“How do you know that the teams in your business are performing to the best of their ability?”
“How do you know that the success of your teams is because they are working together or in spite of them working together?”
These are two questions that Rory Underwood MBE DL, has wrestled with for over 20 years whilst successfully helping businesses deal with extraordinary growth, or plan for it. They are the reason he set up Wingman, the high-performance environment specialists and the driving force behind the team’s mission: to make your business success inevitable because of your people, not in spite of them.
Wingman are uniquely placed to really understand the dynamics at play in successful teams and what it takes to deliver on strategy effectively. Can you think of anywhere where team performance is more intrinsically linked to achieving success, than in elite sport and the military?
Built on Rory’s 12-year background in elite sport including playing International rugby for England and the Lions and his 18 years of flying fast jets in the RAF, we have an unprecedented view and understanding of what great teams can achieve and what it takes to build environments where success and the team’s ability to perform under pressure, are the norm.
Couple that with the whole Wingman team’s experience of successfully applying that learning in multiple businesses, across many different sectors over the past 20 years and you have a very powerful ally to help you deal with the challenges ahead.
As a team we’ve often found that businesses assume that teamwork will just happen. The truth is, the journey to get everyone to work together and truly understand what it takes to successfully implement a business strategy is far more challenging. In the elite sport and the military they spend 90% of the time training and 10% doing. In business, it’s usually the other way around. But, with Wingman’s know-how, support and guidance you’ll be able to release the full potential of your individuals, teams and ultimately empower the whole organisation. The result being, you’ll be more effective and will have reduced the drag in your business’s performance, meaning that success will come far more easily in the future.
Relationships are really important to us and our approach epitomises the team ethos. We’ll partner with you, really getting to understand the challenges you face and what makes your business tick. We’ll equip you with all the tailored tools and solutions needed to build your own, sustainable high-performance environment and be there to support you every step of the way.
After all, that’s what a good Wingman does.
MEET THE TEAM
Leadership Team
Rory has 18 years’ experience of flying fast jets with the RAF, as well as 12 years playing rugby for England, including 7 caps for the Lions.
Rory is also an events speaker and you can hear him speak at awards dinners, on the Rugby circuit, and elsewhere about his career and the importance of high performing teams.
Fun Fact: If you’re lost then Rory is your man. From getting around the London Underground to the best route on the roads, Rory is a walking sat-nav.
She is responsible for overseeing all client programmes and interventions, implementing the right processes and practices across the business, including formulating strategy, improving performance, procuring material and resources and securing compliance.
Fun Fact: Jane is the camping queen, if you think camping is boring and basic you’ve not seen Jane’s camp set up!
Delivery Team
Dave is a graduate of the London School of Economics (LSE) and a former RAF fast-jet navigator. He’s an approved trainer for the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), a qualified vocational skills assessor and is accredited to deliver a multitude of different licensed development tools. Dave likes nothing better than to be out front and leading a session in which people develop skills and capability, and as well as delivering for Wingman, in his spare time he is an expedition supervisor and assessor for young people on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.
Fun Fact: Most weekends Dave can be found on a now semi-permanent house and garden renovation project. This is increasingly slowed up by dog-walks, family time and the pursuit of his other hobby (he’s a lifetime member!), the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
His professional recognitions include being a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and he has links with Leeds Metropolitan University, where he has worked with academics in the field of HR, Leadership & Management Development and People Engagement.
Fun Fact: James is the musical one of the team. Sit down with him over a pint and he’ll no doubt tell you about all the venues he’s played at! His alter ego is a drummer in a rock band living the dream on a constant world tour!
He has gained a wide-ranging knowledge of different industries and worked with a varied and wide-ranging company type, from large multinational corporations to small bespoke digital agencies and all the business types in between.
Fun Fact: Kristian is the sports nut – whether it’s rugby, cricket, golf, fishing or shooting (to name a few), Kristian is never far away from a sporting field of some description.
He is passionate about empowering teams by enabling them to better understand their own and other’s perceptions, helping delegates to better manage themselves and their teams in a productive and purposeful way.
Skilled at both face-to-face and virtual delivery, Andy has worked with organisations across many different sectors and to a wide variety of levels, from the senior level through to apprentices.
Operations Team
Becca will be responsible for all our media and communication collateral and her skillset means we can really up our game when it comes to increasing our visual presence and creating more engaging Wingman content.
Fun Fact: Becca is a film and TV show nut even watching all the behind the scenes extras too.
Emma also loves a good spreadsheet, map, list, anything organisational so that events she has organised are always smooth running.
Fun Fact: Emma is the healthy one in the office, be it running 10k, playing tennis or walking the dog and she makes a mean salad!