitment to the health, wellness, and safety of wildland firefighters.

On June 30, 2013, nineteen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshot crew lost their lives on the Yarnell Hill fire. Today we mark the anniversary of this tragedy and honor through learning. Anniversaries of such events provide an opportunity for all of us to reflect on our mission and seek improvement. Every year wildland firefighters die in the line of duty. In 2013 our community suffered the loss of 34 fellow firefighters – 56 percent of them on one fire. They were just out doing normal work.

Challenge #36 - The Art of Leadership

"Effective speaking is about the unpredictable and uncomfortable art of connection."

Source: Brene Brown, Dare to Lead

Challenge:

• Seek opportunities, preferably outside your comfort zone to expand you speaking skills.
• Volunteer to conduct a debriefing, meeting, etc.

IGNITE: Fear Cripples

When we don't fear our own leaders, it's easier for us to be better people. ♦ Simon Sinek ♦

[Photo: Kari Greer/USFS]

#fireleadership

Getting to Know You

"We're really good at talking about material things, but we're really bad at talking about emotions. We're really good at talking about skills and safety and health; we're really bad at talking about character. Alasdair MacIntyre, the famous philosopher, said that, 'We have the concepts of the ancient morality of virtue, honor, goodness, but we no longer have a system by which to connect them.'"

Challenge #35 - The Art of Leadership

Challenge #35:

Got problems?

“Problems aren’t going to solve themselves—a leader must get aggressive and take action to solve them and implement a solution.”

Source: Babin & Willink, The Dichotomy of Leadership

IGNITE: Growth and Contributions

Leadership provides us with unique and powerful challenges to grow and contribute. - Brendon Burchard

[Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC]

Challenge #34: The Art of Leadership

Challenge #34: The Art of Leadership

Leaders build teams by keeping team members informed.

• Share information.
• Solicit input.
• Consider suggestions.

[Source: Be • Know • Do by Shinseki & Hesselbein]

#artofleadership

#fireleadership

IGNITE: Give It - Heed It

Wise leaders not only give good advice, they heed it. - John Maxwell 

#fireleadership

[Photo credit: Ashville IHC]

Make Your Bed

(Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

"If you want to change the world, start by making your bed." - Admiral William H. McRaven, US Navy

In his 2014 commencment address at the University of Texas - Austin and in his book Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World, US Navy Admiral William H. McRaven shares 10 lessons:

Challenge #33 - The Art of Leadership

Challenge #33 - The Art of Leadership

Give credit where credit is due.

• Develop and implement a plan to acknowledge your team members.

#artofleadership

#fireleadership

IGNITE: Bring Order to Chaos

Fire leaders bring order to chaos, improve our people's lives, and strengthen our organizations. - Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, p. 6
#fireleadership

[Photo: Tallac IHC]

Challenge #32 - The Art of Leadership

Challenge #32 - The Art of Leadership
Solicit constructive criticism from others.

In your journal, develop a plan to address the feedback.

#artofleadership
#fireleadership

IGNITE: Value Your Values

Value your values.

They are the stuff that character is made of.

Bill Treasurer & Captain John Havlik, “The Leadership Killer”

[Photo credit: Kari Greer/USFS]

#fireleadership

#values

Just BE - Your Presence Matters

(Baby Nug holding his daddy's finger.)

One of my best inspirations for this blog comes from personal experiences. This is NOT a fireline story. Very few of our leadership moments happen in the line of duty; most happen in our everyday lives. May you find a nugget or two from mine.

Challenge #31 - The Art of Leadership

Challenge #31 - The Art of Leadership 

Conduct a self-assessment by asking yourself and your team the following question:

Are you training your team to act instead of being told what to do? 

#artofleadership #fireleadership

IGNITE: Success is a team sport

Success is a team sport.

♦ Simon Sinek ♦

Challenge #30 - The Art of Leadership

Challenge #30 - The Art of Leadership

Think of a leader you admire for his or her humility.

• How does their humility contribute to your admiring him or her?
• What impact does their humility have on your view of them?

[Source: The Leadership Killer by Bill Treasurer]

IGNITE: Seek to Understand

Seek first to understand, then to be understood. 

♦ Steven Covey ♦

[Source: Kyle Miller, Wyoming IHC]

Breaking the Chain of Emotions and Attitudes

(Credit: AbsolutVision/Pixabay)

Developing your leadership art includes reading and writing. Yes, writing. Written communication is one skill that many leaders struggle with. The only way to get better at it is to just do it. Sometimes what we write (or say for that matter) isn't what we meant or isn't received well by others.  Fortunately, we can get better. This forum allows you a safe place to test your blog writing skills with a little assistance on the side :)

Today's blog comes from a follower. This follower choose to share the post without names attached because s/he does not want it to be commentary on particular individuals or a particular land management unit.

Challenge #29: The Art of Leadership

Challenge #29: The Art of Leadership
Take notes in your journal as you watch Dr. Joan Rosenberg's TEDx Talk "Emotional Mastery" https://youtu.be/EKy19WzkPxE

Practice the "Rosenberg Reset."

#fireleadership
#artofleadership

IGNITE: Simple, But Not Easy

The principles of leadership are simple, but not easy. - Leif Babin & Jacko Willink, “The Dichotomy of Leadership”

[Photo credit; C. Jones/Tallac IHC]

#fireleadership