Thursday, April 30, 2020

IGNITE: Changes


"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to see the ways that you yourself have changed." ♦ Nelson Mandela ♦ 
[Photo: Nelson Mandela]

#fireleadership

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Think LCES - Keep Your Team Safe in a Pandemic

pink flagging
Every generation has a pivotal moment in their history. The COVID-19 pandemic is one of those moments. Now is the time for strong leadership. No one is immune from the impact of this pandemic. Most importantly, every person at every level of the organization has the ability to make a difference. Every one of us has the ability to lead and SHOULD lead.

What does leading in a crisis look like? The answers are as varied as the situation put before us, but maybe we could adapt LCES to heighten our response:

Monday, April 27, 2020

IGNITE: Empathy and Attunement


“Empathy and attunement are not a waste of time in today’s business climate, but essentials for success.” ♦ Daniel Goleman ♦

[Photo: Kari Greer/USFS]
#fireleadership

Friday, April 24, 2020

Challenge #15 - 2020 WFLDP Campaign

2020 WFLDP logo and challenge


Challenge 15: Teams know when their leader is authentic.


#2020WFLDPCampaign #commandpresence

Thursday, April 23, 2020

IGNITE: Wisdom - A Lifelong Pursuit

firefighter resting on a log
Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it. ♦ Albert Einstein♦

[Photo; Kari Greer/USFS]

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

What does a well-founded risk decision look like?

(Credit: Geralt/Pixabay)
What does a well-founded risk decision look like?
By Mark Smith, Mission-Centered Solutions
©Mission-Centered Solutions Version 7 FINAL (16 June 2017)

[Mark Smith has been presenting Luck Runs Out (What does a well-founded risk decision look like?) at IMT meetings, safety summits at wildfire academies, etc. Where The Big Lie was more a problem statement, Luck Runs Out is meant to focus on actionable, practical steps forward for IMTs and Agency Administrators. The information below started not as an essay but as a handout to go with presentations.]


This paper is the result of an ongoing dialog around risk I’ve had within the post-Yarnell Honor the Fallen group. One member posed the rhetorical but critical question: “Should we be risking lives for suppression efforts or not?“ That prompted my response in The Big Lie essay on the levels of risk I think wildland firefighters operate in routinely, and how we could be more intelligently accepting that risk.

Monday, April 20, 2020

IGNITE: Together We Can Prevail

log on fire


We are not alone in this fight; we are not alone in dealing with this hardship — together we can prevail. ♦ The Daily Coach ♦

[Photo: Kari Greer/USFS]

Friday, April 17, 2020

Challenge #14 - 2020 WFLDP Campaign

2020 WFLDP logo and challenge

Challenge 14: Effective leaders know themselves and their team.
  • As an individual and with your team, complete the “Values Exploration” exercise found on our blog. (https://bit.ly/2Uax4sF)
  • Write your values in your journal.
  • Post team values where all have access.
#2020WFLDPCampaign #commandpresence #fireleadership

Thursday, April 16, 2020

IGNITE: Calm is contagious!

firefighter kneeling

“Calm is contagious.”
♦ Multiple attributions, including Navy SEALS ♦


[Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC]

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

The Higher Up You Go...


organization chart
(Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay )
Pandemic or not, how leaders view the relationship with their followers determines the effectiveness of their leadership. The following statement by Rorke Denver says volumes:
"The higher up the chain of command you go, the more people you are in service to." - Rorke Denver

Monday, April 13, 2020

IGNITE: Opinions Come Last

sawyer monitoring flame front

“Tell me what you know, then tell me what you don't know, then finally, you can tell me what you think.” ♦ Colin Powell ♦
[Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC]
#fireleadership

Friday, April 10, 2020

Challenge #13 - 2020 WFLDP Campaign

2020 WFLDP Campaign logo and challenge

Challenge 13: Effective leaders are willing to address negative thoughts that may be affecting their leadership.
  • In your journal, list your negative self-talk.
  • Develop a plan to address each barrier.
#2020WFLDPCampaign #commandpresence #fireleadership

Thursday, April 9, 2020

IGNITE: Addressing Limiting Thoughts

hotshot crew in front of large fire
Knowing what our limiting thoughts are, and replacing them intentionally, is the only way to create a different possibility. ♦ Kristi Hedges, “The Power of Presence” ♦

[Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC]

#fireleadership #commandpresence #2020WFLDPCampaign

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Reacting with Resiliency

Scrabble tiles spelling "resilient"
Image by Wokandapix from Pixabay
This is an interesting time in our history. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a lack of preparation across the globe. As I sift through posts on social media, I have yet to see anyone acknowledge their lack of preparedness. I see an abundance of blame and shame, however.

Monday, April 6, 2020

IGNITE: Doing What is Necessary


“It is no use saying, ‘we are doing our best.’ You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.” ♦ Winston Churchill ♦
[Photo: La Grande IHC]

#fireleadership

Friday, April 3, 2020

Challenge #12 - 2020 WFLDP Campaign

2020 WFLDP Campaign logo and challenge


Challenge 12: Leaders with effective command presence show empathy.
#2020WFLDPCampaign #commandpresence #fireleadership

Thursday, April 2, 2020

IGNITE: Growth Opportunities

fire engines in front of wildfire
Our most significant challenges are often our greatest occasions and learning experiences to grow. ♦ George Raveling, Coaching for Success ♦

[Photo: Kari Greer/USFS]