Challenge #43 - 2021 WFLDP Campaign

Challenge #43: Good leaders help their teams build strong cultures.

• As a team, read Daniel Coyle’s book “Culture Code.”
• Use the guide created as part of the 2019 Professional Reading Program recommended books to discuss the book.

IGNITE: The Principles of a Mission-Driven Culture

 Principles of a Mission-Driven Culture

Service for the common good

High trust state

Pursuit of truth

Form and function defined by the end state

Individual initiative

Continuous improvement

IGNITE: The Power of Group Culture

 

(Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC)

Group culture is one of the most powerful forces on the planet. - Daniel Coyle

A Look at Culture

“Culture is an emergent phenomenon produced by structures, practices, leadership behavior, incentives, symbols, rituals, and processes. All those levers have to be pulled to have any chance of success. However, one driver of culture change is more important than the others. Culture change fails when the most visible symbols of it fail to change. Those key symbols are almost always the top leader’s behavior, which speaks much louder than anything they might say.” - Paul Gibbons, “The Science of Successful Organizational Change”

What is Corporate Culture?
Let's take a look at corporate culture by watching "It's All About Culture - What is Corporate Culture."

Thoughts to Ponder

• What is the personality of your organization?
• What are your culture's norms of behavior?
• Does your culture feel right?
• Does your culture bind your time together?
• Is your culture influenced by your leaders?
• Do you fit within your culture?
• Do you know what type of culture you work within?

Over the last two decades, leaders in the wildland fire service have become well acquainted with the concept of a high reliability organization (HRO). According to Karl E. Weick and Kathleen M. Sutcliffe, an HRO is “as organization that operates continuously under trying conditions and has fewer than its share of major incidents. HROs following these principles:

IGNITE: Strong Cultures Build Strong Organizations

“Building a strong culture is what builds a strong organization..” ♦ Simon Sinek ♦ 

[Photo: Midewin IHC]

#fireleadership

Challenge #42 - 2021 WFLDP Campaign

 

Challenge #42: Feedback is a vital part of the leadership environment. 

• Watch Sheila Heen’s TedX video “How to use others' feedback to learn and grow.”
• Read Stone, Patton, and Heen’s book “Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most.”

IGNITE: Opinions Come Last

“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

Leading Authentically: How Do I Tell the Emperors?

 

(Photo: By Alfred Walter Bayes, Dalziel Brothers [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)

Timeless leadership is always about character, and it is always about authenticity. ~ Warren Bennis

I take pride in being a squeaky wheel, a BS caller, a canary in the coal mine. I’ll tackle the hard topics, often saying what many are thinking but don’t want to speak up about. I like that about myself, but not everyone likes that about me. As I have matured as a person and an employee, I’ve gotten better at being a bit gentler with it than I used to—at least when the situation warrants it. I’m still not great at sugar-coating things, and I feel that I shouldn’t have to when addressing my peers and my higher ups.

IGNITE: Invite Input

To create safety, leaders need to actively invite input. - Amy Edmondson

[Photo: La Grande IHC]

#fireleadership

Challenge #41 - 2021 WFLDP Campaign

 

Challenge #41: Leaders are mentors and mentees.

• In your journal, reflect on those individuals who have mentored you without being a labeled a mentor (e.g., you read a book or heard a talk). What did they teach you?
• Do you have a mentor? Are you a mentee? Reflect upon your relationship. Is this a good fit? How can you assist someone you have a relationship with?

IGNITE: The Effect of Mentoring

When you help a person become a better leader, you help all the people that leader impacts. - Perry Noble

[Photo credit: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC (Snake Fire, 2015)]

Ben Jacobs on Skill Sets and Mentoring

Ben Jacobs, Fuels Management Specialist for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, discusses the importance of gaining both operational and administrative skills as well as mentoring.

 

Video Highlights:

•  As times continue changing, what skill sets do you believe will become most necessary for future resource stewards?
• Become specialized in what you do but ensure that you have well-rounded set of field  skills that they can share with others coming up in the ranks.
• Fire managers must understand resource management and issues.
• Develop your writing skills.
•  How important do you feel a mentor's role is in career development? And did you have a mentor or someone who inspired you?
• The relationship between the mentor and the mentee must be positive and rewarding for both individuals. If it doesn't work with one mentor/mentee, seek another out.
•  Learn by watching.
• Be open to learning.
• What is a great risk that you've taken in the past that paid off in the end?
•  Step outside your comfort zone. 
• Take a detail.
• What is a setback you've experienced that seemed like a failure but turned into an advantage at some point later on?
• At some point, you just have to let go of the negativity.
• What regrets do you have and how have you learned from them?
• Letting the work/life balance get skewed by prioritizing work over private life.
• How have you balanced work with the rest of your life?
• Make the time.
• Take your weekends when you can.
• Take your leave. 
• How has the experience of working with the National Park Service added to your life?
• Mission aligns with personal values.
• What makes this more than a job for you?
• Be passionate about what you do.
• Like what you do.

_________________________

Thanks to the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center for this contribution.

This blog first ran on November 16, 2012

IGNITE: People Grow By Mentoring

 

Leaders also help their people grow by mentoring and sharing experiences. Mentoring them begins their journey from followership to leadership. – Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, page 40

[Photo: Folsom Lake Veterans' Fire Crew]

Do your part and share throughout your sphere of influence!

#‎fireleadership‬ ‪#‎firememes‬
http://www.fireleadership.gov/

Challenge #40 - 2021 WFLDP Campaign

 

Challenge #40: Leaders employ their people in accordance with each person’s capabilities; they also help their people build new skills. 

• Visit the “Skills You Need” website for coaching tools.  
• Devote a few pages in your leadership journal to “Coaching Tools.” 
• Transfer tips on coaching to these pages.

IGNITE: Coach and Step Back

Fire leaders coach and then step back to allow people to take on new responsibilities. Providing the opportunity to test new waters and try new behaviors is important in developing people for the future. - Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, p. 40 

[Photo: Karri Greer/USFS]

Teach Them to Fish

 

(Photo credit: sasint/Pixabay)

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime

Chinese Proverb

Leaders help their people grow by coaching, mentoring, and sharing experiences. Coaching them begins their journey from followership to leadership. Fire leaders coach and then step back to allow people to take on new responsibilities. Providing the opportunity to test new waters and try new behaviors is important in developing people for the future.

IGNITE: Experiences to Grow

Our most significant challenges are often our greatest occasions and learning experiences to grow. ♦ George Raveling, Coaching for Success ♦

[Photo: Kari Greer/USFS]

Eyes Forward

 

Leaders in the wildland fire service chose to reach beyond the challenges of learning the craft of firefighting by stepping forward to lead people in complex and dangerous environments. 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. 

Challenge #39 - 2021 WFLDP Campaign

Challenge #39: Leaders know themselves and what they believe.

• In your leadership journal, write "This I believe..." at the top of a page and then list all the things you believe about yourself and the way you see others and the world around you.
• Do you feel comfortable sharing your beliefs with others?