Enable, empower, amplify: Kelvin Wong and Peter Burgess on PFLP
Kelvin Wong, Head of Animal Fencing in Animal Management, recently completed our Performance Focused Leadership Programme (PFLP)—the Gallagher programme based on the three leadership dynamics of setting expectations, continually coaching, and creating accountability.
“When you're leading, it's something that you just do. But PFLP gave us frameworks to break our leadership into little chunks and deeply examine the ways we lead. While we were familiar with some of the concepts shared, the programme enabled us to crystalise them into the frameworks and reflect on the things that we do and don't do, and what we do well and not so well,” Kelvin says.
The programme guides mixed cohorts of Gallagher People Leaders through three immersive modules across three months. Kelvin found the collaborative style of the programme hugely beneficial.
“There are times when leadership is a bit lonely and you think you're the only one experiencing a certain challenge, but talking to leaders across the business illuminated that leadership challenges transcend business functions and divisions.
“When we chatted with the other leaders in the cohort, we uncovered insights into how we can approach tricky situations. As well as highlighting the work ons, the discussions reinforced areas that we were doing well in and enhanced that even further from the collective experience of the room,” says Kelvin.
Peter Burgess, an Architect and People Leader for Gallagher Security who is currently participating in the programme, also enjoyed that his cohort represented a cross-section of the business.
“I was a little apprehensive at first, as I thought ‘these people are not going to have much in common with me’. But as I got talking to some of the other leaders, I realised that while they were in completely different roles to me, we all shared the same type of highlights and challenges and could learn a lot from each other” Peter says.
Both Peter and Kelvin have already implemented some of the practices, skills, and mindsets highlighted in the programme to improve clarity and performance within their teams.
The session around setting expectations stuck out for Kelvin. “I always set my own expectations, but I’ve realised that I need to bit clearer about them with my team. My team isn’t going to know what I want unless I tell them, and my expectations don’t mean much if they’re not aligned with my teams! That improvement alone has increased our effectiveness.”
Peter has also found the setting expectations framework useful. "It’s about making responsibilities and behaviours clear for both parties, so you’re aligned and engaged together. Leadership is about building others up collaboratively."
Kelvin credits PFLP with solidifying his understanding of leadership.
“It’s about being an enabler, empowerer, and amplifier. As an individual contributor, you can only do so much. But when you are leading an A-Team, you can do so much more. It’s a leader’s job to amplify the team’s contributions to the extent that you know an individual cannot possibly achieve.”