Sneak Peek
On TIGNUM’s B-LD Kitchen Hub, our world-class Performance Specialists share their latest insights on human performance and discuss real-life experiences and best practices with industry leaders.
Here is a limited selection for you to explore:
The Firefighter Mindset
Understanding the mental models used by fire fighters helps professionals to operate in todays combustible business environments. The firefighter mindset offers a comprehensive and applicable model to handle crisis after crisis in a sustainable manner.
The world is undeniably getting more chaotic, less predictable, more uncertain, and more combustible. This leads to an increasing number of clients telling us that they spend more and more time firefighting. When we ask them how they prepare their mindset, approach their challenges, deal with the roller coaster of emotions, and recover from these high-stress engagements, we are often met with a blind stare and silence.
As we coach our clients to achieve their bold projects in this combustible environment, we have found that combining our TIGNUM Sustainable Human Performance tools and strategies with our combined 55+ years of experience in the fire service has been helpful. We want to share a few mental maps to help you engage more strategically, think more logically, find more calm in the storm, recover better, and learn more purposefully. Ultimately, you will be more prepared and strategic with your future firefights.
Increase your readiness for the unexpected
The first lesson you learn in the fire service is that your personal readiness is your greatest tool. Your team depends on you, the effectiveness of the operation depends on you, and, most importantly, those who call you for assistance on their worst day depend on you. You start every shift by checking your protective equipment, investing in your physical capabilities, gathering any learnings from the crew you’re replacing, and mentally transitioning to be ready for the most challenging call in your life that may come any minute.
What’s the first thing you do to start your day at work? Are you really ready?
When we get dispatched, we immediately begin a systematic and comprehensive problem analysis that analyzes the extent of the situation, the volatility to life (ours and those involved), the options to tackle the problem, and the resources needed. We call this our size up, where we rapidly analyze eight critical fire ground factors and communicate our assessment, strategy, and immediate actions. Everyone involved always knows exactly what everyone else is doing and why.
How do you size up your challenges? Do you have a logical, repeatable, effective, and efficient process for managing your fires?
Mental models for quick strategic decision-making
In the fire service, we use two mental models that are key to our success. First, we assess and account for all seven sides of the building (the inside, front, left side, back side, right side, above the fire, and below the fire). We know that what we don’t know may kill us, while at the same time, we know that time is critical because fire grows exponentially. This means we combine intelligence gathering with doing the work, but we are always clear about what we know and don’t know. Second, we analyze every fire with a risk management profile. Simply put, we will risk our lives a lot in a calculated manner to save savable lives. We will risk our lives a little in a calculated manner to save savable property. And, we will not risk our lives at all to save lives or property that are already lost.
What mental models do you apply to your bold projects and challenges to assess your risks and opportunities?
From the second we engage with a building on fire, we are tracking both the effectiveness of the workers and their well-being. We track how much air they have left in their breathing apparatus and their progress on their assigned tasks, and we constantly make sure they have the resources needed to achieve their tasks. As each crew exits the hazard zone, we immediately send them to a rehabilitation sector where they are assessed and monitored, hydrated and nourished, and where they can quickly recover and reset before they are reassigned to the firefight.
Do you oscillate in the middle of your biggest challenges, or do you just put your head down and attempt to be superhuman? Do you go alone, or do you check in with the team and help them come along?
At the onset of every incident, the first responding unit assumes and announces command. There are no leaderless emergencies, so it is always clear that there is accountability, a purposeful strategy, a practiced and polished communications system, and constant attention to everyone’s safety.
Do you always know who is in charge of your crisis? Do you have a set communication model? Do you have someone paying attention to everyone’s needs for recovery?
After-action reviews are crucial for increasing readiness
When an incident is over, it is announced that the fire is under control, there is an all-clear (there are no victims), there is a loss stopped (no more damage will occur), and all units are accounted for (everyone is safe and able to return home). At this time, an after-action critique occurs on the scene, and all learnings are captured. We go to each unit and have them tell us what actions they took, what they did well, and what they could have done better. When the units are released, they are ready for the next emergency, and everyone is smarter.
How do you announce when your bold project or crisis is completed? Do you always do an after-action review?
With the right mindset, fighting your fires will no longer be full of chaos, reactivity, high stress, and avoidance. You will find yourself being able to approach your problems with the calmness, proactiveness, strategic thinking, and professionalism as a firefighter. At TIGNUM, we make people with extreme jobs stronger. This starts by developing your mindset skills to take on your boldest projects. While the work is important, nothing is more important and more foundational than your and your team’s Personal Readiness.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Scott Peltin // Co-Founder and Chief Catalyst
As the Co-Founder and Chief Catalyst of TIGNUM, Scott has coached many top CEOs, executives, professional athletes, and others to Rule Their Impact. Scott’s unique blend of his 25 years in the Fire Service, education, and coaching experience helps him combine the art and science of Sustainable High Performance to help TIGNUM clients be better, for longer, when it counts the most.
Jeff Case // Senior Performance Specialist
Jeff is a Performance Specialist for TIGNUM. He is responsible for delivering and supporting TIGNUM programs. His role includes coaching top senior executives, as well as delivering TIGNUM programs around the globe. Jeff's professional background includes 35 years in the Fire Service with over 18 years at the Executive Chief Officer level, providing strategic level leadership and advancement of the Fire Service as a national presenter and innovator.
ABOUT TIGNUM
TIGNUM is the major performance building block for business professionals, designed around a skill- and data-based approach that respects the individuality, focuses on the brain, evolves constantly, and creates lasting impact. Its international team comes from a wide range of fields, including human behavior, elite athletics, special forces, performance medicine, executive coaching, change consultants, and more.
Getting Stronger when fatigue strikes
Feeling tired from hard work is normal. Instead of focusing on exhaustion, reflect on your accomplishments, learn from challenges, and shift to a "we" focus by helping others.
It’s the end of the night, and you’re exhausted. You collapse onto the pillow with a wake of challenges behind you. From tackling your quarterly deliverables to debating how to handle a silo problem to smoothing inner office politics to spending quality time with your two kids, helping them wind down before bed - you left it all on the field today. As you lay there with barely the energy to turn the next page of your book before bed, you ask yourself - am I burning myself out? How long can I possibly keep this up?
We all ask ourselves this question when we are out of energy and feel like we gave it all in so many directions. When the long hours and tough problems empty our cognitive tank, and the personnel issues sap our emotional tank, we may question our own stamina and resilience. We may start to wonder just how long we can keep this up.
What if fatigue is a normal thing from hard work? What if the energy spent actually created something great, moved something critical forward, or paved the way for a future relationship you will always cherish? Would you still be asking yourself these same questions?
The other day, my wife and I had one of these experiences. After a long Saturday of chasing our kids, spending time with our friends and family, and squeezing the life out of every minute, we collapsed on our pillows, exhausted. But a funny thing happened. We didn’t ask each other if we were burned out; instead, we started reflecting on all the fun we had, the impact we made, the memories we will cherish, and the potential we were creating for our kids and our family - the same feeling of fatigue, but a completely different feeling of its meaning.
At TIGNUM, we have seen how fatigue can make the same person fragile or psychologically resilient. It can make them believe in themselves more, or it can raise their self-doubt. It can excite them for the future or scare them to death. So what is the difference?
Your focus makes all the difference
One of the most common differences is your focus. Do you focus on your fatigue and the effort you have put out? Or do you focus on your contributions, the impact you created, and the lessons you learned? The former leaves you zapped, but the latter can leave you energized, inspired, and hungry for more.
Do you focus on the huge amount of things out of your control? Or do you choose to deliberately and consistently focus on those things that you can influence or control? The former leaves you overwhelmed, but the latter makes you feel capable and in control.
Do you choose to focus on how you are being impacted or instead on how you can positively impact others on your team? When you choose to be an energy multiplier for others, to be we-focused instead of me-focused, and to be of service rather than helpless, everything changes. Suddenly you may find your gas tank full rather than empty.
Role modeling these behaviors should be a part of leadership. But unfortunately, most of us learn these Sustainable Human Performance skills when it is too late, and we’re already struggling with burnout. Are you going to wait?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
As TIGNUM's Managing Director of the Americas and APAC, Chris is an experienced Sustainable Human Performance coach to many CEO’s, C-suite executives, and professional athletes. In 2020, Chris was inducted into the MG100 Coaches program, an organization of some the best executive coaches, leaders and business thinkers from around the world.
ABOUT TIGNUM
TIGNUM is the major performance building block for business professionals, designed around a skill- and data-based approach that respects the individuality, focuses on the brain, evolves constantly, and creates lasting impact. Its international team comes from a wide range of fields, including human behavior, elite athletics, special forces, performance medicine, executive coaching, change consultants, and more.
True turnaround mindset with Carsten Hellman
In this episode, Carsten Hellmann (President/ CEO, ALK) shares how he was able to do massive turnarounds in companies - with the same people and the same products. He doubled and tripled the value of companies by changing the belief system of the employees and providing what they needed to be at their best.
Carsten Hellmann, President / CEO, ALK
Things will always be challenging. If you want it all - an extraordinary career, good health, and a great family life - you need to be committed to balance.
In this episode, Carsten Hellmann shares how he was able to do massive turnarounds in companies - with the same people and the same products. He doubled and tripled the value of companies by changing the belief system of the employees and providing what they needed to be at their best. He asks all employees to take on responsibility for the company's success - to the point of rewarding team members who stop projects that don't work. Carsten Hellmann has an unshakable commitment to balance, knowing that for these turnarounds, he needs to be high energy, inspirational, and lead by example. He truly is a Sustainable Human Performer leading a life with an exciting career, fulfilling family life, and good health.
ABOUT TIGNUM THOUGHTCAST
TIGNUM ThoughtCast is a series of short interviews in which TIGNUM co-founder Scott Peltin sits down with friends, clients, and human performance experts to explore the application of Sustainable Human Performance.
A Life-Altering Vacation with Stephanie Lena
In this episode, Stephanie Lena (Global Trial Program Head, Novartis) sits down with Scott Peltin to share her powerful story of how a new approach to a one on one vacation with her husband created the bond and partnership that helped her persevere through cancer shortly thereafter. She goes on to share the critical mindset skills and performance habits she developed and applied during her chemotherapy including, the use of anchors, intention setting, and reframing.
Stephanie Lena, Global Trial Program Head, Novartis
In this episode, Stephanie Lena of Novartis sits down with Scott Peltin to share her powerful story of how a new approach to a one on one vacation with her husband created the bond and partnership that helped her persevere through cancer shortly thereafter. She goes on to share the critical mindset skills and performance habits she developed and applied during her chemotherapy including the use of anchors, intention setting, and reframing.
Her amazing story has made us all pause and think differently about how we'll approach our next vacation. We hope you'll do the same.
ABOUT TIGNUM THOUGHTCAST
TIGNUM ThoughtCast is a series of short interviews in which TIGNUM co-founder Scott Peltin sits down with friends, clients, and human performance experts to explore the application of Sustainable Human Performance.
Managing Extreme Circumstances: Mindset is the Key with Laura Penhaul
Just over 5 years ago, Laura Penhaul (TIGNUM Performance Specialist) led a crew of four women on an unprecedented journey, becoming the first-ever four-person boat crew to row across the Pacific Ocean. In this episode, Laura talks with Scott about the High Performance Mindset and leadership skills that helped her and the team complete their astounding 9,200-mile (14,800k), 257-day journey.
Laura Penhaul, TIGNUM Performance Specialist
"Why do we wait for significant adversity to maximize our abilities? Why don't we explore maximizing what we've got when we've got it?"
Just over 5 years ago, Laura Penhaul led a crew of four women on an unprecedented journey, becoming the first-ever four-person boat crew to row across the Pacific Ocean.
In this episode, Laura talks with Scott about the High Performance Mindset and leadership skills that helped her and her crew complete their astounding 9,200-mile (14,800k), 257-day journey.
Her inspiring perspective, stemming from her work as a Physiotherapist for the British Paralympic team, challenges us all to explore our potential by finding our own version of the Pacific to cross.
ABOUT TIGNUM THOUGHTCAST
TIGNUM ThoughtCast is a series of short interviews in which TIGNUM co-founder Scott Peltin sits down with friends, clients, and human performance experts to explore the application of Sustainable Human Performance.