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There is so much dysfunction and strife in the world today. Whichever side of the particular spectrum you find yourself, you are not immune. Even the rose-colored glasses cannot stop us from seeing the divisions we face.
Today is election day. When all the dust clears, this country will announce a victor. One side will be elated; the other, not so much. The announcement of that victor will not create unity with the announcement. Only time and will from each of us can bring about tolerance and unity.
The pandemic is surging at record levels. The virus is apolitical and doesn't care who leads this country. It doesn't have emotions and will be here when this election is over. All it wants to do is replicate itself; and right now it is winning.
So how do we move forward? How do we get to a point where we can tolerate being with those we disagree with?
I think the answer lies in something we in the wildland fire service call a "common operating picture" or "shared reality" in other areas. We find things we can agree upon and focus on those. We need to be on the same page and "fighting" for the same things. It is through our unity of effort that we find strength and a path forward.
Julia Dhar, business strategist and competitive debater, shares some great advice on focusing on common ground in her TEDTalk.
Wildland Fire Leadership Challenge - Digging a Little Deeper
- Read "Unity of Effort" in Leading in the Wildland Fire Service (pp. 15-18).
- Write a vignette for something you have witnessed where unity of effort produced a successful outcome and submit to the Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program Leading in the Wildland Fire Service steward.
About the Author: Pam McDonald is a writer/editor for BLM Wildland Fire Training and Workforce Development and member of the NWCG Leadership Subcommittee. The expressions are those of the author.
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