In Applying Wildland Leadership Principles to Project Management I share elements from the manual “Leadership in the Wildland Fire Service”. I first read this leadership manual put out by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) in 2014 as pre-read work for a Gettysburg Staff Ride. I highly recommend anyone attend a Staff Ride. This manual is an excellent leadership manual. As part of an Incident Management Team (IMT) I referenced this manual quote often. After my transition to the private sector to the role of Project Manager I continued to see parallels to the NWCG leadership guide and the world of Project Management.
Authority vs. Decision to Lead
“The authority to lead is established by law. Whether this authority is based on federal, state, or local law, we are legal agents exercising authority on behalf of our organizations. The ability to lead is a different matter; it is something that cannot be legislated. To be effective, leaders must earn the trust and respect of others. A leader’s journey is a perpetual cycle of acquiring, shaping, and honing the knowledge and skills of leadership. The leadership journey is never finished.” – From page 5 of Leading in the Wildland Fire Service (PMS 494-2)
Resources & References:
- Electronic version of PMS 494-2 available at https://www.nwcg.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pms494-2.pdf
- Order hard copies of PMS 494-2 and other NWCG resources from https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/pms449-2
- Read more about the National Wildfire Coordinating Group at https://www.nwcg.gov/
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Kevin Pannell, PMP | Founder of KPannell Productions, LLC | Creator & Host of the KEV Talks Podcast | Principal on the @Pannell5Fit and KEV Talks YouTube Channels
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