Cultural humility: A Tool for Transformative Leadership?
Tracks
Norfolk Hall | In-Person Only
| Tuesday, July 23, 2024 |
| 10:50 AM - 11:10 AM |
Overview
Melinda McDonald, Fire and Rescue NSW
Details
Key Presentation Learnings:
1. Deeply entrenched traditions, militaristic work practices and extended service tenures not only influence the existing cultural fabric of fire services, but reduce the potential for building genuine inclusivity and diversity within agencies.
2. The impacts of communication practices, media representation and imagery of firefighters; and the 'echo chamber effect' or insularity of services impedes progress in addressing culture and inclusion.
3. By empowering leaders within the fire services to embrace actionable cultural humility, we can create more inclusive, empathetic, and community-centric fire services, and ultimately deliver more effective and socially-impactful service.
Speaker
Ms Melinda McDonald
Research Officer
Fire And Rescue Nsw
Cultural humility: A tool for transformative leadership?
Abstract
“Let us be a little humble; let us think that the truth may not be entirely with us.”
(Jawaharlal Nehru)
The Australian fire services are characterised by deeply entrenched traditions, militaristic work practices and extended service tenures, which not only influences the existing cultural fabric, but reduces the potential for genuine inclusivity and diversity within agencies. While fire services traditionally pride themselves on values such as courage, respect and integrity - and the concepts of heroism and leadership are often closely linked - a close examination shows skills of cultural competence and humility are lacking, along with the inquisitiveness, self-refection, and lifelong learning espoused by Fahlberg et al. (2016, p. 14).
Using case studies of lived experiences, the presentation considers:
1. The impacts of communication, as evidenced in common language amongst emergency responders that includes colloquialisms (FIFO, ‘fit in or fuck off)’; humour (sharing of inappropriate jokes and social media content); self-exonerating statements (‘I’m not racist but…’), and gendered workplace descriptors ('junior man/senior man')
2. The influence of media imagery of firefighters
3. Whether there is an 'echo chamber effect', due to limited awareness of changing community and workplace expectations, and whether this insularity impedes progress in addressing culture and inclusion.
The presentation proposes a way forward, inviting us to consider the advancement of cultural humility as an integral tool for transformative leadership.
Transformational leaders openly acknowledge their limitations and are receptive to diverse perspectives and experiences. Integrating cultural humility into leadership practices offers potential for advancing organisational efforts towards cultural competence, diverse recruitment, more inclusive workplace policies, and more authentic community engagement. By empowering leaders within the fire services to embrace and action cultural humility, we can create more inclusive, empathetic, and community-centric fire services, and ultimately deliver more effective and socially-impactful service.
(Jawaharlal Nehru)
The Australian fire services are characterised by deeply entrenched traditions, militaristic work practices and extended service tenures, which not only influences the existing cultural fabric, but reduces the potential for genuine inclusivity and diversity within agencies. While fire services traditionally pride themselves on values such as courage, respect and integrity - and the concepts of heroism and leadership are often closely linked - a close examination shows skills of cultural competence and humility are lacking, along with the inquisitiveness, self-refection, and lifelong learning espoused by Fahlberg et al. (2016, p. 14).
Using case studies of lived experiences, the presentation considers:
1. The impacts of communication, as evidenced in common language amongst emergency responders that includes colloquialisms (FIFO, ‘fit in or fuck off)’; humour (sharing of inappropriate jokes and social media content); self-exonerating statements (‘I’m not racist but…’), and gendered workplace descriptors ('junior man/senior man')
2. The influence of media imagery of firefighters
3. Whether there is an 'echo chamber effect', due to limited awareness of changing community and workplace expectations, and whether this insularity impedes progress in addressing culture and inclusion.
The presentation proposes a way forward, inviting us to consider the advancement of cultural humility as an integral tool for transformative leadership.
Transformational leaders openly acknowledge their limitations and are receptive to diverse perspectives and experiences. Integrating cultural humility into leadership practices offers potential for advancing organisational efforts towards cultural competence, diverse recruitment, more inclusive workplace policies, and more authentic community engagement. By empowering leaders within the fire services to embrace and action cultural humility, we can create more inclusive, empathetic, and community-centric fire services, and ultimately deliver more effective and socially-impactful service.
Biography
Melinda is a communications specialist, researcher, and qualified operational firefighter. Recipient of a 2023 Churchill Fellowship to study co-designed fire and emergency risk reduction programs for diverse communities, Melinda believes curiosity, collaboration, and relentless optimism are key to equipping emergency responders with greater cultural competence, and empowering communities to participate in risk reduction program design. Her joint research with UTS on culturally appropriate communication in emergency services received the 2023 NEMPA Award for Research Excellence. Melinda also actively promotes the role of women in fire services, serving as a Director on the Board of Women and Firefighting Australasia.
