FHWorld18: NFFF Attributes of Leading Pilot Program Focuses on “Leader Actions”

Using newly produced video series from the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) titled Attributes of Leading, Battalion Chief (ret.) Kevin Conant and Fire Chief (ret.) Dr. Brian Crandall shared a Train-the-Trainer program that’s currently being piloted, seeking feedback from a small group of Firehouse World attendees.

Crandall and Conant explained that the program is designed to give firefighters an interactive and practical method for facilitating conversations about leading actions, taking the concept of leadership to a more actionable approach. Specifically, the program features six videos focused on developing “leader actions”:

1. Developing Competence
2. Building Grit
3. Being Well
4. Exercising Self-Regulation 
5. Demonstrating Humility
6. Developing Trust

The Competence, Grit and Well videos feature firefighters from departments in Montana and California, and the Trust, Humility and Self-Regulation videos feature firefighters from departments in Ohio, Missouri and Minnesota. The videos use a storytelling format, with firefighters sharing positive examples of leading actions.

“We learn best by hearing how someone else succeeded in a learning action,” Conant explained, adding that you don’t have to be a “formal” leader to lead.

Crandall and Conant shared with participants the Attributes of Leading worksheet that serves as a discussion support tool to complement the videos. In short, firefighters watch a video, and then work through three steps:

1. Identify points of meaning.
2. Take each point of meaning and describe opportunities you see related to your position that you could engage by your actions and/or the actions of members with whom you serve. Then for each opportunity you see, build an action plan of things you can keep doing, start doing or stop doing.
3. Set a follow-up/follow-through date and meeting place to work on the action plan items listed in Step 2.

During the interactive Firehouse World session, attendees watched three of the videos and worked through the Steps 1 and 2 for the “Being Well” leading action in order to practice how to apply this program at their departments.

Crandall emphasized that the program is designed to bridge these leadership concepts in an actionable way with the ultimate goal of “getting stuff done.”

Learn more about the Attributes of Leading program here.