Updated: July 6th, 2021
Starting with Class 007, YFFR implemented the "5 C's of Success" as part of YFFR's organizational culture. These are 5 areas of professional excellence that must be in place if we are to successfully accomplish our mission.
Once a trainee leaves Instructor School, we leave it up to them to stay accountable to the 5 C's. This means, that unless one has an accountability buddy, it's easy to forget.
So let's check in now....
Conduct: How you present yourself to the world reflects your self worth. When you think about how you respond to others, how you show up, even the clothes you put on, what message does it send to YOURSELF? We may think of conduct as an outward message, but truly, your conduct will make you internally feel proud or feel ashamed. What can you adjust to feel proud about how you conduct yourself? - YFFR prides itself on having Instructors that conduct themselves with respect and professionalism.
Comply: Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG), policies, and ground rules are in place for success and safety. For most organizations, SOGs have been created out of experience and need. In a situation of non-compliance, we spend more time on an "issue" versus mission accomplishment. If you notice you are having difficulty complying with an SOG, ask yourself what emotion it's bringing up. Perhaps you can identify what's going on under the surface.
Continue: To be a good teacher, you must first (and forever) be a good student. Always find opportunities to learn and ask questions. The moment we stop, we also stop being relevant. YFFR prides itself on instructors who are sharp and know what's up and always see themselves as a student.
Communicate: The cornerstone of every healthy relationship is communication: clear, calm, concise and consistent. (There are 4 more C's for you!) What needs to change so you can be more consistent with communication? For example: I would ask a YFFR Instructor "If you find yourself too busy to reply back to your Program Manager in a timely manner, how will you find the time to be able to teach a YFFR program? What needs to change?"
Contracts: Write it down, make it happen. This literally puts everyone on the same page. Contracts are shared agreements and little gifts to your future self. Each of our brains interpret conversations differently, having a contract to refer to is like a source of truth and a sigh of relief.
What's the C you feel best about? What's the C you are getting stuck on? Let me know in the YFFR Community Facebook group.
Written by YogaShield® Yoga For First Responders® CEO and Founder Olivia Mead
Olivia is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA), Iowa Society of Fire Service Instructors, National Tactical Officers Association and the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Olivia is the recipient of the 2016 Warrior Award and Community Choice Award from Yoga Alliance International for her work with first responders and veterans/military.
Yoga For First Responders® online courses are currently available on Virtual Academy, PoliceOne Academy, FireRescue1 Academy, and EMS1 Academy.
References:
[1] The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring yoga's ethical practice [Preface]. (2009). In 1288428017 949676832 D. Adele (Author), The yamas & niyamas: Exploring yoga's ethical practice (p. 12). Duluth, MN: On-Word Bound Books.
[2] Building your resilience. (2012). Retrieved March 23, 2021, from https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience
[3] Resilience. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2021, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resilience