🍊 Who you surround yourself with matters! 🍊 I stumbled upon this image yesterday, and it made me pause. One mouldy orange can affect an entire basket of perfectly good fruit—and the same principle applies in our workplaces. When even one person brings negativity or disengagement into a team, it can drain the energy of the whole group. I’ve seen it firsthand in my work with businesses: the ripple effects are real. But just as easily, surrounding ourselves with people who are passionate, supportive, and aligned with our values can have the opposite effect—sparking innovation, driving results, and creating a culture where people thrive. As leaders, we must be intentional about the energy we allow into our spaces. A team’s health and success start with the small, daily actions that set the tone for a productive and positive environment. After all, leadership isn’t a title, it’s a verb. Have you ever seen the impact of one person’s energy, good or bad, in your workplace? Let’s start a conversation in the comments. 👇 #leadershipinspiration #leadership #teamculture

If you’ve been around me long enough or have been a client of mine you would know that ‘Expectations’ is one of my favourite topics to discuss. I listened to a podcast where Anne Lamott was being interviewed on ‘Re:Thinking with Adam Grant’ when expectations came up in conversation and they summed it up so well with this sentence - “Unspoken expectations is resentment waiting to happen.” Talk about hitting the nail on the head!

@dudewithsign latest post that reads “What do consultants even do?” gave me a good chuckle! Well, let me break it down for you: 🚀 I inspire leadership at all levels 🔍 I uncover hidden talents within your team 💬 I foster effective communication and collaboration In short, I help businesses not just survive, but thrive! 🌟

I’m taking my tried and tested Lead is a Verb Program online (link in bio). Here’s how I got to ‘here’: 1st photo: FIVE AND A HALF years ago I started my business from the comfort of my home. Clients sat with me at my dining table, I made them a coffee in my kitchen, with Teddy in my carrier and Ronan either sleeping or playing around us (Parker was at school). 2nd photo: March 2019- I bought a second hand desk of FB Marketplace so I had a proper ‘work station’ for at home. I had started making enough to pay for a nanny to watch Ro and Ted for 3 hours 1-2 days a week. This allowed me to meet my clients at @sweettalkcoffee (as 13 month old Ted made client meetings at home more challenging. 3rd photo: Jan 2019 - my first photoshoot for my business by the one and only @morganjournal (I still use these photos - maybe it’s time for an updated shoot 😅). Photos shot in my ‘office’ at the time @sweettalkcoffee 4th photo: Jan 2020- the amazingly creative and extremely generous @laurenhopetba of @roundsquaremarketing offered me a spare desk in her office FREE OF CHARGE and I reciprocated by ‘enhancing’ their workplace with my song choices and singing. 5th photo: Aug 2019 - happily working from The Work Quarter- I stayed in this co-working space for 2 years 6th photo: March 2023 - 5 months into leasing my very own office space in town at @walton_stores (where I still am today). It’s been a ride filled with all the emotions you’d expect to experience when running your own business, and things have changed over the years. One thing that hasn’t changed is my mission to develop EVERYDAY LEADERS. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Comfy chair chats and musings as a result: Let’s talk more about how it’s OK to not know what you WANT to do in terms of a career and push the emphasis onto “Who do you want to be(come)” instead. The amount of people who sit in my chair and struggle with their identity due to thinking it’s synonymous with ‘having a career’ is huge. And it’s not hard to see why when you look at how our society places such emphasis on this topic in school. Well I’ll tell you what: I can only name a HANDFUL of people who are following the career path they chose when they finished high school. If I stuck to what I thought I wanted to DO in high school I would be a lawyer, which makes me laugh now. Your BEING is a lot more valuable than your DOING (ie. job). Tag someone who needs to hear this ❤️

The end of the month is almost here which means it's time for THE LUNCH CREW. This month we're heading to @copper_bench . All attendees will get a free small hot drink with any meal purchase. The mouthwatering meals on offer are: -Thai Beef Noodles Salad -Chicken Parmi -Spicy Miso Vegetables Tartine -Chicken Katsu Burger -Benedict -Avo Toast -Any Baogers ALL ARE WELCOME to attend this event. The event itself is free to attend, you only need to pay for your meal. I cannot wait to have lunch with you all next Wednesday - tag a colleague you want to bring with you!

Toowoomba - have you picked up your copy of @thefieldguidetoowoomba yet? The new edition dropped over the weekend and as always it's full of entertaining articles, including a delicious recipe. If you skip to page six you will come across a brief article I wrote called "Building Community - Antidotes to Disconnection". Community is something that I spend a lot of my time focusing on, from the workplace to personal life. In fact at the start of the year my family moved in with my in-laws in a bid to create a strong family community, and it has me wondering why we stopped living like this. My calendar is always open for a coffee catch-up for those of you who may be interested in building your business community. You can even book it straight into my calendar here: https://lnkd.in/eFrfd-VR ☺️ (P.S. I am currently in a social media hibernation period but chose to log on to post this and will be logging back out, so thank you in advance for any comments of support and I'll get back to you when I'm back. In the meantime you can stay updated via my newsletter, simply email hello@amywillis.com.au to be added to the list).

Did you know that my 'Lead is a Verb' Program can be tailored for your business? Last year, several @nrg.services employee's completed a 6-month program that included monthly team workshops and individual 1:1's, here's a snippet of what Tim O'Neill (Operations Manager) had to say about the program. I'm looking forward to kick-starting the program off again with a new group of valued employees at NRG next month!

For every difficult conversation you put in the ‘too hard basket’ this sign gets bigger and bigger to the rest of your organisation.

Have you had lunch at @thequarteracrecafe yet? Don’t be sad if you answered ‘No’ because that’s where @thelunchcrewau is headed this month. This cafe is located in Kwong Sang Walk, and sits with other incredible local businesses. With a large indoor area and lots of lunch options, there’s sure to be enough room and food for everyone 😊 This is our FOURTH event of the year so let’s make it epic. Tag who you’ll bring with you and you’ll go into the draw to win lunch on me. See you at 12pm on Wednesday 26th April at @thequarteracrecafe 🙌🏼 (Winner of the free lunch will be drawn on the day and must attend this lunch event to redeem prize).

Happy April! I can’t’ believe we are into our 4th month of the year, which means this month is our 4th @thelunchcrewau event! Looking forward to having lunch with you all @thequarteracrecafe - lock 26th April in your calendar. If you haven’t visited Quarter Acre cafe yet, you’re in for a real treat! Conveniently located in Kwong Sang Walk they boast a variety of lunch options and great coffee! Stay tuned for their meal deal. You know the drill, tag your friends and co-workers 🙌🏼

TWO MORE SLEEPS until March’s @thelunchcrewau event! @sweettalkcoffee meal deal is a free 8oz coffee with any meal purchased. Can’t wait to have your well deserved lunch break with you. P.S. did you see you could win lunch on me? See my previous post with the suitcase for all the details.

Guess what’s in the suitcase and win lunch on me at next week’s @thelunchcrewau event. How to enter: 1. Follow @amywillisconsultancy 2. Comment below what you think is in the suitcase. 3. Tag a friend. T&C’s: - Not endorsed by Instagram - Must be 18+ to enter - Lunch will be purchased for you at @sweettalkcoffee next Wednesday 29th March. - competition closes on Tuesday 28th midday - winner will be drawn 9am Wednesday 29th

About last night 🌟 Last night I had the honour of being the guest speaker at Women in the Built Environment’s first birthday party, a networking event that’s hosted every quarter. I spoke about ‘Permission to Lead’ after making the observation that in my own life I had been caught in a loop of seeking permission from others first before giving myself permission. I shared that giving yourself permission to lead means, giving yourself permission to get things wrong, and giving yourself permission to be yourself. It was a wonderful night and I’m grateful to have been part of it! Thanks to everyone who came along and made the night a success. To learn more about WITBE head to www.witbe.au

Don’t let mental fatigue get the better of you. Prioritise your lunch break, and even better- join The Lunch Crew at @sweettalkcoffee on Wednesday 29th at 12pm to REST, REFRESH, RESET. Swipe to see their meal deal for us on the day.

Curiosity is a powerful force that drives personal and professional growth which is critical for workplace success! When we stay curious, we remain engaged , motivated, adaptable to change, and able to create new ideas + solutions. Unlock your curiosity by: 1. Asking more questions. 2. Trying new things. 3. Continuing to learn and explore. To learn more head to my latest blog post (link in bio). #curiosity #personalgrowth #leadership #professionalgrowth #staycurious #leadisaverb #unlockpotential #team #employeeengagement #consulting

Happy first day of March! Here are some date claimers 🌟 The FREE lunch and learn session is back again this month, limited capacity available so get in quick! I’m honoured to have been asked to be a guest speaker at Women in the Built Environment’s first birthday event- tickets available through their website. It’s sure to be a great night and is open to women across all sectors of the ‘built environment’ (building designer, project manager, admin for construction, etc, etc). Ending the month on a high by heading back to our original stomping grounds @sweettalkcoffee for @thelunchcrewau If you’re curious about any of these events please send me a DM 😃

The Lunch Crew February Wrap Up 🌟 Thanks to everyone who attended todays lunch event and a huge thank you to @thebakersduck for having us! Did you know that having a lunch break gives you much needed downtime and can help reduce anxiety, stress and fatigue? We encourage you to start taking your lunch break more often. We can’t wait to share next months location with you! 📸 @thebakersduck Attendees pictured: @roundsquaremarketing @suitesixhair

Can you believe it’s time for another The Lunch Crew event?! From 12pm on Wednesday you’ll find us at The Baker’s Duck with this delectable deal for all The Lunch Crew attendees. Think Smoked Salmon loaded croissant, Ham & Cheese croissant, Spicy Hawaiian toast, Chicken, leek and mustard pie, Zucchini & spring onion pea quiche…the list just keeps going. And we haven’t even started on the sweets list yet! Got your mouth watering? See you + a friend on Wednesday at @thebakersduck We can’t wait to have lunch with you!

🌟 NEW SERVICE OFFERING 🌟 ‘Leadership Soundboard Sessions’ are inspired by the breakthrough’s my ongoing clients receive in their regular 1:1’s. In your 1 or 2 hour session we can explore any challenge, or discuss any thought that’s on your mind and make sure you leave with clarity. I’m offering a special launch rate for the month of February. Simply send me a DM to learn more 🌟

Giving your team 30 minutes of your time each month can have a huge positive impact. Head to the link in our bio to learn more about this topic.

Happy first day of February! There’s lots of exciting this happening at @amywillisconsultancy headquarters this month 🌟 First up is the new LSP lunch and learn sessions. These 1 hour sessions are FREE to attend and are for those who are curious to learn more about themselves. Next up we have this months lunch event with The Lunch Crew, hosted at the always delightful @thebakersduck - stay tuned for what delicious specials they have in store for us! And finally we are kicking off our first open ‘Lead is a Verb- The Workshop’ for this year, it’s sure to add the spark you need in your leadership journey. For further information on any of the above events please send a DM 🌟

This time tomorrow we will be getting ready to welcome you all to the relaunch of @thelunchcrewau ! Our OG banner has been found and dusted off- some of you might remember getting a photo in front of it back in the day! Head to our stories for FAQs about tomorrow. WE CAN’T WAIT TO HAVE LUNCH WITH YOU!

ONE MORE WEEK til the relaunch of The Lunch Crew! Super excited to announce that @helloharry.toowoomba and @tailgate_toowoomba have come onboard to offer all attendees mouthwatering meal deals! Who will you be bringing with you? Tag them below 🙌🏼

Have you ever thought about what's important for YOU to have in your workplace? Maybe you value fun, team, success, safety, water-cooler chat, and/or care. Perhaps only a few of these things would make your list and you'd add a few more. Maybe you'd create an entire new list. So go on, tell me, what is important for YOU to have in your workplace?

Here's what @nrg.services have to say about my 'Lead is a Verb' program ☺️ "Developing our staff has always been a focus of NRG to ensure that we continue to strengthen our workforce to align with our strategic goals. This focus starts with our apprentice and trainee program and goes all the way through to our Senior managers. Recently four of our valued corporate services staff, April Long, Sophie Stocker, Hilary Turner and Holly McDonald completed "Lead is a Verb" training course with @amywillisconsultancy. The six-month program focussed on developing the leadership skills of the team, and also to create a deeper understanding and awareness of self and how to lead in a male dominated industry with confidence. The course has been a great success and we look forward to Amy Willis Consultancy working with us to further develop our workforce in the future."

THE LUNCH CREW IS COMING BACK! Whilst I may have aged (a lot!) since the inception of The Lunch Crew back in early 2020, the message has not. Our vision is to start a social movement that educates people on the benefits of taking their lunch break. Tag your friend who you'll be bringing along to our first event next year. Tag a restaurant/cafe you think we should partner with. Tag your Mum. Just get tagging!

GET READY 2023! Something is coming back bigger and better than before. Can you guess what it is?

The end of October involved some BIG achievements- @amywillisconsultancy turned FOUR, I hosted the first workshop in my new space and, my husband + I celebrated 12 years of marriage. It got me thinking about how many similarities there are with business and marriage, here’s a few of them: 1. It’s THE LITTLE THINGS done consistently that make the most difference. 2. Communication is KEY. 3. Growth is VITAL (even when it’s uncomfortable). 4. Fun is a MUST. 5. It’s easier to tackle any challenges as a TEAM. Thanks to everyone who has supported my business over these last 4 years, I look forward to seeing what this next year brings ❤️❤️

First day in the new office calls for @rubylaneflowerco blooms and a coffee + bagel from @bantercoffeekitchen . Looking forward to welcoming you all to Tenancy 8 at the Walton Stores (above the big screen). Oh the meaningful conversations that will be had on these lush chairs 🙌🏼

💥 B I G N E W S 💥 I’m super excited to announce that @amywillisconsultancy is moving into its very own headquarters! As you can tell, I’m super pumped about the balcony (the natural light inside the office is amazing!). Looking forward to sharing ‘behind the scenes’ as I make the space my own. Who can guess where the new office is located?

Does this resonate with you? If you caught my stories yesterday you would have heard me talking about the importance of giving feedback, removing the stigma around providing it and how it can naturally create an uneasy feeling in us when we hear it. Next time you see something worth speaking up about- do it. Next time you receive feedback work on opening your mind to let it land so that you can asses it logically. Have a great long weekend everyone!

I am ^THIS^ excited about the $5000 Business Basics Grants opening up on 4th May. If you’re a small business and are wanting to engage in a team workshop, the sort of workshop that you actually learn from not fall asleep in, then let’s talk. For full T&C’s about the grant head to business.qld.gov.au

My son received an award from his teacher for ‘being curious’. He wanted to learn more about Australia’s First Peoples so he did some research to find answers to his questions. Would you be able to recognise people in your team who embrace curiosity, or is curiosity frowned upon and being squashed by your workplace culture? If you want your team to be more engaged and solution focused, simply wake up the curious disposition that we all had as a child, it’s there laying dormant in our subconscious. Encourage questions. Encourage conversations. Encourage self led projects. #leadership #teamengagement #culture #people #leadisaverb

This time last year I had finished my Undergrad and was thinking “What now?”. The idea of creating a workshop focusing on the fundamentals of leadership popped into my mind and so 'Lead is a Verb - The Workshop’ was born. I went back through client notes and reflected on my experience to determine where the common knowledge gaps were, and created the content around this. I drew on what I had already been teaching clients, plus the new knowledge I had thanks to my study. Then it came time to launch- "Will anyone even be interested in this? Will it be good enough?" I thought to myself as fear of not being competent started to creep into my mind. I realised the only way I would know if I was competent in a workshop setting was to give it a go. I then went on to book out my first workshop in 7 days. In today's workshop we had a brilliant discussion around the topic "Does fear hold your confidence?" and how it can negatively impact not only our leadership, but our workplace as a whole. I crunched some numbers this afternoon and realised I've had the opportunity to support 28 different business’ through these workshops since starting them in March last year. Each workshop may be the same content wise, but certainly provides diverse interactions and conversations every single time. Glad that I took that leap and gave it a go.

2022 is the year to banish boring team meetings. Sign up to my 'Team Kit' eNewsletter and each month you will receive: - A fun team ice-breaker that (hopefully) hasn't been done before - A brief analogy/lesson/quote on how it can be applied in your workplace. No more Googling "Fun team ice breakers" before every meeting! Huzzah! (Sign up via the link in my bio ☺️ And who knows, maybe one day I'll send your workplace a piñata to make your team meeting EVEN better 😉)

Welcome 2022 ✨ It's my first day back in the office today and it's got me thinking 'New Year - Now What?' Would love to know what you're all working on for this first month/quarter.

How’s this for a flashback: 6 YEARS AGO I waved goodbye to my full time corporate job. If my memory serves me correctly, I first took career leave as I realised I wanted to spend more time with my children (I had 2 at that time, aged 3 and 1). I ended up officially resigning a few months later and working for a local consulting company before starting Amy Willis Consultancy. Leaving the comforts of a corporate job that had familiarity and security was daunting, but I’m so glad I took the leap and did it.

Before you have a feedback conversation it’s important to do a ‘stop check’ and ask yourself, “Has this happened due to lack of knowledge in our process/expectations/training…?” - ie. a knowledge gap. Too many leaders assume all errors in the workplace are made due to behavioural issues (ie. they purposely did the wrong thing, they’re lazy, etc.), but a lot of the time it can be traced back to a lack of information provided by the leader to begin with. Once you know which side you’re dealing with it helps language the feedback you’re about to give 😊

There are only 2 open workshops left for 2021 🤩 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR DECEMBER WORKSHOP: For each spot booked I will donate $200 to @toowoomba_hospital_foundation in support of their #100kin100days fundraiser. This money will go towards the Toowoomba Hospital Paediatric Oncology upgrade project which will help numerous children and their families confronted with cancer. Build your leadership skills now so you can start 2022 with your best foot forward. Swipe across for more info and simply send me a DM to book in 😊

🧦 WINNERS OF THE SOCKS ARE @vicellen_haines and @mariagianinacastro 🧦 Are you sad that you don’t have a pair of the super cool and comfy AWC socks? Fear not because here’s your chance to win a pair. Simply: 1. Follow @amywillisconsultancy 2. Like this post 3. Tag a friend 4. For an extra entry you can also share this post to your story (be sure to tag @amywillisconsultancy if you do). Competition closes midnight Tuesday 2nd November and winner will be drawn on Wednesday 3rd at midday 😀 Happy tagging ♥️ T&C’s: Entry is open to Australian residents only. Promotion commences at the date the competition is first published on our social media feeds and entries close midnight 2nd November. Prizes are not transferable. Winners will be notified via Instagram or Facebook. Each entrant acknowledges that this promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook or instagram.

AWC IS THREE 🌱🌿🌳 Where has the time gone? I feel like it was only yesterday that client’s were sitting around my dining room table as I made notes using my kids art easel (not joking, swipe to last photo). I had 1 child in school and 2 children at home, so planned meetings around their nap times. After a few months I was making enough to hire a nanny to look after the boys and I spent my work hours operating out of @sweettalkcoffee . When things started to get a bit busier the generous @laurenhopetba offered me a spare desk in the @roundsquaremarketing office- I loved every minute in there and pretended I was part of the team 😆 In July last year I made the move to @theworkquarter and that’s where you’ll find me these days 😊 As always in business there’s been lots of highs and lows, let me share the most exciting that have helped me grow in this last year: 1. Finishing my undergrad studies. 2. Launching my workshops. 3. The rebrand and the fun marketing campaign. There were plenty of lows as well and I’m saving that for another post. For now I’d just like to say a huge THANK-YOU to everyone who has supported AWC, and in turn helped me grow🌳

Last week I hit the streets of Toowoomba and started conversations about leadership. I wanted to know: 1. What’s the worst leadership experience you’ve had? 2. What did you learn from that misstep? 3. What makes a great leader? Thank-you to everyone to happily got in front of the camera and shared their experiences 😊 Enjoy watching and comment below what about your experience(s). 🎥 @formedvisuals

“Can I see you in my office?” “Can we have a chat?” - Sound familiar? Queue anxiety or internal screaming perhaps? If you think your team gets nervous anytime you ask to speak to them it’s probably because you only talk to them when you have feedback to give. Build a healthy relationship with your team by talking to them every day- even a simple “Hey, what’s your day looking like today?” goes a long way. When you have rapport within your team not only does it make any type of feedback conversation a lot smoother, it also lessens the overdrive in your team’s minds when it’s not necessary. Healthy relationships in a team = a happy team. A happy team = happy clients/customers Happy clients/customers = a happy business.

Dancing into the weekend like 💃🏼 It’s been a huge week at @amywillisconsultancy - thanks for all the love and support. See you next week with another fun video and maybe even a giveaway- who wants to win a pair of socks? 🎥 @formedvisuals 💃🏼 @emmythies

In this episode of Dear Amy I’m answering two questions sent in from viewers: 1. Employees wanting their own Instagram accounts working in your business. 2. Employees feeling fatigue from constant organisation structure changes every 3-6 months. Enjoy, and as always if you have any workplaces questions you’d like answered, send them through 😊

Life’s too short to have an average workplace. #leadership #leadisaverb #puttingmybestfootforward #leadershipdevelopment #leadershiptraining #managementconsulting #teamwork

WHY SOCKS AND DANCING? I wanted to make my mark by creating a different and engaging campaign that made people smile. Socks- well who doesn’t love a great pair of socks? Not only are they practical, but it also pairs perfectly with my catchphrase of “putting your best foot forward”. Dancing- to show that leadership can (and should) be fun! The 6 different people in the video represent 6 different professions - which demonstrates that leadership isn’t just for corporate workplaces. Simply put, it’s all a beautiful combination of practicality and fun- which is what you can expect when you work with me. So, let’s do it! Put your best foot forward with @amywillisconsultancy - DM to see what workshop would suit you and your workplace best. 🎥 @formedvisuals 🕺🏿 @jones______

Put your best foot forward with @amywillisconsultancy

Special thanks to: 🎥 @formedvisuals @jessiebainbridge_ @cropt_ @paytonmade @bantercoffeekitchen @emmythies @tyethies @housetoowoomba @thejackjournal and Nate.

Everyone right now 😆 See you Monday.

Something is coming…watch this space. All will be revealed Monday morning 😎

The countdown is on, all will be revealed on Monday morning 🤩

😳 10 weeks left of 2021 😳 I’m a mixture of B and D - except I bought my own diary 😆 Which one are you?

ALL BUSINESS OWNERS MUST READ THIS. I just had a valuable reminder in how important it is to show up as your true self. I just finished a phone call with a (now) new client. When I enquired how she found me she shared that she has followed me on my personal Instagram and loves how I show up, and the dancing I do (if you follow me you know what she’s talking about 😆). My core values when it comes to leadership and my business are ‘Lead is a verb- it’s the things we do on a daily basis that bring our team along on the journey with us’, and ‘Refreshing- out with the stale, cocky and boring and in with the fresh, confident and fun to allow growth to flourish’. By me dancing, which is something that I’m terrible at but love, it created a positive impact for someone to go “I like the way they show up- I want to work with them”. Want to be a good leader? Start with being true to yourself. In honour of that, here is me dancing terribly to one of my sons favourite songs.

Back on deck after a beautiful family holiday (although never completely relaxing because of three very active boys 😆). Super excited for what’s to come this month: including Amy Willis Consultancy’s THIRD birthday 🥳 There are still a couple of spots left for this months workshop, happening on the 27th October, DM for more information 😊

Helpful hint for the day: think “What would Dwight do?”, and then do the exact opposite 😉

It’s great to know where you GLOW, but equally important to know where you need to GROW. Which one are you focusing on today?

Friday thoughts provided by @adamgrant 🙌🏼

Today I facilitated another successful ‘Lead is a Verb- The Workshop’, and here’s proof ⬆️ (Yep, that’s a feedback form already filled out from one of today’s workshop attendees). I genuinely love what I do. P.S. October workshop happening on Wednesday 27th October.

💥September workshop date: Tuesday 14th 💥 Let me help you put your best foot forward by supporting you in your leadership journey. I’ll educate you/your team on things like: - how to create and implement your own vision and values that mean something (not just act as wall stickers in your corporate office) - how you can create a workplace where you and your team: 💥 have clarity around their daily expectations 💥 understand how to intrinsically motivate yourself/themselves (trust me, you want this in your team) 💥 know why ‘time management’ is a load of crap (and something else more important to focus on instead) 💥 know how to partner with fear/lack confidence in leadership instead of letting it control you 💥and more Also, I feed you with the goods provided by @sweettalkcoffee and can guarantee you’ll leave the day feeling educated, empowered and exhausted all at the same time 😉 Head to my website for more info or send a DM.

In this clip of ‘Dear Amy’ I talk about what to do when your boss is an eternal pessimist. We can come across pessimists anywhere and believe this topic is relevant across all areas of our life. What are your thoughts?

In this video we talk about a topic that was sent in: “Older staff who are very patronising and dismissive of younger staff”. What are your thoughts or experiences with this in the workplace?

🦋 IVY Designer Collections 🦋 Client Spotlight. @ivydesignercollections is a beautiful boutique located in Toowoomba that not only stocks exquisite Australian and International labels, but also wants to make a positive impact in the fashion industry (including the people involved and the environment) by stocking ethically made items. Anna attended last months Lead is a Verb workshop and here’s what she had to say about it: “Being a new business owner, I have limited experience in key business skills like strategising and managing staff effectively. I found Amy’s workshop engaging and super helpful. With her guidance, I am now able to set strong foundations and structures within my business. It really opened my mind to what outcomes are possible with the right tools and strategies at your disposal. I felt so inspired and motivated to apply everything I learnt into action.” Thanks for your support Anna 🦋

Remember when you were a teen and you had your trusty printed magazines where you could write in to ask for advice about your all important and consuming life dramas? I have to admit I never actually wrote into one, but I certainly enjoyed reading the advice given out, so it got me thinking: “Would people benefit from a service like that, but within my scope of workplace engagement and leadership…” SO I GIVE YOU: Dear Amy. A place for you to send me your current workplace challenges where I can offer you my opinion on the matter. How will it work? 1. Send me your challenge via DM or click the link in my bio if you want to remain anonymous (it will take you to a Google form), or comment below. 2. Follow along on Instagram or Facebook for my weekly roundup where I’ll post a video about the requests that have come in (no names or organisations will be mentioned at any stage) 3. Share it with your friends if you think they would benefit from it 😊 Looking forward to hearing about your challenges and helping in any way I can 🤩

What a powerful visual about problem solving! If you struggle to see it from multiple perspectives I’ve found it helps to talk it out with your team. Happy Tuesday ⭐️ Image @newhappyco

🌟 RDS Farming - Client Spotlight 🌟 This is Matt Richards Director of RDS Farming located in Nobby. Matt is a graduate of the ‘Lead is a Verb’ workshop and gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. His key take-aways from the workshop was understanding how to find your vision and values, as well as learning about self-management. Today I had a follow up 1on1 with Matt and it was great to chat about what he’d implemented since the workshop last month, as well as give him more advice and support with his leadership journey. This workshop isn’t just for people sitting in a corporate office, it’s for everyone.

New Financial Year New Leadership Skills…sounds good to me! There are still some available spots for this month’s ‘Lead is a Verb- The Workshop’. Swipe across for more information 😊

Woah, this financial year was a big one full of lots of change. I’m taking a much needed break with my kids for the rest of the school holidays and will be back in the office Wednesday 14th July. Any DM’s/emails will be responded to then. See you when I’m a year older and wiser (for those playing at home my birthday is the 13th 😉)

Client spotlight: Amy, owner of @antara.studios - a beautiful light filled space dedicated to encouraging movement and mindfulness. Amy attended June’s ‘Lead is a Verb’ workshop and here’s what she had to say: “Amy, I was super impressed and thoroughly enjoyed the content of this workshop. As someone who has relatively little experience managing a large group of people, you certainly challenged some of my thought processes, opened my eyes to different perspectives and - yes- even inspired me to do better and be a better leader. Thank you, thank you, thank you”. If you are interested in learning more about July’s workshop, or want me to bring the workshop to your workplace please get in touch by emailing hello@amywillis.com.au 📸: @vuedigital

Michael Scott- providing the leadership goods; both in what to say and what not to say 🤣 I’d love to educate you on how you could lead a team that (might) result in them saying something like this 👆🏻- my next ‘Lead is a Verb- The Workshop’ is happening July 28th, DM for more information.

Styling a home is definitely not a strength of mine, however, I’m lucky enough that it comes naturally to one of my sisters. She turned this area in my home from dark and dysfunctional to bright and inviting. Why am I telling you about this? To remind you that we all have things we are naturally talented at- call them your strengths. Did you know that *”When employees are explicitly encouraged to use their talent in pursuit of a goal, individual engagement improves (from 9% to 15%) as does team performance and the company's business metrics as well.” I encourage you to look at your team differently; understand their individual strengths, and lead accordingly. (Swipe for messy ‘before’ photo) *Source: How a Focus on People's Strengths Increases Their Work Engagement, BY BRIAN J. BRIM, ED.D

Earlier this year I spent time with the team at @profilehairdesign_ as they engaged in ‘An Evergreen Customer Service Guide’ workshop. Here’s what they had to say about it; “As a business that strives on providing an exceptional customer experience, it was a no brainer that we work with Amy Willis Consultancy on ensuring we maintain our high standard of customer service. We recently completed Amy’s “An Evergreen Customer Service Guide” workshop and found it to be a fun, creative and most importantly, informative session. Our biggest takeaway from the workshop was defining our customers, what they expect from us as individuals and a team, and what we love to provide our customers. We would highly recommend Amy and her workshop to any business, regardless of whether you are a sole trader or a team of twenty.” Video: @jadecourtney_media

I refer to this book a lot when educating clients on how our amazing brain works, especially when it comes to putting off certain things - like important conversations with their team- because of how they feel, which normally makes situations worse. It’s so important to acknowledge the purpose and function of our amygdala, and how we can regain ‘control’ when it’s taken over unnecessarily. Enjoy listening to me read this book- I hope you learn something from it. 📖: Hey Warrior, by Karen Young

Happy first day of winter, not that you’d know it because of how beautiful it is in Toowoomba today. On the bottom floor of this building is @theworkquarter , and it’s where you’ll find me on my office days (which are predominantly Tuesday and Wednesday). It’s right in the heart of town and I love it ♥️

How much does it warm your heart when your kids are so excited to see you, even though you were only away from them for an hour while you had a meeting ♥️ This is how my youngest son just greeted me, and I just so happened to have the timer going on my camera (was trying to shoot some content for my business, but this shot is better I think 😊)

Focus on your breathing today 🌬 Image @thrive

In this episode we are looking at what engagement and enablement means and why you want to focus on both in your workplace.

Set yourself and your team up for success with: - clear communication - support and accountability - lunch breaks - training and development - a fun workplace Which one will you focus on today? 📸: @louisasorensen_photography

‘Sunday’s well spent bring a week of content’- that definitely resonates with me. This afternoon my family and I stumbled across J.E Duggan Park and walked one of the tracks, with this beautiful view of Table Top waiting for us at end. I can’t believe I’ve lived here my whole life and never known about this park. Ready for another great week, hope you are as well.

$5,000 Business Basics Grants 🙌🏼 Have you been wanting to engage in some training or coaching for your team but never had the $? Look into the Queensland Governments $5k Business Basics Grants. To make life a bit easier I’ve gone ahead and suggested a few options that you could use the $5k for- swipe across to see. Let’s chat about sending you a quote to put with your application. Tag a business you know that would benefit from this ♥️ (Head to the Queensland Government Business page to view eligibility criteria)

HAVE YOU HEARD? The Queensland Government have announced they will be taking applications for ‘Business Basics Grants’ as of 31st May, with successful applicants receiving $5,000 to fund one of five listed priorities- with training and coaching being number one 😊 If you would like a quote from Amy Willis Consultancy to put forward with your application please let me know. Head to business.qld.gov.au to view the finer details about the grant, including application guidelines and eligibility criteria.

What’s got me jumping for joy?! I finally received a digital copy of my testamur from my studies with @usqedu 🤩 In return of stress and late nights from studying while {trying} to still be a ‘good’ wife, mother of 3, and a business owner, I gained further knowledge and this important piece of paper. To those who are juggling ‘all the things’ and study, I know the feeling, and can assure you the finish line tastes sweet. This one’s going straight to the pool room!

Here’s a nifty graph that I’ve been using with clients for years. It helps explain how you, or your team, might be feeling at work, so you can understand how to support them best moving forward. What falls under engagement and enablement? Stay tuned for more on that during the week, but for now plot yourself on the graph and encourage your team to do the same.

Good morning 🤩 Are you ready to put your best foot forward and lead this week? I know I am. 🥳There are only TWO seats remaining for the next ‘Lead is a Verb - The Workshop’ 🥳 Swipe through to learn more, or send me a DM to put your name on a seat. Have a great week, and put on your walking shoes because #leadisaverb

Let’s talk about honesty. You’ve all heard the saying “Honesty is the best policy” yeah? Well, just as it serves you in your personal life it also serves you in your professional life. I know, I know, it seems like it’s EASIER to not be honest and just ignore an issue or challenge, or lie to team members for fear of hurting their feelings. But WHO is that actually helping in the long term? (Answer: NO ONE) Embrace honesty in your workplace; that’s where ownership, creativity and solution focused teams will thrive. Still afraid that you’re going to say the wrong thing when being honest with your team? Here’s some top tips: 1. Identify the issue/challenge at hand and explain it in a logical way (ie. what’s happened and what impact is it having on themselves/the team/the business). 2. Focus on your delivery- tone is everything. 3. Talk about a way to move forward and invite them to respond with their thoughts.

I love working with people on their leadership journey, regardless of if they’re experienced or new to their role. Connor and Dylan from @westridgemeats are new to leadership and we are one month into their 4 month ‘Lead is a Verb’ program. Today we worked through goal setting, and learnt about engagement + enablement.

🗓 Here’s the date for the next ‘Lead is a Verb- The Workshop’ : THURSDAY 10th JUNE. Swipe across to see what it’s all about 😊 This workshop sold out quickly last time so if you want your name on one the five spots let me know 🤩

@simonsinek hitting the nail on the head (as always). Happy Monday - have a great week ☀️

Happy Mother’s Day - whether you hold your children in your arms or in your hearts ♥️

Flashback to October 2018 when I met @emmaisaacs in Brisbane at a @businesschicks conference. I’d entered a competition to win a ticket to the two day event and won- much to my surprise. The idea of starting my own business had been bubbling away in my mind and I took winning a ticket to this event as another ‘sign’. And so Amy Willis Consultancy was born. Fast forward to now, that’s 2.5 years later, and I’m still kicking along. Lots of highs and lows, and a heck lot more to come 🙌🏼

👆🏻This is what the attendees from yesterday’s workshop are saying 👏🏻 Keen to catch the next workshop? Drop me a comment or DM me and I’ll make sure you’re on the list when I release the next workshop date. Or maybe you’re not from Toowoomba and are interested in a workshop being held in your neck of the woods...let’s chat about it ☺️

Today I hosted the first ‘Lead is a Verb - The Workshop’ and it was a great success. Thanks to those who attended 🙌🏼 What I always find interesting are the different things people choose as their key take-away’s. I’m really looking forward to spending one-on-one time with each attendee in the coming month to dive into how they can implement what they learnt today (which is part of the workshop package). I know A LOT of you have been interested in knowing when and where the next one will be so stay tuned!

What do you do to reset and recharge? This weekend we had a little beach escape and it was exactly what was needed. Ready for a busy week ahead, with my first workshop happening on Wednesday 🙌🏼

Having communication troubles with your team? In this video I explain what stops us from communicating and how we can start to be more effective with our communication. Enjoy, and as always; feel free to comment below with any questions or insights.

Welcome to leadership in 2021; where you don’t need fear and intimidation to lead (and thank goodness for that!)

Feeling a bit lost when it comes to communicating effectively? Fear not, another ‘Lead is a Verb’ tutorial video is going to be dropped later this week on this exact topic! 😊 Got any specific challenges around communication? Drop it in the comments and I’ll try my best to answer it in the video.

Did you catch the stories I did last week around what to do when you’re feeling flat in your workplace? Here’s a quick recap with a slower version saved in my ‘Top Tips’ highlight 😊

Starting the working week off with a bang with this testimonial from Luke and Michelle Jensen, owners of Westridge Meats and Meat Cellar - arguably Toowoomba's most well known and favoured butchers. We started working together in September last year and I've loved every minute of it. Luke and Michelle are a dynamic husband and wife team with big ideas and even bigger hearts. This is the final video in the testimonial series and I think you'll love it. Have a great week ahead! Thanks to @westridgemeats @meat.cellar Video: @jadecourtney_media

I’m not here to reinvent the wheel when it comes to leadership, in fact over the years I’ve found it’s the most simple practices, done well and consistently, that can turn workplaces around. Practice number one: Always say hello and goodbye to your team each work day. Start with the simple and go from there.