14: Making Better Workplaces with Amanda Haddaway

Leading others in the workplace can be difficult. It should never be a cookie-cutter approach though, because people are very unique individuals. In today’s episode, Amanda Haddaway shares her story of ‘accidentally’ getting into the HR career field, and then eventually branching off to start her own business, HR Answerbox. In her role as the managing director of HR Answerbox, she specializes in conducting workplace investigations, solving complex employee relations issues, leading interactive and engaging training sessions, and serving as an advisor to small business owners and leaders.

 

Amanda grew up in a very entrepreneurial family, and she’s always been drawn to leadership roles. While she goes ‘all in’ on anything she does, she’s also learned that a work-life balance is necessary to avoid burnout. She believes the 2 key facets of running a successful business are project management and people management. Since working with both managers and their employees, Amanda has found that communication skills are extremely important, whether you’re giving or receiving feedback. Caring about your employees and their wellbeing as a whole person is vital when it comes to making better workplaces. This will go a long way when it comes to improving the retention issue so many employers are having in the work space today. 

 

About Amanda Haddaway:

Amanda Haddaway is an award-winning HR consultant, corporate trainer, and certified executive coach. She has more than 45,000 hours of experience in HR and holds the two highest professional certifications, SPHR and SHRM-SCP. Amanda also has a Master of Jurisprudence degree in Labor and Employment Law from Tulane University Law School, a Master’s degree from George Washington University, and a Bachelor’s degree from James Madison University.

 

Amanda was recognized as one of the 10 Most Inspiring Businesswomen Making a Difference in 2021 by Beyond Exclamation Magazine, and one of the 20 Most Successful Businesswomen to Watch in 2020 by Insights Success. She has also previously been recognized as the Most Influential Woman in HR Training - USA by Acquisition International and the Gamechanger of the Year (US-East Coast) by ACQ Global Awards. She is even the author of two books, the creator of New Manager Bootcamp and the Workplace Culture Academy, and her writing has been included in Entrepreneur.

 

Connect with Amanda:

https://hranswerbox.com/

 

Episode Timestamps:

• Amanda’s story of getting into the HR space and eventually, starting her own company {1:19}
• Advice for effectively managing people {6:35}
• Characteristics that help to make people successful in leadership {11:05}
• How the pandemic has affected Amanda’s businesses and her clients’ businesses {13:12}
• Amanda’s secret to getting things done well {18:53}
• The importance of workplace culture and the biggest struggles there {23:40}
• A key part of business that small businesses should not forget about {28:55}

 

“More often than not, someone gets promoted into a leadership role because they were good as an individual contributor. Just because someone was good at their job as the employee, doesn't necessarily mean that they're going to transition into a leadership role and be successful there. That’s where a lot of organizations kind of misstep; they make the assumption that that's going to happen, and it doesn't.”

 

Connect with Rachel Harrison:

https://traumaspecialistsofmd.com/

https://www.frederickchamber.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trauma_specialist/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064008974101&mibextid=LQQJ4d

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-harrison-81a4796/