Recently, our Operations Manager, Leolasi Fauena, travelled to Wellington to take part in the Dare to Lead™ leadership training with Boma, facilitated by Kaila Colbin.
The programme, based on Brené Brown’s research, explores courage as a set of skills that can be learned, practised and developed. It encourages leaders to build trust, communicate openly, navigate challenging conversations and develop resilience when faced with challenges and setbacks.
Throughout the training, participants explored practical ways to bring these ideas into their everyday leadership, from understanding vulnerability and turning values into clear behaviours, to creating a culture where people feel safe to speak openly, learn and grow.
For Leo, the experience provided an opportunity to reflect on his own leadership journey and the kind of leader he wants to continue becoming – as well as how these learnings can make a difference for the people and teams he supports at Pacific Homecare.
Leo’s Experience
Reflecting on his time at the training, Leo shared:
“It was a fantastic learning experience and one that gave me the opportunity to reflect not only on the type of leader I am today, but also on the type of leader I want to continue becoming.
Throughout the training, I gained practical skills and strategies to lead with greater courage, particularly when navigating challenging or courageous conversations. I was reminded that effective leadership is not about always having the right answers; it is about creating an environment where people feel supported, valued, heard and confident enough to have honest conversations.
For me, this learning is particularly important in my role at Pacific Homecare. The way we lead and support our teams ultimately has a direct impact on the quality of care and support we provide to the people and families we serve in our communities. I want to continue building a team culture where our Support Workers feel supported, respected and empowered to do their very best work.
I left the training feeling energised, motivated and even more confident about my role as a leader. Most importantly, I left with a renewed commitment to put what I have learned into practice – not just for my own development, but for the benefit of my team, our Support Workers and, ultimately, the people we are privileged to support.
I’m grateful to PHC for the opportunity to invest in my leadership development and bring these learnings back into our organisation.”
We’re excited to see Leo bring these learnings back into Pacific Homecare and continue growing as a leader, while supporting and empowering those around him.
Congratulations, Leo, and thank you for sharing your experience with us!
