Building High-Performance
Environments
The Ford Leadership Framework: A philosophy of culture, leadership, and sustainable excellence proven across elite international sport and organizational growth
Trusted by Global Leaders
Mike Ford
"Winning is an outcome. Leadership is about creating environments where people discover what they are capable of becoming."
Strategic Focus
Through the Ford Leadership Framework we aim to build a culture around winning that builds past performance.
Belonging
When people believe they belong to something bigger than themselves, they take ownership and build sustainable cultures
Excellence
Built not through extraordinary moments, but through daily ordinary standards upheld by the team
Leadership
Creating confidence, not dependency. True legacy lies in developing people who are trusted with responsibility before they feel completely ready
Legacy
Leadership is measured by the standards a team continues to uphold long after the leader has left behind
The Ford Leadership Framework
Whether you are seeking executive coaching, strategic organisational advisory or leadership workshops, let’s discuss how to leave your team stronger than you found it.
Services
Mike Ford has spent over four decades leading high-performing environments across international rugby, professional clubs, educational partnerships, and organizational advisory
Executive & Coaching Workshops
Tailored leadership frameworks for executive committees and cross-functional teams, focusing on the implementation of the Ford Leadership Framework - shifting team dynamics from instruction-led to team-led ownership
Cultural Transformation
Long-term strategy alignment, governance systems, community pathway building, and institutional culture audits to develop high-performing environments, a "culture beyond the leader" approach and , sustainable excellence
Keynote Speaking & Advisory
From managing world-class athletes and nurturing talent, to developing and implementing high-performance strategies, I leverage my experience across the highs and lows of professional rugby to aid corporate, academic and sporting success
Impact, TEstimonials & Case Studies
A view from those I’ve collaborated with across business, academia and professional sport.
I have known Mike for four years both as a friend and as a business contact. His incredibly deep knowledge of rugby translates into a practical, no-nonsense delivery of performance at the very highest level. And what’s more, he’s able to translate those lessons and techniques into the business world, which the Executive Team at TalkTalk benefited from in 2015 when we spent a couple of days with him and some of the team. A leader on and off the field - and a superb coach.
Nigel Sullivan
HR Director - Talk Talk
Mike’s depth of knowledge is exceptional and he is capable of building great teams and outstanding environments for performance. Perhaps for me the most crucial facet of Mike’s character was his support and man-management. His leadership made sure that I felt able to be something closer to the best of me when everything else was insisting the complete opposite. I would happily stand behind Mike as a leading force behind, or an inspiring addition to, any coaching team at the very highest level.
Jonny Wilkinson
England Rugby
Returning the club permanently to Boundary Park reconnected Oldham RLFC with the heart of its community. Re-establishing the player pathway after more than twenty-five years gave young people the opportunity to aspire to represent their hometown club once again. Through our partnership with Oldham College, we created an education pathway that recognised success in sport and learning should develop together, while the establishment of the club's first Women's Team ensured that opportunity and belonging extended to every part of the community.
Oldham RLFC
Under Mike as DIrector of Rugby