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Author(s):
Alexis L. Waldron, Vicki Ebbeck
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Human Dimensions of Fire Management
Leadership

NRFSN number: 13268
FRAMES RCS number: 19407
Record updated:

A quantitative approach was adopted to explore facets of mindfulness and self-compassion in relation to their ability to predict crewmembers' perceptions of their supervisors' leadership capabilities. The sample comprised 43 wildland fire crews consisting of their primary supervisors (n = 43) and crewmembers (n = 246). A partial least-squares path modelling approach was employed to test hypotheses regarding the relationships among mindfulness, self-compassion and leadership. Findings revealed that supervisor scores on mindfulness were significant predictors of crewmember-rated scores of supervisor leadership. Although not as strong, aspects of self-compassion were also significant predictors of perceived supervisor leadership. Unlike mindfulness, the aspects of self-compassion that predicted supervisor leadership were more varied between desirable self-compassion scores and undesirable self-compassion scores. Overall, the results indicate that mindfulness and self-compassion were predictors of desired wildland fire leadership by crewmembers; these results suggest potential functions that mindfulness and self-compassion could serve in the development of leaders in wildland firefighting.

Citation

Waldron, Alexis L.; Ebbeck, Vicki. 2015. The relationship of mindfulness and self-compassion to desired wildland fire leadership. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 24(2): 201-211.

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