WOR 2022 - Day 2

 “As a firefighter you should never stop learning as one day your life may depend on it.” – Jim Karels NASF Fire Director and lead investigator on the Yarnell Hill Fire Serious Accident Investigation team

[Photo: Zephyr Fire Crew]

Learner Experience: Sharing Stories

“All history is remembered history. The action of the individual only gains historical significance through individual relation to the life of a social group.” - Paul Tillich, ‘Theology of Peace’

IGNITE: Stand With Your People

“To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.”

- Charles de Montesquieu, French Philosopher

[Photo: Baker River IHC]

 

Likelihood of Learning from Incidents

The “Bull’s Eye” chart developed by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center plots the likelihood of learning from past events. The likelihood of learning diminishes as we move out from the center. 

We seek opportunities to move Firefighter “X” closer to the Bull’s Eye through impactful connection. Simulations and staff rides often have the power to personalize events and lessons to create a connection with the lessons available. These efforts help to move “Firefighter X” closer to the bull’s eye. 

We must create personal connections to increase the likelihood of “Firefighter X” learning from an incident or accident. We must capitalize on those with an existing connection to pass on lessons.

[Click here to download Learning in the Wildland Fire Service.]

Challenge #25 - 2022 WFLDP Campaign

 

Challenge #25: Students of leadership understand how their biases may affect learning.

• Review “The Cognitive Bias Codex.” 
• Bookmark for future use.

IGNITE: Teach and Give

 “When you learn, teach.

When you get, give.”

Maya Angelou

[Photo: Kari Greer/USFS]

Characteristics of Adult Learners - Learner Experience

Adults have had a great deal of previous learning, comprised of formal education, training, culture, reading, and life experience. Based on this prior learning, adult learners formulate assumptions about the world. Their assumptions can either help or hinder the learning of new material.

IGNITE: Making a Better Word

 

A “leadership course” should not be about “making better leaders.” It should be about helping leaders make a better world. - Tom Peters, American Author


[Photo: Midewin IHC]

Characteristics of Adult Learners - Self-Direction

Adults avoid, resist, and resent situations where they are not respected as adults. They desire to be treated by others as capable of self-direction.

Jason Kuiken - 2021 LBE Winner for Initiative and Innovation

R5 Deputy Regional Forester Jody Holzworth presenting Jason his award

Jason Kuiken

Forest Supervisor

Stanislaus National Forest
Category: Initiative and Innovation

Congratulations to Jason Kuiken for being selected as one of the recipients for the 2021 Paul Gleason Lead by Example award. Three individuals and one group from across the wildland fire service have been chosen to receive this national award.

Challenge #24 - 2022 WFLDP Campaign

 Challenge #24: Good leaders are self-directed learners.

• Seek out at least one opportunity to teach or learn this week.
• Share what you’ve learned with your team.
• Write about your experience in your journal.

IGNITE: Leadership Impacts

 

"Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence." ― Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In


[Photo: Kari Greer/USFS]

Characteristics of Adult Learners

 

It is far better for firefighters to learn how to overcome their anxieties in the safety of a simulation exercise, rather than for the first time out on an active fireline.

Most adults have developed a sense of self that they expect will be respected and appreciated in a learning environment. These and many other characteristics have been found to be somewhat universal among adult learners.

IGNITE: Best Time to Do the Right Thing

 

The best time to do the right thing was the first time you had an opportunity. - The Daily Coach blog


[Photo: Baker River IHC]

A Framework for Learning

Integrity is one of the wildland fire leadership values. One of its principles is “know yourself and seek improvement.”

There does not always need to be two people in traditional roles assigned as teacher and student for learning to occur.

Challenge #23 - 2022 WFLDP Campaign

Challenge #23: Good leaders create psychologically safe environments in which their team can share. 

• Watch Amy Edmondson’s “Building a Psychologically Safe Workplace” TedTalk.
• Take the “Is Your Team Psychologically Safe” quiz and consider implementing the exercises to build safe environments. 

IGNITE: Building Confidence and Competence

 

By building your confidence as well as your competence, you build executive presence. - Jody Michael

[Photo: Santa Fe Helitack]

Opportunities for Inquiry and Dialogue - "Is Yours a Learning Organization?"

In a March 2008 article in Harvard Business Review, professors ask, “Is Yours a Learning Organization?” The authors propose that an environment to support learning has four characteristics:

Week of Remembrance 2022 - Day 7

 

“We as firefighters can most honor them by recognizing and cherishing the lessons they have imparted to us at the greatest price.” - Paul Gleason

[Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC]

IGNITE: A Willingness to Fail

 

We have to be willing to fail, to be wrong, to start over again with lessons learned. - Angela Duckworth, Psychologist

[Photo: Tallac IHC]

Opportunities for Inquiry and Dialogue - Summary on Learning Organizations

All wildland firefighters need to undergo similar entry-level training and then career progression training and education designed and implemented as an acculturation process. This common lifelong learning experience provides all firefighters shared situational awareness, a proud heritage, a set of values, and a common bond of comradeship.

Basic individual skills are an essential foundation for fireline effectiveness and must receive heavy emphasis. All firefighters—regardless of their specialty—must be trained and educated in basic firefighting skills.

At the same time, organizational skills are extremely important.

Leaders must establish concrete learning processes and practices, and reinforce the value of a learning culture. The next section of this publication helps you to do just that by establishing a framework for learning.

These are not simply an accumulation of individual skills. To be sure, adequacy in individual skills does not automatically mean organizational skills are satisfactory.

Crews and teams must experience learning together so they can collectively improve their knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are in keeping with our leadership values and principles.

Challenge #22 - 2022 WFLDP Campaign

Challenge #22: Effective leaders cultivate learning organizations to pass on lessons.

• Subscribe to the LLC’s “What’s New” e-newsletter.
• Share lessons and reports with your team.

IGNITE: Treating Your People

 

Treat employees like they make a difference and they will. - Jim Goodnight

[Photo: Golden Eagles IHC]

Opportunities for Inquiry and Dialogue - Lesson Identification

 

The intentional passing on of lessons observed from past fires and all-hazards incidents to the next generation of firefighters is a characteristic of a learning organization.

All the rules of engagement currently used by wildland firefighters have evolved from hard won lessons on the fireground. Developing staff rides from previous incidents and operations for such lessons is a valuable method of inquiry.