Title: Wildland Fire Leadership Values and Principles
Course: Watership Down

Wildland Fire Leadership Values and Principles

Be proficient in your job, both technically and as a leader.
-1 Take charge when in charge.
-2 Adhere to professional standard operating procedures.
-3 Develop a plan to accomplish given objectives.

Make sound and timely decisions.
-4 Maintain situation awareness in order to anticipate needed actions.
-5 Develop contingencies and consider consequences.
-6 Improvise within the commander’s intent to handle a rapidly changing environment.

Ensure that tasks are understood, supervised and accomplished.
-7 Issue clear instructions.
-8 Observe and assess actions in progress without micro-managing.
-9 Use positive feedback to modify duties, tasks and assignments when appropriate.

Develop your subordinates for the future.
-10 Clearly state expectations.
-11 Delegate those tasks that you are not required to do personally.
-12 Consider individual skill levels and development needs when assigning tasks.

Know your subordinates and look out for their well being.
-13 Put the safety of your subordinates above all other objectives.
-14 Take care of your subordinate’s needs.
-15 Resolve conflicts between individuals on the team.

Keep your subordinates informed.
-16 Provide accurate and timely briefings.
-17 Give the reason (intent) for assignments and tasks.
-18 Make yourself available to answer questions at appropriate times.

Build the team.
-19 Conduct frequent debriefings with the team to identify lessons learned.
-20 Recognize individual and team accomplishments and reward them appropriately.
-21 Apply disciplinary measures equally.

Employ your subordinates in accordance with their capabilities.
-22 Observe human behavior as well as fire behavior.
-23 Provide early warning to subordinates of tasks they will be responsible for.
-24 Consider team experience, fatigue and physical limitations when accepting assignments.

Know yourself and seek improvement.
-25 Know the strengths/weaknesses in your character and skill level.
-26 Ask questions of peers and superiors.
-27 Actively listen to feedback from subordinates.

Seek responsibility and accept responsibility for your actions.
-28 Accept full responsibility for and correct poor team performance.
-29 Credit subordinates for good performance.
-30 Keep your superiors informed of your actions.

Set the example.
-31 Share the hazards and hardships with your subordinates.
-32 Don’t show discouragement when facing set backs.
-33 Choose the difficult right over the easy wrong.