The Red Arrows, Britain’s best loved High Performance Team, is the topic for this podcast with guest Red Arrow Mike Ling, MBE.

This podcast is about High Performance Teams and Teamwork. Mike shares deep insights into what makes the Red Arrows such a High Performing Team and suggests ways in which businesses can learn from the Red Arrows and improve their business, performance and team work.

For many years I have delivered team work, team development and team building sessions for clients - from the Warehouse to the Boardroom - and in these high performance teams sessions, the Red Arrows are regularly held up as a model for high performance. I think the Red Arrows as a team, both on the ground and in the air, is a solid example of a top team.

So why is Mike Ling the best of the best?

The numbers behind Mike’s RAF and Red Arrows career are truly outstanding. Of his 21 years in the RAF he has completed 10 display seasons in the Red Arrows . In that time he’s flown over 2500 sorties in Red Arrows aircraft, taken part in 700 public displays and flown the famous red Hawk jet in nearly 50 different countries from USA to China.

During those ten Seasons of flying in the famous display team he’s held a number of positions in the air and on the ground. He has been Team Supervisor and one of the Synchro Pair.

Why do the Red Arrows exist?

The quintessentially British brand, was created to promote Britain, in true best of British style. For nearly 60 years the Red Arrows have flown displays of excellence. In this podcast Mike talks about the importance of the Red Arrows work stating the value from the 2016 Great British Campaign supporting British brands – such as Aston Martin and Brompton bikes - in Singapore producing £8BN trade deals on 9 weeks.

What are the Hallmarks of High Performance Teams?

There’s much talk of the hallmarks or criteria which elevate good teams to high performance teams. But what are these hallmarks?  Typically you hear about Communication, Leadership, Goals and Trust, and these are mentioned in this conversation, along with a few others that you might find interesting. Hearing Mike talk about Pride and Heritage adds a new depth of engagement, whilst his very specific insights into their view of Feedback and Self-Critique takes the notion of ’feedback is the food of champions’, to the next level. Perhaps this is singularly the main hallmark that sets them apart, what do you think?

In the high tech world of flying, Mike notes that at times good old fashioned communication wins through. I thoroughly enjoyed the way he compares Social Media and WhatsApp to their WAM communication. Whats WAM, have a listen, it might be the simplest and easiest Top Tip to take from this podcast to help you in your business.

What is the Recruitment Process like for Red Arrows and what can business learn from it? After the initial application a number of Pilots are invited to a week long practical process with the Team. In the business world here recruitment is constantly under review and is often a poor process, the Red Arrows have a few top tips to share. 

Mike answers questions on: ego, nicknames and how many people are in the Red Arrows team, including the Ground Crew...  How many do you think it is? 

Finally there's a piece on personal leadership and resilience, as Mike talks through his 800 mph head on crash and months of rehabilitation. The honest insight must be heard to be believed. 

And for fun, who do you think Mike names as his example of a great team, and why? 

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