Avoiding a One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Style

 

(Chief Kelly Zombro, CalFire, talking about the 2003 Cedar Fire near San Diego, CA)

How many times have you taken a profile or survey to help you identify your leadership style? These profiles can give you a idea of your overall leadership preference. However, what individuals need to realize is that leaders should adapt their styles as the situation warrants. How you prefer to lead and how you should be leading under a given situation may be very different things. Avoid leading with a one-size-fits-all mentality.

IGNITE: One Style is Not Enough

The best leaders don’t know just one style of leadership—they’re skilled at several and have the flexibility to switch between styles as the circumstances dictate. ♦ Daniel Goleman ♦

[Photo: BLM]

Challenge #47 - 2021 WFLDP Campaign

 

Challenge #47: Leaders with strong character create a better world for everyone.

•  Read Brenda van Camp’s article “The Importance of Character in Leadership.” 
• In your journal, write down the things that make someone trustworthy and the four key building blocks to develop strong character. Assess your character.

IGNITE: True Leadership

“True leadership is only possible when character is more important than authority.” - Joseph Marshall


[Photo: Jeremy Marshall]

Are you being the best person you can be?

 

After Lysippos [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Imagine a person who:

• Always knows what to say
• Can diffuse a tense situation
• Deliver tough news gracefully
• Confident without being arrogant
• Brave but not reckless
• Generous but never extravagant

[Source: Aristotle and Virtue Theory]

IGNITE: Character is a Choice

Talent is a gift, but character is a choice. - John C Maxwell

[Photo credit: Plumas IHC]

Challenge #46 - 2021 WFLDP Campaign

Challenge #46: Good leaders think and think again, learn and unlearn.

• Read Adam Grant’s book Think Again.
• Watch Adam Grant’s TedTalk “What frogs in hot water can teach us about thinking again.” 

IGNITE: Learning is a Virtue

 

Beyond the L-Courses

 

(Photo credit: Dynamic Graphics)

So, you've taken that fire leadership course. Now what? Do you wait for your supervisor to approve the next course in line? Do you throw the student workbook on the shelf and get back to work? What is your plan?

IGNITE: Stay Hungry and Humble

Stay hungry and humble on the journey. When we stop learning as leaders, we stop growing as positive difference makers. - George Raveling

[Photo: Mitch Sylvester/BLM]

IGNITE: Self-Care

 

Self-care is the most selfish thing you can do and the most self-less thing you can do – because when you give yourself what you need it reverberates to yourself, people and things that matter most around you.” ♦ Alexis Waldron ♦


[Photo: BLM]

Challenge #45 - 2021 WFLDP Campaign

 

Challenge #45: Leaders take time for self-care.

Find a moment in your day where you can pause what you are doing, in the morning when you wake up, before getting out of bed, or during a moment of feeling stressed, or driving down the road and try using this SHARP reflection to re-ground yourself.

IGNITE: Expressions of Gratitude

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”  ¨ John F. Kennedy ¨ 

We send our deepest gratitude to all those who have served this great nation. To those who gave the ultimate, we are indebted to sacrifice. To those who served and continue to serve, you are appreciated. To those who have become wildland firefighters, we are honored to serve beside you.

Happy Veterans Day!

[Photo: Pioneer Peak]

IGNITE: Make Room for Joy

When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life. - Jean Shinoda Bolen


[Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC]

Mindfulness, Self-Compassion and Leadership in Wildland Fire

Mindfulness, Self-Compassion and Leadership in Wildland Fire

Alexis Lewis Waldron, PhD

Background

The impetus for studying the topics of mindfulness, self-compassion and leadership started with research into learning why people do or do not speak up in risky situations in wildland fire (Lewis, et al, 2011). One of the key components described by fire personnel in this research was leadership. Nine core qualities of leadership emerged with two being central – quality of experience (variety of experience) and compassion and caring (Lewis, 2008). We wanted to know what processes would help develop these kinds of desired qualities that were noted by firefighters as keeping them safe and open to dialogue.

Challenge #44: 2021 WFLDP Campaign

Challenge #44: Effective leaders understand and manage their emotions.

• Read  Michelle Reugebrink's article “Gaining Perspective on Negative Events” → https://www.nwcg.gov/wfldp/toolbox/library
• Practice. Practice. Practice.

IGNITE: Attention!

 

Attention is the most essential leadership skill. Great leaders focus it inwardly, outwardly, and on the world. ♦ Daniel Goleman ♦

Photo: Marc Sanchez/BLM
www.fireleadership.gov

What and Why Emotional Intelligence?

(Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

What is emotional intelligence? 

In simple terms it is understanding and managing emotions. When we are tuned into, understand, and manage emotions, we are best able to:

• Motivate ourselves,
• Persist when frustrated,
• Control our impulses,
• Delay gratification,
• Keep distress from swamping our ability to think,
• Empathize, and
• Hope (Goleman, 1997)

IGNITE: Emotional Abilities Matter

 

“If your emotional abilities aren't in hand, if you don't have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can't have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far.” - Daniel Goleman 

[Photo: David Carerra/BLM, Owens Fire]