Challenge #11 - 2023 WFLDP Campaign

 

Challenge #11 – Servant-leaders practice self-awareness and compassion.

• Read about SHARP on “Mindfulness, Self-Compassion and Leadership in Wildland Fire.”
• Transfer the SMART tool to your leadership journal.
• Practice. Practice. Practice.
• Dig deeper with other servant-leaders on the Portal.

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.

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.

Change is Coming

("Swiss Cheese" by thenoodleator is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

We live in a period of such uncertainty. Worldwide pandemic. Wildfires raging across all western states. Double hurricanes forming. Meteoroid headed to earth. Political and social unrest. Worldwide hunger and water shortages.

We've Got to Go Through It

[Photo: Kari Greer/USFS]

These are unprecedented times...at least for me anyways. However, this time in history is really just that—a time in history. There have been worse pandemics, worse leaders, etc. For heaven's sakes, there were dinosaurs wandering this planet at one time. But this is our time and our adventure, and the only way to get through it is to go through it. 

Become Aware

I came across this image and quote on the WFLDP Facebook page this morning, and I liked it:

"If you do not pay attention to what has your attention, you will give it more attention than it deserves." – David Allen

In my (very) short journey toward being more mindful, I’ve learned that being aware of what you are focused on is pretty important. If you’re aware of what has your attention, of what you are focused on, you can be mindful of how much attention it really needs, and shift your focus to what’s really important if you need to.

Being Present and Mindful

(Photo: Justin Vernon)

I stumbled across the Leadership Freak's blog post "A Realistic Approach to Being Present." In the blog, Dan Rockwell sparked a long series of thoughts. 

There’s a few good things in there for sure, but I really want to hit on the idea of being present and being mindful.

Looking at Judgment

(Photo credit: Norca98/Pixabay)

We all fall short; we make mistakes.  The point of this blog is not how we deal with our own shortcomings, however, but how we deal with the shortcomings others, specifically judging others.

Just Breathe

(Photo: johnhain/Pixabay)

We have all been there—you have a mind full of "stuff" and a decision or two or three to make. Maybe you are tired, hangry, fires are active across the area, and/or communities are threatened. Maybe it is your house that is threatened and your loved ones evacuating while you battle the fire. You are at or beyond the worst-case scenario; you have some critical decisions to make and ethical dilemmas to resolve.

Mindlessly Wandering

"We're unaware when we're mindless. Again, when we're not there, we're not there to know we're not there." - Ellen Langer

Many of you may have seen Arron Bevin's brick wall "optical illusion" picture that went viral on social media recently. I have to admit that I had to search online for the spoiler because I just couldn't find the "Waldo" element many said existed. Once I learned of said element (not going to spoil it for you), I can no longer "unsee" what existed in plain sight.

How many times have you driven from Point A to Point B and wondered how you got there? How did that person you read about in the news follow their GPS into a river? Most importantly, how do firefighters involved with fatality events often report it was an ordinary fire?

Dr. Ellen Langer, professor of psychology at Harvard University, has made it her specialty to study the illusion of control and decision making. In this Mindfullness Over Matter video, below she discusses mindlessness and its affect on decision making.

Mindlessness – An inactive state of mind characterized by reliance on distinctions, categories drawn in the past:

1. the past over-determines the present
2. trapped in a single perspective
3. insensitive to context
4. rule and routine governed
5. typically in error but rarely in doubt

Mindfulness – an active state of mind characterized by novel distinction - drawing that results in:

1. being situated in the present
2. sensitive to context and perspective
3. rule and routine guided
4. phenomenological experience of engagement

"Noticing novelty reveals uncertainty."

Wildland Fire Leadership Challenge - Digging a Little Deeper

• Discuss with your team how mindlessness can contribute to accidents and illnesses.
• Discuss how mindfulness can be used make your team more effective, efficient, and safer.
• How do our values and belief systems affect our perceptions and control of a situation?\
• How does mindlessness affect your learning?

Day 4: Situational Awareness and Mindfulness

Day 4: Situational Awareness and Mindfulness 

Week of Remembrance June 30-July 6 

Applying Situational Awareness (SA) – an on-going process of perceiving what is going on around you, comprehending the meaning of what we are noticing, and projecting and predicting this comprehension forward in time – can often be challenging. Research has indicated that three-fourths of SA errors can be traced to something important happening in our environment, and we missed it (Jones & Endsley, 1996). In a high risk world like wildland fire, missing important cues or events can lead to catastrophic outcomes. The practice of mindfulness can help.

Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are | Amy Cuddy | TED Talks

We've all heard that part of being a "good" leader is looking, sounding, and acting the part. In some of our leadership classes we talk about command presence and how tone of voice and posture influence how people respond to you as a leader. But it goes beyond just how others perceive and respond to you - your body language also influence you. In this TED Talk from 2012, author and social psychologist Amy Cuddy explores how our body language influences not only those around us, but us as individuals.

I'm always on the lookout for new and interesting ideas about human factors and leadership, and this talk struck me as being pretty relevant to fire leaders. The talk isn't about leadership, isn't about wildland fire, and yet there are lots of little nuggets of valuable information in it that fire leaders can use to become more confident and effective leaders. Part of being a good leader is being mindful of ourselves and our surroundings, and videos like this can promote discussion that will help raise individual and collective self-awareness.

As you watch the talk, think of your body language, and if there's anything she talks about that resonates with you. What are some ways that you can use this information in your life, at home or on the fireline? What do you think about the idea of "fake it 'til you are it?" What other lessons can you take from this talk?  Had you ever thought about command presence in this way before? Have you ever considered how you might be able to use "lifehacks" like this to become a better leader?

Until next time...

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Justin Vernon is a regular guest contributor on our blog. Justin works for the United States Forest Service and is a member of the NWCG Leadership Subcommittee as the steward of the Professional Reading Program. Check out his Chasing Fire blog. All expressions are those of the author.

Getting to Know You

"We're really good at talking about material things, but we're really bad at talking about emotions. We're really good at talking about skills and safety and health; we're really bad at talking about character. Alasdair MacIntyre, the famous philosopher, said that, 'We have the concepts of the ancient morality of virtue, honor, goodness, but we no longer have a system by which to connect them.'"

New York Times columnist David Brooks uses a bit of humor to talk about a topic many avoid--humans as social creatures who are guided by our emotions. Talking about human nature and emotion can be difficult if you are not willing to open your mind and to be a bit vulnerable in the process. Humans are social creatures and emotions play a big part in our decision-making processes. Have you taken the time to know yourself--really know yourself and how your emotions provide a framework for the decisions you make?

Video Highlights

You are challenged to watch Brook's TedTalk video "The Social Animal" in its entirety. Here are a few highlights:

• "People learn from people they love."
• "Emotions are at the center of our thinking."
• "Reading and educating your emotions is one of the central activities of wisdom."
• "We're social animals, not rational animals. We emerge out of relationships, and we are deeply interpenetrated, one with another."

Growth Tools

• Mindsight - the ability to enter into other people's minds and learn what they have to offer.
• Equal poise - the ability to have the serenity to read the biases and failures in your own mind.
• Metis (street smarts) - The ability to pick out patterns in an environment.
• Blending - ability to blend concepts together
• Limerence - drive or motivation.

Silence Amid the Noise

During a discussion revolving around last year's Yarnell Hill tragedy, a firefighter mentioned the importance of focusing on the basics. The conversation reminded me of Paul Gleason's position following the Dude fire. Paul's leadership efforts challenged wildland firefighters to focus on the basics: LCES (Lookouts, Communication, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones).

"LCES is just a re-focusing on the essential elements of the FIRE ORDERS. The systems view stresses the importance of the components working together. The LCES system is a result of analyzing fatalities and near-misses for over 20 years of active fireline suppression duties. I believe that all firefighters should be given a interconnecting view of Lookout(s), Communication(s), Escape routes and safety zone(s)." ~ Paul Gleason in "LCES and Other Thoughts."

See what Richard St. John has to say about a focusing.




Video Takeaways:

• Go wide then focus.
• Success requires a single-minded focus.
• Become an expert at something.
• Short-term concentration is important.
• Eliminate the distractions when you need to concentrate.
• Some people use noise to eliminate distractions.
• Learn to concentrate through practice.

Wildland Fire Leadership Challenge

Join the TED Ed discussion on the topic of focus. Create a lesson for the wildland fire service and send us a link to the lesson ([email protected]), so we can share it with others.

Lessons in Mindfulness from Sherlock Holmes

(Photo: Sherlock-Holmes.com)

If you have been in the wildland fire service for a while, you know about Ted Putnam (US Forest Service).  Ted was a change agent for wildland fire and left an incredible legacy following his retirement in 1998. Dr. Ted Putnam held a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Montana. His research and contributions to learning psychology and decision theory within the wildland fire service have helped shape the organization. His work on human factors was critical to changing our culture following the Dude and South Canyon incidents.

Ted was a huge proponent producing mindful leaders. Check out Big Think's Lessons in Mindfulness from Sherlock Holmes: a look at mindfulness through the eyes of a Sherlock Holmes analogy.

Additional Resources:

• "Leaders We Would Like to Meet - Ted Putnam"
• "Deep Psychology: The Quite Way to Wisdom" by Ted Putnam
• Organizational Learning/HRO Resources - Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Finding Calm During the Storm

(Photo credit: Like a Butterfly blog)

"If you do not pay attention to what has your attention, you will give it more attention than it deserves." ~ David Allen

I recently went through a health crisis. I had been through the same scare three times before, but this one seemed more dire. With each test the tensions built, the crisis became deeper. However, amidst the chaos, I had the opportunity to find a profound peace like none before. In "The Art of Stress-Free Productivity," David Allen speaks about how crisis evokes serenity--a point where you are fully present and at peace in the midst of a crisis.
Choosing "Leading with Courage" as the theme for the inaugural Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign was purposeful. Days of crisis are ahead. Fire leaders will be placed in tough positions and asked to carry their organizations through the rough waters ahead. It may be quite some time before the crisis subsides, so what tools can we give our leaders to develop the "art of stress-free productivity"?



Video Highlights:

• "Crisis can produce a kind of calm that is rare to find sometimes. Why? It demands it!"
• All other issues are put on the back burner, allowing for the individual to be fully present.
• Getting something done is about appropriate engagement.
• Crisis forces us to be appropriately engaged.
• Get comfortable with paradoxes:
• Paradox #1: In order to manage all the complexities and stuff of your life, you need three core principles that you understand and apply:
• Paradox #2: The initial moves and behaviors and best practice of this may very likely feel awkward, unnatural, or unnecessary.
• Paradox #3: Some very specific but seemingly mundane behaviors when applied produce the capacity for you to exist in a kind of sophisticated spontaneity.
•  Things to consider and what to do:
• Time is not the issue.
• Increase your psychic bandwith--space to think--so that your creative energies can emerge.
• Mess is cool.
• However, if you're already in a creative mess, you have no freedom to make one.
• Lessons from nature:
• Lesson #1: Flexibility trumps perfection.
• Lesson #2: You need the ability to be able to shift your focus rapidly in, out, up, and down quickly and present with each shift.
• Lesson #3: Be able to put your focus exactly where you need it and the way you need it: focused attention
• Keys to success:
• Key #1: Capture your thinking, then notice what you'll notice.
• Key #2: Make outcome/action decisions, then notice what you'll notice.
• Key #3: Use the right maps, then notice what you'll notice.

Check out "Deep Psychology: The Quiet Way to Wisdom" by Ted Putnam, U.S. Forest Service (retired) and winner of the Paul Gleason Lead by Example award.

IGNITE the Spark for Leadership today!

"Developing Mindful Leaders"

As we begin 2012, I challenge you to become a mindful leader as well as develop other mindful leaders.

Polly LaBarre shares her tips for "Developing Mindful Leaders" on the Harvard Business Network. She shares Pamela Weiss' and Todd Pierce's pillars ("Personal Excellence Program") for unleashing human capability, resilience, compassion, and well-being:

1. Developing people is a process — not an event.
2. People don't grow from the neck up.
3. Put mindfulness at the center (but don't call it that!).
4. It's hard to grow alone.
5. Everybody deserves to grow.

Read the article and tell us what you think. Do you agree with the pillars?