Sir Andrew Pulford KCB CBE – Leadership in the line of fire

INTRODUCTION• Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Douglas Pulford, KCB, CBE, ADC, was born and brought up in Newark, Nottinghamshire, then attended Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, in Lincolnshire.• He joined the RAF as a helicopter pilot in 1977 and went on to fly Westland Wessex and Puma helicopters• He served in Northern Ireland and the Falklands War during early operational deployments. He went on to serve in Lebanon, the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan.• Sir Andrew held several command roles including Commanding Officer of No. 33 Squadron RAF and Station Commander at RAF Aldergrove• He progressed through senior leadership positions, including Air Officer Commanding No. 2 Group RAF and Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations)• Sir Andrew was appointed Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) in July 2013 – the first helicopter pilot to become Chief of the Air Staff in the RAF's history. He served as professional head of the RAF until his retirement in July 2016.• In 1994 – as a Group Captain – he chaired the RAF’s initial inquiry into the Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash that killed 29 people.LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS from Sir Andrew Pulford…• Lead with clear intent“[Ask yourself] What are we about? What are we for? What are we doing? If people don’t know why they’re there, then you’ve got something very wrong.”• Set achievable goals“If you’re offering [the people you’re leading] something that’s over-ambitious, and they can see that, then they’re not going to be with you… your credibility is gone.”• Build shared purpose“You’ve got to get people to buy into what you’re for… and they’ve got to believe in it.”• Practice self-criticism and reflection“At the end of any sortie, I sat down and debriefed – good and bad. You get into the habit of self-criticism. That didn’t stop when I stopped flying.”• Balance strategic focus with human connection“Go and listen [to people lower down the organisation], because stuff gets filtered if you’re at the very top. Sometimes you have to go and find out for yourself.”• Lead by sharing adversity“[When I was a commanding officer] I put the kit on and went on foot patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, with the Royal Air Force regiment… [I gained a lot of] credibility and respect from that act.”• Always aim for excellence“What’s wrong with striving to be the best you can possibly be?”RELATED LINKSFind out more about Sir Andrew Pulford…• On the website of the Care after Combat charity, where he is a patron• In his Veterans Interview, with Paul Saxby, on YouTube• Through his speech to Defence and Security Equipment InternationalIf you enjoyed this episode of the NBS Business Leaders’ Podcast with Sir Andrew Pulford, listen to previous episodes with…• Air Marshal Sir Baz North KCB, OBE• Former Chief Exec of the Financial Ombudsman Service Caroline Wayman• Sir John Peace CVO, CStJ