Challenge #52 - 2021 WFLDP Campaign

 

Challenge #52: Leaders take care of themselves.

The 2021 WFLDP campaign is complete.

• Take time to reflect upon all you have done
• Capture your thoughts in your journal.
• Take time for you and your family.

IGNITE: Take Action, Listen, Learn, and Lead

Successful leaders don't only take action. Good leaders listen, learn, and then lead. 

♦ John Maxwell ♦

Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC
www.fireleadership.gov

Chef's Special of the Day: Leader's Intent

(Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC)

I thought we could unpack the picnic basket of Leader’s Intent in order to better understand a tool that is more important than ever. 

Similar to what the military has experienced in the last 20 years, the emergency management and response environments have become increasingly more volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA). That’s the clinical term for off-the-charts chaos. 

IGNITE: Aim for the Middle

"The greatest danger for most of us is not that we aim too high and we miss it, but we aim too low and reach it." ♦ Michelangelo ♦

[Photo: Redding IHC}

Challenge #51 - 2021 WFLDP Campaign

Challenge #51: Leaders choose to lead.

• In your journal, reflect upon the following quote by Chery Gegelman in "The Character-Based Leader."

"For many of us, it has taken a life-altering circumstance or a season of brokeness before we understood that life and leadership really is not about me."

• Write about what inspired your decision to lead.

IGNITE: A High Consideration Factor

“The best leaders have a high consideration factor. They really care about their people.” - Brian Tracy, motivational speaker

[Photo: Asad Rahman/BLM]

Caring For Our People

 

(Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

"While leadership as a discipline is very, very important, the personal and interpersonal sides of leadership are every bit as important as the great leadership themes of vision, execution, strategy, and the like." - Henry Cloud, Boundaries for Leaders

I am rarely surprised by the answer I get from our followers when asked, "What is a leaders most important asset?" The resounding answer is "my people." People do matter, and they have a lot to say if only the leader has the ears to hear and the eyes to see.

Taking a Mindful Moment

December 20, 2021

Unhooking from What is Unhelpful

Our thoughts are seen in our minds as words and pictures. When our thoughts can come and go freely, they are not problematic, and we are able to see the world around us clearly. However, when we find ourselves attaching or holding tightly to thoughts that’s when the world can become hazy around us and it is difficult to see and be engaged with what is happening in our lives.

IGNITE: Leaders Provide

Leaders provide for their people what the people cannot provide for themselves. ♦ John Maxwell ♦


Photo: Justin Vernon/USFS
www.fireleadership.gov

Challenge #50: 2021 WFLDP Campaign

Challenge #50: Effective leaders develop themselves as well as their people.

In your journal, respond to the following questions:

• What are the tasks and responsibilities that only I can do?
• What is the most valuable and productive use of my time and energy in this organization?
• What changes do I need to make in order to accomplish more of the most important things that I am called to do?

IGNITE: Changes to Self

 

There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered. - Nelson Mandela

[Photo: Baker River IHC]

The Path of Self-Leadership

(Photo: geralt/Pixabay)

Since the early 2000's, the wildland fire service has had access to a leadership development program. Prior to the establishment of this program, leadership development was likely more reliant on your supervisor’s ability to plan for your progression, circumstances that would lead to leadership moments and other activities outside of work that would lead to leadership experience.

IGNITE: The Process of Change

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” - Dr. Maya Angelou, Poet 

[Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC]

Challenge #49 - 2021 WFLDP Campaign

Challenge #49: Good leaders share their stories.

• Read the Summer 2021 edition of Two More Chains.
• In your journal, create a list of your prominent stories. Tell those stories to someone.

Understanding the Value of Storytelling

From my first moments working in wildland fire, I understood that we are a storytelling culture. I attended Guard School the same week I “celebrated” my 18th birthday. The only cadre members I remember from that week were members of the Zigzag Hotshots. They told stories that captivated my young impressionable mind. Through their words and story sharing, I began to understand how my choices and the choices of those leading me could directly affect the safety of everyone involved. I was drawn into the adventure of the job as they relayed details of what I might expect as I began life as a wildland firefighter. I was learning from their experience. When someone shares their story, we cannot help but become active participants in the events. Listening, judging, and processing each detail to determine if we would have read the context clues in the same way, ultimately arriving at the same actions. Or would we have done something different? Either way, through this process we develop our own experience. 

IGNITE: The Importance of Your Story

 

purposeful leader understands the important role that their story contributes to the clarity and direction of their leadership. - Quinn McDowell, “Purpose Driven Leader”

[Photo: Bryan Bell/BLM]

IGNITE: Stories Out of Ashes

 

The meaning of flames depends on the story that grows out of the ashes. ♦ Stephen Pyne ♦

[Photo: Austin Catlin/BLM]

Challenge 48: 2021 WFLDP Campaign

 

Challenge #48: Effective leaders use a variety of leadership styles.

• Complete WE’s “Exploring the Four Leadership Styles” activity with your team. 

IGNITE: A Spectrum of Styles

There are a lot of men with feminine leadership styles and there are a lot of women with masculine leadership styles. - Jill Soloway

[Photo: Austin Catlin/BLM]

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]

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