Unleashing the Power of High-Performing Cultures: A Journey to Red Bull F1 Racing and The BRIT School
by Natasha Angel (MCIPD) , Senior Learning & Development Advisor, UK Sport
The journey continued for the Leading to Perform cohort as on our quest to continually seek inspiration and insights from others, we embarked on a transformative experience to two world-renowned organisations; Red Bull Racing & Red Bull Technology and The BRIT School .
Over the course of two immersive days, participants had the privilege of delving into the heart of these esteemed institutions, hearing from key leaders, students, and peeling back the layers behind their success.
Day 1: Revving Up with Red Bull F1 Racing
The first leg of the journey took the participants into the adrenaline-fueled world of Red Bull F1 Racing.
Nestled amidst the high-tech facilities and state-of-the-art racing machines, the group had the opportunity to witness the inner workings of a team that consistently outperforms its competition. Key leaders within the organisation shared their insights on fostering innovation, being purposeful and instilling a winning mindset.
One of the critical takeaways from Red Bull F1 Racing was the emphasis on collaboration and trust. The team functions as a cohesive unit, with each member contributing their unique skills and expertise to achieve a common goal.
Day 2: Soaring to New Heights with The BRIT School
The second day saw the participants diving into the world of education and creative excellence with The BRIT School.
Known for its cutting-edge approach to learning and artistic expression, The BRIT School showcased how a supportive and empowering culture can lead to remarkable achievements.
The BRIT School's leaders emphasised the significance of nurturing talent and providing a safe space for creativity to flourish.
They also shared their philosophy of encouraging risk-taking, where mistakes are regarded as valuable learning opportunities rather than failures. This approach not only fosters innovation but also instils a culture of continuous improvement and growth.
Transcending Boundaries: The Common Threads
Despite the apparent differences between the industries, the participants discovered striking commonalities in the success stories of Red Bull F1 Racing and The BRIT School.
Both organisations prioritise people at the heart; the understand that their greatest asset lies in the talents, skills, and passion of their teams.
Moreover, both organisations have cultivated environments that embrace change and adaptability, remaining agile and forward-thinking is essential for staying ahead of the competition.
Here’s what some of the cohort had to say about the two days:
James Train – Senior Podium Coach, Paddle UK
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“How much trust there was, in that whole space and throughout the organisation and the big prompt is just how they create a trust in an organisation of that size. So that would be something to go forward with and keep considering.” (Red Bull)
Claire Morrison – Coach, Boccia UK
“It is about the person as an individual and getting the best out of them. And I think it's been good because it makes you reflect actually there's a lot of things that we do really do well in sport. There are a lot things we can do better of course.” (The BRIT School)
Mark Ritchie – Sports Manager, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships
“It does boil down to people, good people who work hard, have fun and care for each other. Winning will then look after itself surely?” (Red Bull)
“It was the people that shone bright from the inside. Yes, they had great consistent leadership. But let's focus on the students. They made up the fabric of the place. They understood what it meant to be a BRIT school student. They were mature beyond their years and oozed understanding of inclusiveness, collaboration among all connected to the place, now and in the past." (The BRIT School)
Laura Needham – Co-Head of Physiology, UK Sports Institute & Senior Physiologist, British Triathlon Federation
“They were driven, it was stressful, and it did feel time pressured, but it was clear that there was a clear purpose within the organisation and they were all aligned.” (Red Bull)
“It's just everywhere you go it was inspiring. And I think, it's just in the environment. It's lived.” (The BRIT School)
What next?
The individuals on the cohort are supported back in their daily environments with a ‘sponsor’ from their organisation, alongside some dedicated 1:1 executive coaching support provided by the programme, to help make sense of their experiences and transfer some of their insights and thoughts into action.
The cohort come together again in September, October, and December to explore; decision making, leading vision and strategies, performance planning and identity.
The cohort have already taken part in another module, Equine Guided Development earlier in 2023, a key part of Global Warriors offerings for leaders, developing leaders, and teams.
Horses are a great mirror for how we show up as leaders. This unique experience gave the cohort the opportunity to see their own personal leadership style in action and enhance their learning and development.
Leading to Perform is just one offer available to our high-performance sports community.
There are many other great opportunities to get involved in connecting across other Sports and organisations and driving your development.