Double take

Ken Wright and Amanda Gore are a dynamic duo that work in tandem to help business professionals around the globe to be more successful. This husband and wife team work with business owners to achieve maximum productivity within their workplace, improve leadership qualities and boost profitability. Both Australians Ken and Amanda have returned home, residing in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast. Local businesses now have the opportunity to learn from two globally recognised industry leaders in their own backyard.

Ken began his remarkable career in Australia’s Westpac Bank at age 16. Starting as a teller he was soon promoted to be the youngest Westpac bank manager of his time, continuing on to become CEO of Westpac Financial Services in 1993. Under his leadership profits grew 425% whilst customer and staff satisfaction increased from around 60% to the high 90 percentile range. In the year 2000 Ken joined the team at Aussie Home Loans. As an executive he used his leadership qualities and implemented his strategic planning expertise to generate profitability and expand the business far exceeding management’s expectations. In 2004, after marrying Amanda, Ken left Australia to move to Dallas.

Ken currently helps business owners and leaders who want to make significant differences in their workplace, by developing strategic planning and people skills focusing on execution and aiding in the creation of an implementation plan. Like Amanda he also stresses the critical importance of engaging your team. Once employees and leaders are committed they can begin working together to achieve the organisations goals.

“In this day and age showing your team that they are cared for and valued is extremely important, engaging them is the number one thing leaders can do no matter what the generation: Boomers, X, Y, or Z!,” says Ken. “Be innovative in your recognition, it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.”

Team synergy helps create a re-energised approach to business and allows more time to focus on engaging customers. Customer engagement is of paramount importance as it helps business owners increase referrals dramatically by turning prospective customers into customers and clients into raving advocates.

Since he has been back in Australia Ken continues to work with his international clients whilst building his consultancy Engage4Results. This business conducts workshops and coaching services incorporating some of the principles discussed by Amanda to promote the importance of inspiring staff and preventing disengagement amongst employees.

“There are a number of simple things that people can do to inspire staff… that 99% of leaders do not do, because they feel it’s not worth the time and effort,” explains Ken. “I can assure them that taking on some simple practices will have a profound impact on morale, motivation and engagement … as well as results.”

Launching her speaking career more than twenty years ago Amanda Gore teaches people the skills to lead and get the best out of their career and life. She emphasizes the benefits of forming good connections and has worked with professionals across a wide variety of industries including finance, healthcare, technology and real estate as well as insurance, hospitality and retail. With a degree in physiotherapy a major in psychology and expertise in occupational health, neurolinguistics and group dynamics this woman was just inducted into the speaker hall of fame in the U.S.A.

She helps audiences by explaining how to change perceptions, build relationships and manage stress caused from hectic business schedules. Stress in our working lives often filters over into our personal life throwing out the delicate balance we have developed between the two. Amanda teaches audiences the importance of emotional intelligence and how to apply it to their lives. Emotional intelligence is about understanding yourself, managing yourself and managing relationships. By communicating effectively in personal and working relationships people are able to talk to one another instead of at each other, reducing stress and developing close knit teams.

“People with high emotional intelligence are able to build better relationships, this is the secret to success at work and home, leaders with emotional intelligence are better communicators and can build emotional connections more effectively,” Amanda explains.

Both Ken and Amanda create balance between their personal and working life by applying the strategies they preach in their careers. Setting goals and remaining focused has lead Ken to complete five marathons amongst other great personal achievements. Amanda loves her work so much she finds balance in learning and research.

“We can all become extremely passionate about what we do and not see it as work, we really need to ensure that we remember how to switch off and have some fun time!” says Ken.

Ken and Amanda collaborate with each other to achieve great results in both their working and personal life. Forming an unstoppable team, its evident these two mean business. Ken says Amanda is an amazing keynote speaker who connects with people and inspires them to action. Amanda has noticed a need for someone like Ken to coach the leaders amongst the audience at the conferences she speaks at.

“He really is the people whisperer, after working with Ken people transform the way they lead,” Amanda says.

Making great leaders themselves Ken and Amanda speak from a wealth of knowledge and experience. Both state that the first step to becoming a great leader is knowing yourself and managing your moods. By developing your emotional intelligence, changing your perceptions and applying this to your workplace you will engage your team and achieve better results together. Amanda gives us some insight into what she considers important leadership qualities.

“Acknowledge people and listen to them, practice humility, generosity and emotional intelligence and look for the best in people,” Amanda suggests.

After talking to Ken and Amanda it’s easy to understand why they’re developing business leaders around the world. Take some leadership tips from them and watch the transformation of you and your team. With such a long list of achievements, incredible business prowess and winning personalities this team would make anyone double take.

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