Undervalued - Why You Need Wildland Firefighters In Your Organization

In today’s complex and fast-paced business world, an effective leadership team is crucial. Companies are always looking for people who can navigate uncertainty, lead diverse teams, are super adaptable, and can make quick decisions under pressure.

There’s one group of professionals who embody all of these qualities and are largely overlooked by corporate recruiters. Wildland firefighters. The leadership skills learned in the unique firefighting environment are directly transferable to the business world and offer distinct advantages that will drive your business forward.

And there is one more part to this story. A lot of the best leaders in this industry are leaving fire and starting new careers. That’s a whole other topic I won’t get into here, and I’ll write a separate piece on that soon. But the fact is, these amazing women and men are entering the job market in numbers we’ve never seen before. And if you’re hiring or building a team, that should get you very excited.

Let’s get into what those skills are, and why they matter to you.

The Leadership Skills of Wildland Firefighters

Wildland firefighters work in one of the most uncertain and dangerous environments on the planet. The skills they develop in this environment are unmatched in business leadership. Here are the core leadership skills they bring to the table.

Quick Decisions

On a fire, decisions need to be made fast, often with incomplete information and under extreme pressure. Firefighters need to evaluate the situation, consider their team’s safety, make a decision, and move on to the next issue at hand. That’s not the end of it though. Always observing, firefighters are trained to review the decisions after they are made and make adjustments accordingly.?

Translation to Business - Effective decision-making in business often requires the ability to assess risks, weigh options quickly, and commit to a course of action with confidence and course correct if needed. Leaders with wildland firefighting experience excel in these areas and can navigate crises and complex challenges with ease.

Team Leadership and Cohesion

Wildland fire crews are tight-knit teams where trust, communication, and collaboration are key. Internally, leaders must build relationships, build confidence, learn how to motivate diverse groups of people and ensure everyone is working towards a common goal. On an incident, there are additional layers to team leadership. Depending on your level of experience you may be asked to take control of an entire fire as well. This means being able to quickly establish a plan, effectively communicate that plan to strangers, sometimes from out of the region, and ensure the collective group achieves your planned goal.

Translation to Business - In the corporate world leading diverse teams, collaboration, and high morale are key to achieving organizational objectives. Wildland firefighting leaders bring a deep understanding of team dynamics and the importance of clear communication so are perfect candidates to manage business teams or projects.

Adaptability and Flexibility

The nature of wildland firefighting is such that no two situations are the same. Leaders must be able to adapt their strategies and tactics on the fly, responding to changing conditions and unexpected challenges. This requires a high degree of flexibility and a willingness to embrace new approaches.

Translation to Business - In an age of rapid technological change and market volatility businesses need leaders who can pivot quickly and adapt to new circumstances. Wildland firefighters are used to this kind of fluid environment and can bring valuable adaptability to a business setting.

Strategic Planning and Execution

In addition to adaptability, effective wildland firefighting requires meticulous planning and the ability to execute complex operations. Leaders must be able to quickly anticipate challenges, allocate resources effectively, and coordinate multiple teams with different functions to achieve their objectives. Fire leaders spend hours studying past incidents and unique factors in their area to come up with scenarios.

Translation to Business - Strategic planning is key in business for setting long-term goals, developing roadmaps, and ensuring resources are aligned with strategic priorities. Leaders with wildland firefighting experience have a strong track record of strategic thinking and operational execution and do extensive research so are valuable assets for business strategy and planning.

Risk Management

Not surprisingly wildland firefighting involves risks, and leaders in this field must constantly assess and manage those risks to ensure the safety of their team and the success of their mission. This means a deep understanding of risk factors and the ability to develop and implement risk mitigation strategies. There is also a practice of coming up with an alternative to an idea or situation that doesn’t seem to work. In other words, leaders will evaluate a situation in the field and if they feel the risk is too great they will come up with an alternative solution and present both the issue and their solution to the problem.

Translation to Business - Risk management is key to navigating uncertainty, and protecting assets and long-term viability. Leaders with wildland firefighting experience are good at identifying potential risks, assessing their impact, and developing strategies to mitigate them so are well suited to roles in risk management and business continuity planning. Bonus - you will rarely get problems without also getting a potential solution.?

What That Means For Organisations and Real-World Implications

Now that we have a better understanding of some of the skills these individuals bring to the table. Here are some reasons why businesses should be seeking out these candidates:

Better Crisis Management

Businesses are facing more and more crises whether it’s market disruption, supply chain issues, or other unexpected challenges. Leaders who have managed life-and-death situations in wildland firefighting are well-equipped to handle business crises. They bring a calm and methodical approach to problem-solving and can make quick effective decisions under pressure.

Real World Example -? A natural disaster disrupts the supply chain. A leader with wildland firefighting experience can quickly assess the situation, coordinate the response, and implement contingency plans to minimize the impact on the business.

Better Team Performance

As mentioned, wildland leaders are good at building teams and a culture of trust and collaboration. In a business context - that means higher employee engagement, better morale, and improved team performance. They understand the importance of clear communication and can manage diverse teams towards common goals.

Real World Example - A company with high turnover and low employee morale could benefit from a former wildland firefighter who can bring a focus on team building and clear communication to revitalize the workforce and improve retention rates.

Agility in a Fast-Changing World

The adaptability and flexibility developed in wildland firefighting is priceless in today’s business environment. Leaders with this background are good at navigating change, whether entering new markets, adopting new technology, or responding to competitive threats.

Real World Example - A company undergoing a major digital transformation can benefit from a leader with wildland firefighting experience who can guide the organization through the transition with agility and foresight.

Solid Strategic Planning

The strategic planning skills developed in wildland firefighting can be very valuable to businesses looking to set long-term goals and navigate complex challenges. Individuals with this experience have the skills to develop comprehensive plans, anticipate obstacles, and make sure resources are being used effectively to achieve objectives.

Real World Example - A business expanding into new markets can use the strategic planning skills of a former wildland firefighter to develop a market entry plan and manage the risks.

Good Risk Management

Risk management is a key part of business leadership and those with wildland firefighting experience have a deep understanding of risk assessment and mitigation. They can identify potential risks, assess their impact, and develop strategies to protect the business from adverse outcomes.

Real World Example - A company facing regulatory compliance issues can benefit from a leader with wildland firefighting experience who can develop and implement risk management strategies to ensure compliance and protect the business from penalties.

How to Attract and Leverage Wildland Firefighting Leaders

Recognizing the value of wildland firefighting leadership skills is the big first step. The next step is to attract and leverage these individuals within your organization. Here’s how:

Promote the Value Proposition

Communicate the unique benefits that wildland firefighters bring to the business world. Show their decision-making skills, team leadership, adaptability, strategic planning, and risk management capabilities. By promoting these strengths you can attract candidates who may not have considered a corporate career.

Action - Run targeted recruitment campaigns that highlight the similarities between wildland firefighting and business leadership and the career growth and impact opportunities within your organization.

Offer Training and Development Programs

Provide training and development programs to help wildland firefighters transition into the business world. This could be leadership development, business management training, and mentorship opportunities. By offering these programs you can help candidates bridge the gap between their firefighting experience and any desired training needed for corporate leadership roles.

Action - Work with training organizations and educational institutions to develop customized training programs for wildland firefighters transitioning into the business world.

Create Inclusive and Supportive Work Environments

Create a work environment that values diverse experiences and perspectives. Create a culture of inclusion and support and provide resources to help them settle into the corporate world. This includes flexible work arrangements and access to training materials, courses, and mentors.

Action - Develop policies and initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion and create support networks to help wildland firefighters get up to speed in the corporate world.

Use Their Crisis Management Skills

Use the crisis management and risk assessment skills of wildland firefighters by involving them in business continuity planning, risk management, and crisis response. Their ability to stay calm under pressure and make quick decisions can add to your organization’s preparedness and resilience.

Action - Assign wildland firefighters to key positions in your crisis management and risk management teams and give them opportunities to lead and contribute to strategic projects.

Let Them Shine

Let wildland firefighters share their experiences and perspectives within your organization. This will help create a culture of innovation and improvement as they bring new ideas and approaches to problem-solving and leadership.

Action - Create opportunities for wildland firefighters to share their experiences and insights through internal presentations, workshops, and cross-functional team projects.

In summary

Wildland firefighters have a set of leadership skills that are highly transferable, and desirable to the business world. Their ability to make quick decisions under pressure, lead diverse teams, adapt to changing circumstances, plan strategically, and manage risk makes them perfect for leadership roles in your organization, be it big or small.