Leadership

The Inner Game of Leadership: How Omar L. Harris Leads with Intention, Clarity, and Courage

By: Pam Perry

Leadership isn’t just about position—it’s often about presence and purpose. It’s rarely about barking orders—more often, it’s about aligning your inner compass when the pressure hits. And few embody that philosophy as effectively as Omar L. Harris—a globally respected Executive Success Coach, bestselling author, Managing Partner of Intent Consulting, and one of LinkedIn’s Premier Voices in Leadership.

He’s a J.E.D.I. leadership strategist—Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion—not because it’s trendy, but because it’s widely regarded as essential. Omar helps leaders develop tools to build high-performance cultures, engage with empathy, and lead with intention—even in the toughest moments. And as his own journey reveals, those moments don’t wait for you to be ready.

Watch Omar’s speaker reel now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5ELZrOCYeY

When Crisis Becomes the Classroom

Let’s rewind to a defining moment in Omar’s leadership journey.

In 2007, he found himself sitting in a massive ballroom filled with 10,000 customers, flanked by his leadership team. It was supposed to be a celebratory industry event. Instead, it turned into a challenging situation. A speaker took the stage and, in front of thousands, publicly dismantled Omar’s product. No warning. No counterpoint. Just ten minutes of brand damage.

Shock. Embarrassment. Disbelief.

What followed was silence. No rebuttal. No redemption. Just fallout.

As the session ended, Omar walked out of that ballroom, his team in tow. They looked to him—nervous, uncertain, waiting for direction. And that was the moment. The moment where many leaders would freeze, deflect, or implode.

But Omar didn’t.

He delivered one simple, yet powerful directive:

“Keep your heads up. Don’t commiserate. Engage positively. Listen with empathy. And most importantly, get our customers to the event tonight. That’s our chance to share our story.”

That message, grounded in clarity, self-awareness, and strategy, appears to have changed everything.

One year later, his company posted 40% growth, even as the rest of the industry saw a 28% decline.

How? Because he led from within. Omar had developed a mastery of the inner game of leadership.

The Inner Game: Leadership from the Inside Out

Most people think leadership begins with a title, a strategy, or a quarterly plan. Omar teaches a different perspective. It starts before you ever open your mouth. It starts with how you think, how you process, and how you choose to show up.

In his words, “If you can’t control your own narrative, you’ll rarely control the narrative of your organization.”

That means managing your energy before managing a crisis. It means leading your thoughts before leading your team.

In that critical post-ballroom moment, Omar didn’t have a script, but he had clarity. He knew his values. He knew what was at stake. And he chose to anchor himself—and his team—in that knowledge.

That’s the inner game. It’s particularly important for a CEO.

Clarity Over Chaos

In a noisy world obsessed with hustle, Omar teaches that clarity can be the ultimate leadership edge.

It’s not found in doing more—it’s found in being still, tuning out the static, and tapping into purpose. Clarity can help a leader make quick, aligned decisions under pressure. It communicates strength without shouting. It creates calm amidst chaos.

And most importantly? It’s contagious.

When leaders are reactive, teams often spiral. But when leaders are grounded and intentional? Teams tend to rise.

“The story you tell yourself shapes the energy you bring,” Omar says. “And your energy is what others follow.”

The Inner Game of Leadership: How Omar L. Harris Leads with Intention, Clarity, and Courage — Photo Courtesy: Robin Gamble Photography

Leadership by Design, Not Default

Omar’s approach to leadership is rooted in presence and intention. It’s not about grandstanding. It’s about being fiercely aware of the moment—and deciding who you want to be in it.

He doesn’t coach leaders to be perfect. He coaches them to be conscious.

That’s why his firm, Intent Consulting, focuses on high-impact strategies for improving employee experience and supporting performance potential at every level of the organization.

Omar’s tools aren’t hypothetical. They’re field-tested, soul-centered, and backed by real-world results.

The Blueprint for Leadership Mastery

Omar L. Harris isn’t just a coach—he’s a thought leader with a pen.

His books read like a masterclass in modern leadership. For example, The J.E.D.I. Leader’s Playbook was named one of Kirkus Reviews’ Best Indie Books of 2024.

Each of his books offers a different lens on how to serve, grow, and empower from the inside out:

Be a J.E.D.I. Leader, Not a Boss
The Servant Leader’s Manifesto
Leader Board: The DNA of High-Performance Teams
Leading Change: The 4 Keys
Hire the Right W.H.O.M.
The J.E.D.I. Leader’s Playbook

Whether you’re navigating organizational change, trying to build team trust, or seeking a more inclusive leadership model, Omar has written extensively on these topics—literally.

All titles are available in print, eBook, and audiobook on Amazon.