Season 2: Episode 2 Frances and Andy in conversation with Tony Underwood Chief Care Enforcer

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Recorded07 Mar 2025

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Tony has had a fantastic career. He has pivoted from the heights of playing international rugby for England as well as the British and Irish Lions, before pursuing a 20-year career as a Pilot, culminating as Captain on the Airbus A380. He now uses the knowledge gleaned along the way to act as a Chief Care Enforcer, working with organisations and teams. He assists them in driving towards elite performance, encompassing both internal and external factors.Tony defines leadership as providing an environment in which others can be the best that they can possibly be. His guiding principle is to believe that great leaders achieve this status through the provision of a deep level of care to individuals. His philosophy opposes that of leaders who see individuals as widgets, present only to provide a resource in the achievement of the task.His perspective, built uniquely from direct experience of elite performance both on the rugby field as well as in the cockpit, enables him to share his message. He observed that those leaders who achieved the best level of care were also those responsible for the best performance outcomes. With this in mind, Tony likes to change the word performance to flourish. After all, isn’t this what we want for our people, teams and organisations?This approach does not mean care without challenge (a soft approach). He emphasises that via the provision of great levels of care, you can provide challenge. Such focus shifts the dial between a you verses me mentality to an us verses the challenge team perspective.Purpose for Tony is now all about answering his need to develop what he sees as important in teams and organisations by bringing this message. He is extremely clear that the goal is not about striving for a destination, but being on the journey, being in flow. This is what allows him to feel fulfilled.The aspect that Tony claims to be most proud of (throughout his career and the changes on this journey), is concerned with maintaining a sense of self. He feels that he did not lose his identity either as an international rugby player or as a pilot. He has stayed real to himself, remaining Tony Underwood throughout.Sharing open vulnerability around his experiences of how difficult life can be, Tony speaks of being in environments where he was not the leader but still tried to offer a lone voice - to create a different kind of culture. He tells of how this position is expressly difficult when the same view is not shared by others. It is with this backdrop that Tony informs his work today as the Chief Care Officer. He feels that he felt alive in his work when he was able to create an environment for others to thrive. This is what drives him forward today.Tony’s top tips for Leaders are:1: Engage: on a very personal level of fierce care.2: Empower: Create the sense of being part of something bigger than ourselves.3: Elevate: Use the permission to challenge to elevate.4: Embed: an environment that enables the best version of yourself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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