Day 5: Leadership and Human Performance

Day 5: Leadership and Human Performance 

Week of Remembrance June 30-July 6

Recent research in the wildland fire community has shown that the most highly regarded, highest performing, and safest leaders are those who are more mindful of themselves, others, and the environment (Waldron & Ebbeck, 2015). Leadership begins by knowing and leading oneself, followed by leading others. Like a compass guiding the direction through changing terrain, knowing and being mindful of one’s deepest motives and desires (values) as a leader can serve as an internal guide to leading the self and others through the easiest and most difficult situations. By exploring, identifying and being aware (or mindful) of your deepest motives for how you want to behave and act as a person and leader on an ongoing basis will enable you to lead yourself and others most effectively.

Below is an exercise to identify and reflect on important values as a leader. There are no “right” or “wrong” answers.

• Take a few minutes and note five values that best complete the sentence for you personally. 
• Then Take a few minutes and discuss as a crew or with other coworkers - what values are most important for a leader of your crew/group to have? Why? 
• Complete the following sentence: " _________________ is a ‘cornerstone’ in my approach to leadership." 

(Exercise Modified from Tom Siebold)

Additional Resources: 

• New MTDC video on Leadership Diversity 
• Making Sense of it All (Fireline Leadership video)
• How to Build a Leader (Leadership Development video)
• Fireline Leadership: (WFSTAR video) 
• Learning From Successful Organizations (WFSTAR video)

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The topics for the NWCG “Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance” have been drawn from the Human Performance Optimization course taught as a part of the USFS Apprentice Academy in cooperation with the Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC) and is rooted in the desire to prepare wildland fire personnel to optimally manage themselves and others at any given time. Review and resources have been contributed by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center, NIFC External Affairs, the Wildland Fire annual refresher group, and the Wildland Fire Leadership Subcommittee.