2021 Wildland Fire National Leadership Campaign - Sharpening Your Tools

2021 campaign banner - Sharpening Your Tools

Theme:

The theme for the 2021 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign is “Sharpening Your Tools”

Task:

The campaign is an opportunity for personnel at the local level - whether collectively or through self-development - to focus on leadership development activities relating to the national campaign theme.

Purpose:

To promote leadership development across the wildland fire community disciplines.
To provide an opportunity and resources that can be used for leadership development at the local unit level.
To collect innovative leadership development efforts and share those efforts across the community.

End State:

A culture that creates and shares innovative leadership development efforts in order to maintain superior leadership in the fire community.

Dates of Campaign:

Any time between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021.

Audience:

All wildland fire personnel - line-going and support.

Implementation:

The campaign is flexible. Local units or teams may use or adapt any or all materials found on this website or posted on our social media platforms or develop a program or activity of your own spotlighting the campaign theme. Campaign coordinators are encouraged to craft the campaign to the needs of the local unit and team. Innovation should fuel your campaign delivery: workshops or tailgate sessions, to kick off staff meetings, as a team activity or self-directed, etc.

2021 Campaign Activities

⇒ Challenges 1-10

Challenge #1

Leaders are readers and students of fire.

Take notes in your journal while watching South Canyon tragedy videos:
- 1994 South Canyon Fire on Storm King Mountain
  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUII16YlGUo
    
    Time: 39:50
  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOP8iHKeA_8
    
    Time: 41:52
- Wildland Firefighting: Everyone Goes Home
  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uazsVOxBSn8&feature=youtu.be
    
    Time: 32:04

Challenge #2

Leaders seek to understand.

Take notes in your journal while reading Findings from the Wildland Firefighter Human Factors Workshop.

Challenge #3

Leaders appreciate constructive criticism.

Take notes in your journal while reading the Wildland Firefighter Safety Awareness Study and watching videos from fire leaders (https://wildlandfireleadership.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-wildland-firefighter-safety.html).

Challenge #4

Leaders make their organizations better.

Read Report of the Leadership Task Report to the Training Working Team.
- Review the 14 recommendations and evaluate if/how leadership development was implemented in your organization. Why or why not?

Challenge #5

Wildland fire leaders follow a defined set of values and principles.

Journalize your responses to questions posed on the 2/5/2021 Wildland Fire Leadership blog.

Challenge #6

Leaders contribute to the greater good.

Obtain and read the vignettes included in Leading in the Wildland Fire Service, PMS 494-2.
New stories are needed. Submit yours.

Challenge #7

Leaders know themselves and seek improvement.

Download and use the Individual Development Plan Guide
Take the time today to start or update your Self-Development Plan Worksheet.
Visit the self-development tool.

Challenge #8

Leaders value learning.

Read “The Pillars and Tenets of Learning” section in Learning in the Wildland Fire Service.
As a leader, how can you help your organization improve on implementing these pillars and tenants?

Challenge #9

Leaders are readers.

Pick a book from the Professional Reading Program list that you’re going to read in in 2021 (doesn’t have to be from the 2021 list, can be from previous years).
Tell us which one it is and why you want to read it.

Challenge #10

Leaders are students of leadership.

What is your favorite leadership book?
What’s the leadership book you got the most out of personally?
Are they the same or different books?

⇒ Challenges 11-20

Challenge #11

Leaders seek to make themselves better through research and collaboration.

Select, read, and share one article from the WFLDP Electronic Library.
Recommend at least one leadership article for possible inclusion within the WFLDP Electronic Library to BLM_FA_Leadership_Feedback@blm.gov.

Challenge #12

Leaders communicate and interact with other leaders and followers.

Visit the WFLDP website.
Like, follow and share the WFLDP social media platforms:
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/WFLDP/
- Twitter – https://twitter.com/WFLeaders
- Blog – http://wildlandfireleadership.blogspot.com/

Challenge #13

Leaders read and write.

Visit the WFLDP blog and select at least five posts to read that are not memes or challenges. http://wildlandfireleadership.blogspot.com/
Write a blog on the leadership subject of your choice. Submit your work for consideration as a post on the WFLDP blog, BLM_FA_Leadership_Feedback@blm.gov

Challenge #14

Leaders engage with their people and their peers.

Become a member of the “Strengthening Your Tools” Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/317488299461888.
Contribute to the discussion through a post regarding a leadership tool or through a comment on an existing post.

Challenge #15

Leaders develop themselves and their people.

Review Review the Wildland Fire Leadership Levels.
Develop or alter your self-development plan to align with the Wildland Fire Leadership Levels.

Challenge #16

Leaders read, watch, and follow.

Add the following books to your reading list. Several of these are described on the Professional Reading Program page.
- "Make your Bed," Admiral William H. McRaven
- "Buddha’s Brain," Rick Hanson
- "Tribe," Sebastian Junger
- "Emotional Intelligence," Daniel Goleman
- "Dare to Lead," Brene Brown
Add the following Ted Talks videos to your watch list:

Page Last Modified / Reviewed:

2021-04-16