Challenges: 2023 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign – In Service Of Others

Challenge #1

​Effective leaders are servants first.

• Download and read “Servant leadership: How to lead by serving your team.”
• Join us on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal for a robust learning experience. (Portal registration required. Search for “Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign.”)

Challenge #2

Effective leaders commit to the growth of themselves and their people.

• Download and read Chapter 1 of “The Journey to the East” by Hermann Hesse.
• Join the discussion on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. (Portal registration required. Search for “Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign.”)

Book Study Discussion Questions:

• What barriers exist for me to tell my story?
• Who is your “League”?
• Do you have, or have you had, such a deep-seated commitment to your “League”? If so, what was it that made you feel such loyalty?
• How committed are you to the Wildland Fire Values (duty, respect and integrity) and Principles?
• Do you personally need to experience something to learn from it? Is this the same view you have of those your serve?
• “Does not each generation by means of suppression, concealment and ridicule, efface what the previous generation considered most important?” How does the following quote relate to the previous question?
  • “All history is remembered history.” – Colonel Eric Carlson, paraphrased from The Courage to Be by Paul Tillich
• What are you personally seeking? (What is your Journey to the East?) What are "we" seeking as a wildland fire service?
• Do you have someone on your team who looks out for the well-being of the team and identifies issues? Is it you or someone else?
• Have you had a team member leave the team? How did this affect team cohesion?
  • If the member came back to the team, how was that member treated? How did the return affect team cohesion?
• Have you ever "lost your way" along your journey? How did you/do you intend to get back on track?
• How can we be individuals on a group mission?
• How do we bring the past and the future into the present moment? (Answer personally and as a team in the wildland fire service.)
• How do we mitigate getting so caught up in our own world that we fail to see the needs of others?

Challenge #3

Effective leaders commit to the growth of themselves and their people.

• Download and read Chapter 2 of “The Journey to the East” by Hermann Hesse.
• Join the discussion on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. (Registration required. Search for “Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign.”)

Book Study Discussion Questions:

• Discuss a time of chaos when you felt alone.
• Do you consider the wildland fire service a resilient organization?
• How does a team move on without a leader/servant-leader?
• Has politeness/respect lessened since you first joined your team?
• Who/What provides the cohesion for your team?

Challenge #4

Effective leaders commit to the growth of themselves and their people.

• Download and read Chapter 3 of “The Journey to the East” by Hermann Hesse.
• Join the discussion on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. (Registration required. Search for “Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign.”)

Book Study Discussion Questions:

• Reflecting upon the last couple of years living through a pandemic, was there a point you felt alone and without a leader? If so, how did you deal with the situation? Did you ever feel helpless? If so, have you recovered? What words of wisdom can you give others?
• Has your passion for the thing you seek waned over time? If not, what helped keep the passion alive? If so, what do you intend to do (if you do) to revitalize that passion?
• Who are the “elders” (those with knowledge and/or experience) in your sphere of influence?
• How does a leader know when they can get no more from someone with whom they serve?

Challenge #5

Effective leaders commit to the growth of themselves and their people.

• Download and read Chapter 4 of “The Journey to the East” by Hermann Hesse.
• Join the discussion on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. (Registration required. Search for “Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign.”)

 Book Study Discussion Questions:

• When were you the most happy?
• Discuss your reaction to the following statement in Chapter 4:
  • “…what person really knows another or even himself?”
• Do you have a support system within your team that engages in times of despair and need?
• How do you handle personal mistakes? How does your team handle mistakes?

Challenge #6

Effective leaders commit to the growth of themselves and their people.

• Download and read Chapter 5 of “The Journey to the East” by Hermann Hesse.
• Join the discussion on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. (Registration required. Search for “Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign.”)

 Book Study Discussion Questions:

• Why did H.H. continue to look for Leo?
• Did either H.H. or Leo truly abandon the journey? If so, why did either/both step away?
• What was the purpose of giving H.H. access to the archives?
• Do you journalize? If so, do you go back and reflect to gain perspective?
• What is the moral of Hesse’s story (The Journey to East)?

Challenge #7

A Servant-Leader listens earnestly and speaks effectively.

• Download and read “Character and Servant Leadership: Ten Characteristics of Effective, Caring Leaders” by Larry Spears
• Read pp. 1-14 in Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership by James Sipe and Don Frick.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #8

Servant-Leaders are skillful communicators.

• Read pp. 15-76 in Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership by James Sipe and Don Frick.
  • Focus on Pillar II – Skilled Communicator.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #9

Effective leaders hone their people skills.

• Take the “How are YOUR People Skills” survey in Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership by James Sipe and Don Frick.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #10

Servant-leaders practice validation to communicate with empathy.

• Watch Naomi Feil’s “Validation, communication through empathy” Ted Talk.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

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 WFLP Portal.

Challenge #12

Servant-leaders practice empathy.

• Download and take the “12-Day Challenge Guide” from 4 Essential Keys to Effective Communication – In Love, Life, Work—Anywhere! by Bento C. Leal III.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #13

Servant-leaders invite feedback.

• Reread “Guidelines for Receiving Feedback” in Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership, pp. 65-66, by Sipes/Frick.
• Practice giving and receiving feedback with members of your team using the guidelines.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #14

Servant-leaders strengthen relationships, support diversity, and create a culture of collaboration.

• Read “Pillar IV – Compassionate Collaborator” (pp. 77-103) in Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #15

Servant-leaders manage disagreements respectfully, fairly, and constructively.

• Download and take the Marshall University’s “Conflict Styles Inventory.”
• Have those you serve take the inventory.
• Share the results among the team.

Challenge #16

 Servant-leaders invite and reward the contributions of others.

• Conduct the “Synergy Box” activity (p. 78 in Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership) with your team.
• Discuss the activity with other SLs on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #17

Servant-leaders value their team members.

• Review the tips for valuing and praising others on pp. 85-86 in Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership.
• Develop a strategy for recognizing your people.
•  Collaborate with other SLs on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #18

Leaders know their core (those they will not change for anything), personal (those they live by but may change), those of your team, and those of your organization.

• Facilitate the Sawtooth IHC values exploration exercise with your team.
• In your journal, identify your core, personal, team, and organizational values.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal

Challenge #19

Effective leaders are vulnerable.

• Watch Motivational Institute’s video featuring Brené Brown.
• In your journal, respond to the following questions:
  • What are you afraid to do because you fear what others will say?
  • Who do you want to be?
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal

Challenge #20

Effective leaders are “emotionally agile.”

• Take Dr. Susan David’s Emotional Agility Quiz.
  • Review your results and develop a plan for action.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal

Challenge #21

Effective leaders make an impression on those they lead.

• Write/Review your eulogy (life’s journey) and epitaph (short headstone inscription).
• Plan to review this exercise regularly.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal

Challenge #22

Servant-leaders refine their arts of influence.

• Read Chris Widener’s book “The Art of Influence.”
• Watch Chris’ “talk about the “Hunting and Fishing” analogy.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #23

Good leaders are skilled communicators and handle transitions well.

• Listen to the Mission Critical Teams Institute’s podcast “Swarms, X-Teams, and Routine vs. Critical Communications.”
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #24

Servant Leaders believe they can be better and promote growth mindsets.

• Watch Carol Dweck’s talk “The power of believing that you can improve.”

• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #25

Servant Leaders are good facilitators.

• Review “The Commons Social Change Library on facilitation tools.”
• Bookmark and/or add the site to your leadership notebook.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #26

Leaders persuade through storytelling.

• Read: Storytelling Can Make or Break Your Leadership
• View: Storytelling and its Persuasion Power
• Wildland Fire Learning Portal: Learning From Unintended Outcomes (specifically the Facilitated Learning Analysis. You must log in.)
• Writing Exercise: Journal your leadership story.

Challenge #27

Good leaders dream about and plan for the future.

• Watch Jose Esteves’ video “Did You Know – 2022.”
• What will your life look like 5, 10, 25 years from now?”
• What will our organization look like 5, 10, 25 years from now?”
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #28

Good leaders shape the future.

• Watch “The Future Will Be Shaped by Optimists” by Kevin Kelly.
• Journalize:
  • Do you need instant gratification?
  • What positive change have you seen?
  • Good things take time. For what are you willing to wait?
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #29

Good leaders navigate change well.

• Listen: MCTI teamcast on navigating change.
• Journalize:
  • Have you experienced a time of more change?
  • How are you handling the speed of change?
  • How is your organization handling the speed of change?
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #30

Servant-Leaders think systemically.

• Review Greenleaf’s four requirements for thinking systemically.
  • Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership, p. 138.
• Answer the questions posed by the authors on pp. 138-139.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #31

Servant-Leaders think systemically.

• Watch: Awaken Your Foresight by Dr. John Demartini

• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #32

Effective leaders look back to the past in order to look to the future.

• Facilitate a tactical decision game or premortem exercise with your team.
• Conduct a debriefing of the situation.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #33

Servant-leaders permit and nurture creativity in themselves and others.

• What are three ways you can be creative before the end of the day?
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #34

Servant-Leaders actively learn how to create vision.

• Read Paul Hammett’s article “Strategic Foresight: A Critical Leadership Competency.”
• Read Justin Irving’s article "Strategic Foresight: The Past, Present, and Future Focus of Leadership."
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #35

Servant-Leaders respond with an attitude of love.

In "Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership," Sipes and Frick refer to Robert Greenfield suggesting “one should have ‘unlimited liability’ for others…refers to an attitude of love.” (p. 40)

• What does “an attitude of love” look like for you?
• Which wildland fire value/principle does this most closely represent?
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #36

Effective leaders self-affirm.

• Watch Amy Cuddy’s “Feeling Anxious? The Last Thing You Should Do Is Lie to Yourself.”

• Journalize/Self-Reflect
  • What are your core values?
  • Why do they matter to you?
  • Write about a time when you expressed this?
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #37

Servant-Leaders take care of their psychological well-being.

• Journalize/Self-Reflect
  • Are you giving too much of self to those your serve?
  • Do you have a mechanism to ground yourself before and after your mentor others?
  • Do you nurture the growth of self, other people, institutions, and communities to stimulate thought and action for building a better, more caring society?

[Adapted from Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership]

• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #38

Servant-Leaders are mentor minded.

• Read/Reread "Being Mentor Minded" in Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership, pp. 40-42.
• Journalize about Sipe and Frick's questions:
  • Is my mentoring about me or the person I am mentoring?
  • Do I get ego "goodies" out of being the expert?
  • Am I evolved enough to allow others to find their own ways, even when they are different from my ways.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #39

Effective leaders genuinely care about their people and express concern through their actions.

• Read “Becoming Authentic: The Heart of Leadership in Wildland Fire Management” by Alexis Waldron and Mike Alarid.
• Journalize:
  • What are three new and specific actions I could take tomorrow to show care and concern?
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #40

Servant-Leaders help others help themselves.

• Read The Skilled Helper – A Problem Management and Opportunity Development Approach to Helping by Gerard Egan and Robert J. Reese
• If you are serious about helping others, complete the Skilled Helper Training Course (with Prof. Gerard Egan PhD and Kain Ramsay).
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #41

Servant-Leaders are committed to the growth of their people.

• Read “7 Employee Growth and Development Ideas for Leaders.”
• Help your team members create a self-development plan.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #42

Servant-Leaders promote growth mindsets.

• Watch Simon Sinek’s “Coaching with a Growth Mindset.”
  • Conduct the blind spot exercise as appropriate.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #43

Servant-Leaders know what drives their people.

• Watch “One Way to GROW Your People.”

• Read Daniel Pink’s book “Drive” or watch RSA’s video.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #44

Servant-Leaders engage all members/leaders of the team.

• Transfer the leadership roles (pp. 87-88) in Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership into your leadership journal.
  • Match the various leader roles with members of your team.
  • Consider assigning roles to team members to increase the effectiveness of your team.
• Collaborate with other SLs on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #45

Servant-Leaders measure team performance against a set of standards.

• Transfer the standards for team performance (pp. 89-90) in Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership into your leadership journal.
  • Evaluate your team’s performance against the standards.
• Develop a plan of action to address areas of weakness and acknowledge areas of strength.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #46

Effective leaders and followers value relationships.

• Read “A Simple Approach to Relationship Building.”
• Journalize a plan to build relationships with your people.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #47

Servant-Leaders create team members who depend on one another.

• Listen to MCTI’s Podcast with Sebastian Junger.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #48

Servant-Leaders accept and delegate responsibility.

• Journalize your responses (Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership, p. 165).
  • If I want others to give me moral authority:
    • Do I really trust others to be responsible, or do I only trust myself?
    • Am I generally “in integrity” with myself?
    • Do I feel like a victim because others ask me to do so much? If so, how can I set appropriate boundaries?
• In the next week, will I accept the challenge to delegate two tasks that I prefer to do myself? 
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #49

Servant-Leaders lead through influence and example.

• Watch “How Benjamin Franklin and his club generated awesome ideas!”
• Create your own club.
  • Share answers to the questions from the video.
  • Create questions of your own.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #50

Servant-Leaders lead through influence and example.

• Read “Ascending the Second Mountain.”
• Optional: Read David Brook’s book The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #51

Servant-Leaders share their power.

• Watch WFSTAR’s “Command and Control.”
  • How does this command-and-control model distribute power?
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Challenge #52

Effective leaders put knowledge into practice.

• Congratulations! You have spent a year learning about servant leadership.
• If you are willing to serve, obtain a copy of The Servant Leadership Journal – An 18 Week Journey to Transform You and Your Organization.
• Dig deeper on the WFLP Portal.

Learning in the Wildland Fire Service - Wildland Fire National Leadership Campaign Reference Guide

Sharpening Your Tools - Wildland Fire National Leadership Campaign Reference Guide

Do You Know Who You Are - Wildland Fire National Leadership Campaign Reference Guide

The Art of Leadership - Wildland Fire National Leadership Campaign Reference Guide

No 2018 Reference Guide - No awards given for 2018

2017 Reference Guide - No awards given for 2017

2016 Reference Guide - No awards given for 2016

2015 Reference Guide

Winner: Washington DNR, South Puget Sound Region

2014 Reference Guide

Winner: Ruby Mountain Hotshots

2013 Reference Guide

Winner: Boulder County Sheriff's Office, Special Operations Leadership Development