207: Client Showcase: The Leadership First Approach with Amanda HarNess

In this week’s episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, originally broadcast in August 2024, I interviewed my wonderful client, Amanda HarNess, an executive coach specialising in leadership development.

Amanda shared her journey from working as an occupational therapist to becoming a successful business owner and coach, adapting and transferring her skills from her previous career.

We discuss the challenges and motivations behind Amanda’s career shift, her signature Leadership First Approach™ and the importance of strong leadership for organisational success. 

 

In this episode: 

• [00:00:40] Amanda shares about her role as an executive coach in leadership development and her leap from occupational therapy to starting her own business.
• [00:03:23] Amanda reflects on her experiences as a good but unsatisfied employee, seeking more influence.
• [00:06:38] ‘Realising the Entrepreneurial Itch’ - Amanda describes how her desire for entrepreneurship grew during her career and the impact of COVID-19.
• [00:10:58] What advice Amanda would give her past self as she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey.
• [00:12:28] Amanda explains her signature framework, emphasising the importance of strong leadership at the top of organisations.
• [00:15:00] The value of focusing on leadership to foster positive organisational change.
• [00:16:07] Discussion on LinkedIn, content creation and brand photography.
• [00:18:55] Amanda reflects on the value of having a startup coach and seeking help early on.
• [00:19:38] The necessity of investing in oneself for business success.
• [00:26:14] The importance of overcoming past limitations to pursue future goals.
• [00:28:11] The parallel growth of personal and business development over time.

 

Key Takeaways: 

• One of the most valuable pieces of advice Amanda offers is the importance of trusting your intuition and having confidence in your ideas. She acknowledges that while she has made progress, having a stronger belief in herself earlier on could have accelerated her journey. Amanda also emphasises the significance of investing in yourself, whether through hiring a coach or seeking professional development opportunities. This investment can lead to significant growth in both business and personal life.
• Effective leadership creates a strong foundation for the entire organisation. Poor leadership can lead to misalignment and ineffective communication, which ultimately trickles down to the rest of the organisation.
• Leaders must be willing to acknowledge their shortcomings and invest in their development to create a positive organisational culture. By focusing on enhancing leadership skills, organisations can foster high-performing teams and achieve their goals.

 

Quotes: 

“I like to say that I was a great employee, but I was also not a great employee, because I either met or exceeded the status quo or the expectations. But I was also still unsatisfied. And so I wasn't one of those employees that just kind of did my work and showed up. I was always pointing out something that could be better and how it could be better, and you know, that wasn't always received well.” - Amanda HarNess

“I felt like I would come up with these ideas or find the things that needed to be changed and just get shushed or someone would smile and nod and then not do anything, and it always felt like I was being held back. And this idea in my mind felt like ‘if I owned my own business, what could hold me back?’” - Amanda HarNess

“If you have misalignment, poor communication, either just bad leadership skills or untrained leadership skills, whatever's happening at the top is going to roll downhill and trickle down in the organisation. … You have to make things strong at the top in order to create the real progress that you want in the organisation.” - Amanda HarNess

“I think a lot of us, we have this thing of like, ‘I can't invest in myself, that would be a waste of money’. But actually the difference that it makes when a business is making money on a regular basis, like those kinds of investments, if you do it properly, it can really make such a huge difference to how the early years of your business actually play out.” - Jessica Fearnley

 

Useful Links

Amanda: 

Visit Amanda’s website to learn more about her approach and services.

Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn to get more insights and expert advice.

For access to exclusive content and special events become an Email Subscriber.

Amanda’s Photographer, Danielle Uhl.

Jessica:

The Seven Figures Club

Wealth Dynamics

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Leave a rating and review for the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast

Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn

 

Guest Bio

Amanda is the CEO and Founder of Business Excelerated. She is a coach and consultant who works with leadership teams of organizations with high stakes environments, helping them to make REAL progress using the Leadership First Approach™. By leveraging her expertise in human behavior, psychology, leadership development, and effective communication, she helps leadership teams close the gap between where they are now and where they want to be.