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. 

IGNITE: And Many Chains to Go

[Photo credit: Kari Greer/USFS]

One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done… - Marie Curie 

IGNITE: The Voyage of Discovery

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. - Marcel Proust

[Photo: Kyle Miller/Wyoming IHC]

You Are a Work in Progress

Technology has a huge affect on the way we learn, earn, live, and play. Few can deny that technology is a vital part of our lives. Some might even go as far as to say that technology has destroyed our lives. These thoughts are said by every generation. Regardless of your opinion, technological advancements happen and will continue to do so. The real questions are whether or not you are aware of the changes that affect your way of learning, earning, living, and playing and how you deal with those changes.

Why Would Anyone Follow You?

"People will not believe the message if they

 don't believe in the messenger." - Barry Posner

Are you leading or on a walk? In "Why Credibility is the Foundation of Leadership," Barry Posner discusses the qualities a leader must possess for followers to follower. If you don't possess them and you are "leading" others, you are probably just out for a walk because no one is following you!

Check out what Leading in the Wildland Fire Service has to say that is similar to Posner:

Honest

• Leaders honestly appraise their own strengths and weaknesses. (p. 59)
• Our followers assess our character every day; they know if we are open and honest; they see if we are indecisive, lazy or selfish. (p. 63)

Competent

• Our command philosophy is based on the understanding that competent subordinate leaders who are at the scene of action understand the current situation better than does a senior commander some distance removed. Actions are coordinated. (p. 15)
• Much of the work in the wildland fire service is technical. In demonstrating technical proficiency, fire leaders adhere to professional standard operating procedures, following established best practices. (p. 25)
• Competent leaders develop plans to accomplish given objectives and communicate plans throughout the chain of command. Leaders exercise good judgment to ensure that the plan matches the objectives, employing people, equipment, and time wisely. (p. 26)
• When the mission takes our people into harm's way, fire leaders redeem their people's trust by looking out for their well being: doing our best to make decisions hat appropriately balance risk and potential gain, being watchful for unfolding conditions that may jeopardize their safety, and being present to share the risks and hardships. (p. 46)

Forward-Looking

• 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. (p. 67)

Inspiring

• Wildland fire leaders inspire by being committed leaders and avid pupils of the art of leadership. (p. 9)
• Leaders inspire, guide, and support their subordinates, gaining their commitment to the vision and mission and encouraging them, within established limits, to perform creatively. (p. 9)
• Wildland fire leaders inspire confidence among team members by demonstrating a strong and effective command presence. (p. 20)

Student for Life

• We accept the responsibility of making ourselves the best leaders that we can be, continuously embracing opportunities to learn the art of leadership through formal training, field experience, and self development. The best leaders are life-long students of leadership. (p. 60)

Courageous

• Wildland fire leaders demonstrate moral courage by adhering to high ethical standards and choosing the difficult right over the easy wrong. We avoid ethical dilemmas by directing team members to operate in ways that are consistent with our professional standards and by directing them only to actions they can achieve ethically. (p. 63)

Credibility

• Leaders of people act to develop credibility as leaders: placing the team ahead of themselves, demonstrating trustworthiness, mastering essential technical skills, and instilling the values of the organization in their teams. (p. 21)

There's More to Learn

An interviewer asked President Bill Clinton, "What is the most important thing you have learned?" President Bill Clinton replied, "There's more to learn. That we should all be hungry for a lifetime."

He goes on to explain that we are never to old to learn and that our brains make new connections.

• What hunger resides within you that you need to feed?
• What are you doing to expand your brain power and keep learning?

Wildland Fire Leadership Challenge - Digging Deeper
We challenge you to continue learning. Reflect upon your desires and dreams and make a plan to pursue something new.

Bryan, TX - An Example of Excellence



(From left are TFS Regional Fire Coordinator Jared Karns, Bryan Emergency Management Coordinator Jerry Henry, TFS Mitigation and Prevention Department Head Bruce Woods, Bryan Fire Chief Randy McGregor, TFS Director Tom Boggus and TFS Fire Chief Mark Stanford.)

 Congratulations to Bryan, TX, and the Texas A&M Forest Service for making a difference in their local community by developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Bryan is the first city in Texas to complete a plan. The measures taken by this innovative fire department will help keep the community safe from wildfire.


(Bryan Fire Chief Randy McGregor, Mayor Jason Bienski and Texas A&M Forest Service Director Tom Boggus pose with the city's Community Wildfire Protection Plan, approved for implementation at the City Council's June 11 meeting.)

Check it out the Bryan Community Wildfire Protection Plan. We encourage fire managers to adapt the plan to meet local area needs. (This document is large and takes a while to download.)

_______________________________

We give a shout out to Texas A&M Forest Service for permission to post and for their leadership and ability to make a difference in the communities they serve.

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.

As our careers progress, some move from being a leader of people to being a leader of leaders to being a leader of an organization. At each level, we rise to meet the challenges of adhering to our values of duty, respect, and integrity and assume the responsibility of instilling those values in others.

A leader’s accomplishments are measured in lifetimes. Our character, decisions, and actions create powerful ripple effects that continue to influence people and organizations long after we are gone. This is the legacy that each generation passes on and entrusts to our successors.

(Taken from Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, p. 67.)

*************************

Your legacy begins now. Consider using the 2013 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign - Leading with Courage as a means to create your legacy!