Lisa Mininni, Author at Excellerate Associates

From Miscommunication to Mastery: A Manager’s Human Wiring Epiphany

October 3, 2024 by Lisa Mininni Leave a Comment

Jessica had been a manager for over ten years, and she prided herself on her ability to lead teams and drive results. Her department consistently hit their targets, but there was always an underlying frustration gnawing at her—her staff just didn’t seem to “get” her directions. No matter how clear she thought she was, she often found herself dealing with missed deadlines, misinterpretations, and incomplete tasks.

“It’s like I’m speaking another language,” she would tell herself, feeling frustrated after yet another team meeting where her ideas didn’t seem to land.

She believed that the issue was with her staff. If they couldn’t follow simple instructions, maybe they weren’t fit for the job. Jessica grew more and more frustrated. In private conversations, she confided to her peers that perhaps she just had a team that wasn’t cut out for the level of execution she needed. Yet, even as she voiced these concerns, something didn’t sit right.

One day, she attended a leadership development seminar where the speaker introduced a concept that would change everything: Human Wiring as a Leadership Superpower. The speaker explained that every person is wired differently in how they process information, make decisions, and take action. Jessica sat forward in her seat as she realized this was about more than just communication styles—it was about recognizing and adapting to the inherent differences in how people are wired to function.

The light bulb went off.

It wasn’t that her staff didn’t understand her directions; it was that she hadn’t been speaking to them in a way that resonated with their individual wiring. Some team members were more methodical and needed step-by-step details to feel confident about a task, while others thrived on big-picture thinking and could feel stifled by too many instructions. Some of her employees needed more details, while others were action-oriented and craved a faster pace.

Jessica realized that she had been delivering the same message to everyone, expecting the same results, regardless of their wiring. Her “one-size-fits-all” approach was the problem—not her team.

Excited and slightly humbled, Jessica returned to work with a new mindset. She began observing her staff, learning their natural tendencies, and paying attention to how they responded to different types of instructions. In team meetings, she started tailoring her message. For the members who were more sequential, she provided clear, detailed breakdowns. For the team members who didn’t need a lot of information, she gave them bullet pointed outcomes. For the relational ones, she gave them time to discuss and connect with others before making decisions.

The results were astonishing. Tasks that had once stalled suddenly flowed smoothly. Communication breakdowns decreased, and her team felt more empowered to take ownership of their work. Jessica saw the immediate impact of aligning her leadership with her team’s wiring.

But beyond just productivity, something even more powerful happened: her relationships with her team deepened. They felt seen and valued for who they were, not just for their ability to execute tasks. Jessica’s leadership style evolved from being directive to truly collaborative, and her staff responded with newfound enthusiasm.

Reflecting on her journey, Jessica realized that understanding human wiring had given her the key to unlock her team’s potential. It wasn’t about pushing them harder—it was about meeting them where they were wired to be their best. What started as a leadership frustration had turned into her greatest leadership strength.

Jessica’s story is a testament to the power of understanding human wiring and how it can transform not only productivity but also relationships within a team.

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Ready to scale and systematize your business and learn how to align your team? Join us at the Wake Up Profitable Boot Camp – October 21-22, 2024. LEARN MORE.

The Ripple Effect Scaling Can Have on Your Company

September 26, 2024 by Lisa Mininni Leave a Comment

As businesses experience early success, it’s natural for leaders to start thinking about growth and expansion. The idea of scaling—growing operations and revenue to new heights—can be enticing, especially when the company is performing well. But scaling isn’t just about riding the wave of short-term success. It requires a deeper level of preparation and infrastructure.

Becoming “scalable ready” means that a company is positioned to expand its operations and significantly increase revenue. However, many business leaders mistakenly believe that a few months of increased business and solid cash flow indicate scalability readiness.

When sales are consistently rising, it can be tempting to scale based on optimistic projections. But if those sales don’t materialize as quickly as expected, or the market takes an unexpected turn, you may find yourself burdened with more overhead than you can sustain.

Moreover, sales growth directly impacts other areas, particularly operations. For instance, a surge in sales can strain back-office processes if your systems are still manual. Attempting to scale without addressing these inefficiencies can lead to bottlenecks, missed deadlines, and frustrated customers.

One example of the ripple effect scaling can have is when a company scales up production to meet growing demand without considering its customer service capacity. The increase in orders might require additional support from customer service teams, but if they aren’t equipped to handle the higher volume, response times will suffer, and customer satisfaction will decline. This could lead to negative reviews, decreased loyalty, and ultimately, lower future sales—effectively undoing the growth you worked so hard to achieve.

Before acting on your desire to scale, it’s crucial to plan carefully. Scaling affects every area of your business, from employee relations to customer service. Without a thoughtful, integrated approach, you risk unintended consequences that could hinder long-term growth instead of supporting it.

What is one action you can take this week to work toward being scalable ready?

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To be scalable ready and get the support necessary, register for the Wake Up Profitable Master Class and/or put your application in for our Profitability Lab or Project Lab Mentoring and Coaching Programs below:

1. Wake Up Profitable – October 21-22, 2024. Walk out with your Blueprint to Scale and learn how to align your team by understanding human wiring. Learn ways to systematize for efficiency, and be coached through ways to expand your revenue streams through our live Coaching Labs done right in this master class. Registration ends Friday, October 11, 2024.
LEARN MORE AND RESERVE YOUR SPOT

2. Profitability Lab – The Profitability Lab by Excellerate Associates is a coaching and mentoring program for small business owners that want to scale and systematize their business. It’s an integrative program with practical, aligned, and actionable steps to be implemented that make a real-world difference for your company. LEARN MORE AND APPLY

3. Project Lab – The Project Lab by Excellerate Associates is a coaching and mentoring program and best suited for start ups or professionals with a project to complete within 12 months. Receive expert coaching to advance your company and your leadership. LEARN MORE

About Excellerate Associates

Our Labs are led by entrepreneurs with real-world experience running businesses and experts at leading groups. We are dedicated to ensuring you get a return on your investment and have carefully crafted our processes to ensure you have expert support in your entrepreneurial journey.

Master Class on Scaling Your Business October 21-22, 2024

September 19, 2024 by Lisa Mininni Leave a Comment

🌟 Exciting news….

Excellerate Associates is hosting it’s Wake Up Profitable Boot Camp on Monday-Tuesday, October 21-22, 2024 with our sponsors and strategic partners: Great Lakes Women’s Business Council, Greater Farmington Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Business Innovation Lab CoWorking & Conference Center.

If you’re looking to scale up, develop recurring revenue streams, while making your company more efficient, this Master Class delivers that and more.

In this hands-on class, you will:

💡 Experience Fresh Perspectives: Get ready for out-of-the-box thinking in ways to scale and systematize. With our systems approach, you will become laser focused.

🧠 Receive Tailored Expertise: This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. With your human wiring assessment, we will know the best way to structure your Goals in alignment with how you naturally execute. Further, we show you how to build your team and the talent you need to reach your goals.

📈 Walk Out with your Blueprint to Scale. With our hands-on coaching sessions, you don’t have to figure out your business model or expanded revenue streams yourself. We coach you in the session so you see your plan come alive right before your eyes.

🚫 Reset your Mindset: Life is full of challenges, but with empowering beliefs, you build on your leadership. You no longer see obstacles as insurmountable; instead, they become stepping stones to your goals. In this resetting, you will learn to build in resilience. You become more adaptable and bounce back from setbacks because you’ll learn leadership distinctions to work through those challenges with grace and ease. You’ll release self-imposed set points and begin exploring new levels you might not think were possible. You think bigger than ever.

If you’re eager to take your business to the next level and want to experience the outcomes that come from a tight-knit collective of high-achieving professionals, take inspired action today to reserve your spot:

When: October 21-22, 2024 8:30 am – 6 pm
Where: Excellerate Associates – Business Innovation Lab CoWorking & Conference Center Livonia, MI 48150
Register by Friday, Oct 11, 2024 at:
https://www.excellerateassociates.com/wake-up-profitable-boot-camp
Your Human Wiring Assessment and Private One-On-One Strategy Call included in tuition.

Leadership: If We Choose to Learn

September 11, 2024 by Lisa Mininni Leave a Comment

I vividly remember 9/11. I’m sure you do, too.

I didn’t own my businesses yet. I was a corporate executive.

That morning, one of my team members came into my office to suggest I go into the conference room.
Staff members were upset that a plane hit a building in New York.

We were in Michigan.
I was confused but walked down the hall to see what was happening.

As I entered the conference room, people pointed to the TV with concern on their faces.
In that moment, I asked what was going on just to witness the second plane hit the tower.
Although I saw LIVE TV on the news screen, I asked if this was live or a recording of what just happened.

Not one person responded.
Stunned silence.
Everyone was processing.

In that moment realizing I just witnessed the second plane going through the Trade Center Tower in New York.
I turned my eyes to the conference window, wondering if there were more planes coming our way.

I remember looking at the sky, listening intently for an airplane engine.
I was responsible for thousands of employees across the state wondering what to do next.

I was lost for words.
Lost in what to do.
Lost in the unbelievability of it.

In that moment, I felt vulnerable.
Scared.
Confused.

The weight of the event hit me like a ton of bricks.
It took days and weeks of navigating the unknown.
Listening to the deafening silence as all air traffic ceased.

Collectively, our vulnerability was revealed.

And, in that vulnerability…
we grieved.
we honored heros.
we persevered.

We were strengthened in many ways.
I was strengthened in many ways.

And, collectively, we were changed.

Forever.

As leaders, let us remember…
our humanness to adapt,
our power to overcome, and, most importantly,
our capacity to be better than we were yesterday.

Each circumstance allows us to learn
if we choose to learn the lesson.

By: Lisa Mininni

Lisa Mininni is President of Excellerate Associates and Founder, Business Innovation Lab CoWorking & Conference Center.

An Epic Fail Tale: Turning an Obstacle into an Opportunity

August 29, 2024 by Lisa Mininni Leave a Comment

When it comes to epic fails, I’ve had a few. Maybe more than a few.

When I was renovating my building, which became the Business Innovation Lab, there was a lot to renovate.

6 HVAC units
4 new toilets and sinks
Over 100 new lights
New paint inside and out for all 8100 square feet.
New flooring
Drywall
Signage inside and out
Doors and hardware
Kitchen and plumbing
Roofing to repair

And, the things I didn’t think of.
Issues I didn’t know about.
Compliance I didn’t consider.
Code requirements I didn’t factor in.

This was my first time renovating a building.
It happens.
Unexpected things come up.

And, at the end of renovations, I had a to furnish it.
By this time, the budget was blown.

So how do I get furniture and accessorize
without blowing the budget more?

Time to get creative.
I put the word out to anyone who was getting rid of furniture.

Then, I got a lead about a company literally throwing away
commercial-grade furniture.
Commercial-grade. Furniture.

I rallied my team to pick up the furniture.
It (the furniture) wasn’t always pretty, but I could see beyond the ugly.

Consistent with our value around sustainability and with some fabric paint and wood stain, we refurbished a lot.
Frames, pictures, mirrors, and plant stands.
We even renewed a set of table and chairs.

Would it have nice to have brand new?
Of course!

But, now, we have interesting stories to tell about transforming obstacles into opportunities.

How have you turned an obstacle into an opportunity?
I would love to hear your story.

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