Challenges: 2021 Wildland Fire National Leadership Campaign - Sharpening Your Tools

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
  • Wildland Firefighting:  Everyone Goes Home

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.
  • Follower/Aspiring Leader
  • New Leader
  • Leader of People
  • Leader of Leaders
  • Leader of Organizations
• 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?

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:
  • 3 Secrets of Resilient People, Lucy Hone
  • The Gift and Power of Emotional Courage, Susan David
  • How Reverse Mentorship Can Help Create Better Leaders, Patrice Gordon
  • How Vulnerability Makes You a Better Leader, Tracy Young

Challenge #17

Good leaders are not afraid to have the difficult conversations.

• Learn more about having difficult conversations by listening to Simon Sinek’s interview with David Harris

Challenge #18

Leaders help their people establish strong staff value systems, team cultures, and command presence.

• Lead your team through a values exploration exercise.

Challenge #19

Leaders challenge the status quo. Contemplate the following in your journal.

• How would you describe your organizational culture?
  • Is it a place that welcome new employees from day one?
  • Is your organization a place that leverages everyone's diverse backgrounds and thinking?
• How are you influencing change or enhancing the culture of your organization?
  • Is this the senior leader’s primary job?

Challenge #20

Leaders share our history with their people.

• Share your staff ride stories in the comments or your journal.
  • Name and location of the staff ride.
  • Who were you honoring by attending this staff ride?
  • What were the lessons from this tragedy?
  • How did you implement the lessons you learned?

Challenge #21

Leaders learn from tragedies of the past.

• Visit the Staff Ride Library.
• Select at least one tragedy from the Staff Ride Library to review.
  • Take notes in your journal about the tragedy.
  • What behavior will you change because of this event?

Challenge #22

Leaders provide briefings with clear leader's intent

• Review the “Briefing Checklist” on the inside back cover of the Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG).
• PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!
  • Volunteer to give a briefing to your team.

Challenge #23

Fire leaders walk the talk of the learning organization by scheduling routine debriefings to evaluate performance and apply the lessons learned.

• Watch the AAR video at
  • Take note of the specific recommendations on facilitating an AAR.
  • Identify a specific issue or upcoming event within your organization and arrange (volunteer) to facilitate the AAR and put the practices into action.

Challenge #24

Leaders use innovative ways to develop their people.

• Become familiar with the Leadership Media webpage. 
• Watch/listen to a leadership-themed video or podcast from the library or pick one of your own to share with your team.
• If you picked the media, develop and submit your lesson plan to BLM_FA_Leadership_Feedback@blm.gov.

Challenge #25

Leaders learn from outside their organization.

• Watch Dr. Mike Useem, Knowledge at Wharton, interview FDNY’s Chief of Counterterrorism and Emergency Preparedness Joseph Pfeifer.

• What leadership lessons did you get from this interview?
• Sign up to receive the Wharton Leadership Digest.

Challenge #26

Leaders honor their fallen by learning.

• In your journal, reflect upon the first three days of #WOR2021.
  • Create a tribute page to our fallen.
  • Draw pictures or words displaying your emotions/lessons learned or cut out/write findings from reports.
  • Refer to this page throughout the year.

Challenge #27

Leaders take care of their people and their families.

Honoring our fallen during #WOR2021 may have exposed the residue left from years of pain.

• Check in with one another and the families of those lost in the line of duty.
• Seek peer support and/or professional assistance.
• Listen to Mike West talk about his journey.

Challenge #28

Leaders develop their people for the future.

• Watch the “Delivering TDGs/Using STEXs” video series.
  • Introduction
  • Engaging the Participants
  • Facilitator’s Role
• Visit the TDG webpage
  • Use the template (under “References”) to develop a TDG.
  • Submit your TDG so others can use it and learn, BLM_FA_Leadership_Feedback@blm.gov.

Challenge #29

Leaders establish a sense of order in the leadership environment.

• Review the SOP information on the WFLDP website.
• Using this information and the examples provided, develop and/or update your SOPs.
• Send us your SOPs so we can share with others. BLM_FA_Leadership_Feedback@blm.gov.

Challenge #30

Leaders acknowledge what right looks like.

• Review your team members’ leadership actions.
• Has anyone exhibited exceptional leadership worthy of recognition?
• Visit the WFLDP website and download the Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award nomination form.
• Send us your completed nomination by 12/31/21 BLM_FA_Leadership_Feedback@blm.gov.

Challenge #31

Leaders take time to develop leadership.

• Review the LEAD Time library.
• On your own, or with your team, develop a new addition for 6 Minutes for Safety.
• Send your topic to BLM_FA_Leadership_Feedback@blm.gov.

Challenge #32

Good leaders acknowledge those who contribute to the growth of self, the team, and the organization.

• Select a notable wildland fire leader to interview for Leaders We Would Like to Meet.
• Interview (video/audio style with written transcript) the leader and submit to the WFLDP for consideration.
  • BLM_FA_Leadership_Feedback@blm.gov

Challenge #33

Good leaders celebrate team success with their people.

• Brainstorm the successes your team has experienced this year.
• Host a way to celebrate these accomplishments.

Challenge #34

Good leaders work with their team to shape the future.

• Host a team-building session to discuss where the team would like to be in five years.
• Develop a strategy to bring the vision to fruition.

Challenge #35

Effective leaders create an atmosphere that fosters resilient teams.

• Assess how committed your organization is to resilience by taking Dr. Karl Weick and Dr. Kathleen Sutcliffe’s survey.
• Read Dr. Karl Weick and Dr. Kathleen Sutcliffe's book "Managing the Unexpected: Assuring High Performance in an Age of Complexity".

Challenge #36

Good leaders hone their critical thinking skills.

• Read Albert Rutherford’s book "How to Think Critically."
• Watch “The Man Who Saved the World” at

• Discuss with your team how critical thinking and courage can bring to chaos.

Challenge #37

Effective leaders are active listeners.

• Develop a plan to enhance your team’s active listening skills.
• Active Listening Exercises: 10 Team Activities to Improve Active Listening (The 10-Minute Leader).

Challenge #38

Good leaders intentionally work on being good communicators.

• In your journal, construct a plan to develop your oral communication skills.
  • Volunteer to conduct a briefing/debriefing. Consider being filmed.
  • Ask for constructive feedback from a coach and your peers.
  • Join a professional public speaking group, such as Toastmasters.
  • Practice, practice, practice!

Challenge #39

Leaders know themselves and what they believe.

• In your leadership journal, write "This I believe..." at the top of a page and then list all the things you believe about yourself and the way you see others and the world around you.
• Do you feel comfortable sharing your beliefs with others?

Challenge #40

Leaders employ their people in accordance with each person’s capabilities; they also help their people build new skills.

• Visit the “Skills You Need” website for coaching tools.
• Devote a few pages in your leadership journal to “Coaching Tools.”
  • Transfer tips on coaching to these pages.

Challenge #41

Leaders are mentors and mentees.

• In your journal, reflect on those individuals who have mentored you without being a labeled a mentor (e.g., you read a book or heard a talk). What did they teach you?
• Do you have a mentor? Are you a mentee? Reflect upon your relationship. Is this a good fit? How can you assist someone you have a relationship with?

Challenge #42

Feedback is a vital part of the leadership environment.

• Watch Sheila Heen’s TedX video “How to use others' feedback to learn and grow.”

• Read Stone, Patton, and Heen’s book “Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most.”

Challenge #43

Good leaders help their teams build strong cultures.

• As a team, read Daniel Coyle’s book “Culture Code.”
• Use the guide created as part of the 2019 Professional Reading Program recommended books to discuss the book.

Challenge #44

Effective leaders understand and manage their emotions.

• Read Michelle Reugebrink's article “Gaining Perspective on Negative Events.”
• Practice. Practice. Practice.

Challenge #45

Leaders take time for self-care.

• Find a moment in your day where you can pause what you are doing, in the morning when you wake up, before getting out of bed, or during a moment of feeling stressed, or driving down the road and try using this SHARP reflection to re-ground yourself.

S – Stop is about taking a moment to literally stop whatever you are doing and take a look around at what’s happening around you and describing it to yourself.

H – Here is about how engaged you are in what is happening in your life in the given moment; many of us spend a lot of time being engaged in the past or future. Taking notice of where our attention is - is the first step in making a choice of where we want to spend our moments – in the past, future, or now. Most people spend a lot of time in the past and future and forget to take notice of the present moment and what is happening right now. And “now’ is literally all we ever have.

A – Act is taking notice of what you are outwardly doing – what can others see you doing? What is your body language saying, etc. The important part is just to notice – not judge.

R – Respond is looking inside at how you are thinking and feeling with physiological responses (e.g., am I feeling angry, calm, nervous, etc., and feeling heat or coolness anywhere or sweating?)

P – Person is our decision point after taking notice of all these aspects of our lives in the moment and then asking the question – with all this in mind, what is the very best thing I can do for myself right now? It is a prompt to take notice of your self-care and to do what is best in the moment. And again it is the moments that shape our lives.

Challenge #46

Good leaders think and think again, learn and unlearn.

• Read Adam Grant’s book Think Again.
• Watch Adam Grant’s TedTalk “What frogs in hot water can teach us about thinking again”

Challenge #47

Leaders with strong character create a better world for everyone.

• Read Brenda van Camp’s article “The Importance of Character in Leadership.”
• In your journal, write down the things that make someone trustworthy and the four key building blocks to develop strong character. Assess your character.

Challenge #48

Effective leaders use a variety of leadership styles.

• Complete WE’s “Exploring the Four Leadership Styles” activity with your team.

Challenge #49

Good leaders share their stories.

• Read the “Summer 2021 edition of Two More Chains.”
• In your journal, create a list of your prominent stories. Tell those stories to someone.

Challenge #50

Effective leaders develop themselves as well as their people.

In your journal, respond to the following questions:

• What are the tasks and responsibilities that only I can do?
• What is the most valuable and productive use of my time and energy in this organization?
• What changes do I need to make in order to accomplish more of the most important things that I am called to do?

Challenge #51

Leaders choose to lead.

In your journal, reflect upon the following quote by Chery Gegelman in "The Character-Based Leader."

"For many of us, it has taken a life-altering circumstance or a season of brokenness before we understood that life and leadership really is not about me."

• Write about what inspired your decision to lead.

Challenge #52

Leaders take care of themselves.

The 2021 WFLDP campaign is complete.

• Take time to reflect upon all you have done.
• Capture your thoughts in your journal.
• Take time for you and your family.