business mentoring Archives - Page 2 of 26

Navigating Your Company’s Culture Conundrum: Who (or What) Determines The Path to Success?

July 20, 2023 by Lisa Mininni Leave a Comment

Research suggests that the culture within a company plays a crucial role in determining its success or failure. However, the question arises: who is responsible for defining the company culture when it is unclear? The answer lies with both existing employees and new hires, as they collectively shape the culture through their behaviors and interactions.

Unfortunately, relying solely on observation to understand acceptable behavior within a company can be a hit-or-miss approach. This approach often leads to a revolving door of new hires, negatively impacting employee engagement and profitability. Recognizing this issue, we work with clients to not only intentionally identify key cultural alignment factors but also to understand the inherent traits of their teams.

Understanding the natural wiring of the team members is critical to the organization’s success as it significantly influences the company’s culture. As an example, one of our clients had a leadership team with two prevailing human wiring elements. Each senior leader possessed a strong sense of autonomy and urgency, leading them to be inclined to push themselves and others for immediate results, often creating unrealistic timeframes.

The impact of these common wiring elements on the organization was notable. The leaders’ inclination towards pushing for quick results resulted in employees realizing that their greatest rewards came from delivering outcomes rapidly. Unfortunately, this led to a lack of collaboration among departments, with individuals making independent decisions to achieve their desired results.

Consequently, the company’s autonomous and results-driven leadership team found themselves operating in an environment that was far from ideal in terms of productivity and profitability. The absence of inter and intra-departmental collaboration often led to rework and hasty decisions made in isolation.

Fortunately, we helped the client swiftly recognize the influence of their team’s natural wiring on shaping the company culture. By raising awareness of this impact, we were able to implement leadership development tools, establish a cultural framework, and implement processes that aligned with their stated values and demonstrated those values in action.

When a company is clear on its key cultural alignment factors and understands how its team’s natural wiring influences the work environment, it can address the root causes of cultural misalignment, enhance team productivity, and improve overall company performance.

Invitation

If you’re inspired to build an effective team that is excited about the work they do, join us for Wired to Win 101: How Are You Hardwired on August 4, 2023.

You’ll not only expand your capacity as a leader by understanding your own wiring, but you’ll learn ways to engage others based on their wiring. If you’re inspired to become masterful in understanding human wiring, start by registering today for:

Wired to Win: How Are You Hardwired?
Friday, August 4, 2023 from 8:30 – 1 pm. Join us online or onsite in Livonia, Michigan.

The Power of Tailored Communication

July 13, 2023 by Lisa Mininni Leave a Comment

When it comes to introducing new products, delivering services, or launching a new business line, it’s important to remember that research shows change initiatives have a failure rate ranging from 50 to 70 percent. One significant factor contributing to this high failure rate is the manner in which these changes are communicated.

Effective communication can be challenging, particularly because people have different preferences for receiving information. However, by tailoring your communication to suit the recipient’s preferred style, you significantly increase the chances of your message being received and understood. Whether you’re launching a book, communicating to a prospect, presenting to an investor, or coaching your own team, delivering your communication to their preferences is key to successfully launching a new project, gaining support for a product, providing your service, or enrolling others in an idea.

The secret to effectively implement any initiative and enroll others is in paying attention to how people are naturally wired. This is an aspect that leaders often overlook, but it is essential for success. Each individual has their own innate preferences for giving and receiving information, which remain with them throughout their lifetime. By understanding and acknowledging these preferences, you can deliver information in a way that resonates with the recipient.

When information is presented in the recipient’s preferred format, it has a lasting impact. The key is to pay attention to the subtle cues individuals provide, allowing you to tailor your delivery to match their preferred style.

The format you choose to communicate your message effectively depends on your audience. For example, I once had a client who was frustrated because although she was generating leads, she struggled to close deals. Her approach involved providing a wealth of detailed information, as she believed that more information would be better.

However, this approach did not resonate with her ideal clients. Her company attracted individuals who preferred concise bullet points and wanted to hire her company to complete services they didn’t want to do themselves. As it turned out, she was overwhelming her potential clients with excessive information, simply because she had a personal preference for it. Once she began to notice the cues from those who preferred a summary sheet format, she adjusted her approach accordingly. The results were remarkable—she successfully closed 100 percent of her clients for three consecutive months by delivering information in a concise summary sheet format.

There are numerous benefits to tailoring your communication to match the recipient’s preferences.

If you’re writing a book, understanding human wiring helps you to keep in mind how to format your book so that readers of all preferences remain engaged.
If you’re leading a team, understanding human wiring promotes successful project implementation.
If you’re trying to sell your products or services, knowing human wiring results in increased sales closures.
If you’re a speaker, you can learn how to leave the audience satisfied and wanting more.

If you’re inspired to become masterful in understanding human wiring, I invite you to join us for

Wired to Win: How Are You Hardwired?

Join us online or onsite.

Your Authentic Speaker Style

June 1, 2023 by Lisa Mininni Leave a Comment

When I first started my business, I thought it would be easy to speak in front of others. After all, I had been doing it my entire life.

Yet, I wasn’t seeing the results. While I had good feedback, I had limited leads. So I would try different presentation styles and techniques taught by the most respected speakers. I attended training sessions and personal development classes.

Some of it worked.
Some of it didn’t.
Some of it didn’t feel authentic.

Then, I realized, certain distinctions that made a world of difference. I discovered the system of presenting. After this discovery, it all came together like a beautifully choreographed dance.

I also realized the time when I shifted from the student to the mentor. I had a respected colleague who also spoke in front of audiences and asked for my input. She was speaking to a group of engineers many of them were Internal Thinkers. Typically, there would be a long pause before they responded to questions.

She was wired as an External Thinker. She internally wanted immediate verbal feedback from her audience. If she didn’t get it, her internal response would be to try harder sometimes by repeating herself. Since the majority of her audience learned best by thinking about things, we discussed a number of engagement activities that would work most optimally.

She listened and implemented everything we discussed. She also recognized when her own neurological response to long pauses from the audiences was pinging her negatively. After the speaking engagement, she shared that she got one of the highest ratings of any speaker.

After sharing this case study with another colleague, he recognized his own need for acknowledgement. When he presented in class, he recognized that not everyone was responding as soon as he asked a question. He was uncomfortable with the pregnant pause.

He realized that he wasn’t doing anything wrong, rather his audience just needed a minute to think about their answers before responding. As a presenter, he realized that he just needed to manage his natural response for instant feedback and instead hold the space for others to think through their ideas. As a speaker, it was the highest form of honoring his audience members.

This is where your Authentic Speaking Style resides. When you understand your innate human wiring and use engagement approaches that work best for you and others, you set up an environment where everyone benefits.

Whether you’re addressing corporate investors, training, or speaking at a conference, presenting takes know how. Presenting authentically takes insight and development.

If you are committed to elevating your presentation skills to make the most of every opportunity, I invite you to join us for Speaker Lab on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 with online feedback sessions on July 11 and July 18, 2023.

This interactive practicum is for you if you are inspired to….

➥ Tap into Your Authentic Speaker Style – Connect with your audience authentically based on your own human wiring. The techniques that work for one speaker may not work for you. You’ll leave knowing how to align your presentation with your Authentic Speaker Style. You’ll take your human wiring assessment so you know how to effectively present in a way that resonates with your innate genuine style.

➥ Be A Confident, Commanding Presence – Capture your audience’s attention in the first few seconds of every presentation. Most importantly, establish a commanding confidence with every venue you walk into.

➥ Set the Stage – Authentically connect with your audience, ground yourself as a speaker, and tap into your personal experiences to use them as teachable moments and engage your audience with ease.

➥ Design Key Talking Points – Never search for words again. You’ll design talking points for your presentation or any time you’re presenting in front of others. Ground yourself in a speaking framework that works to answer any question succinctly and clearly.

➥ Discover an Effective Reverse-Engineer-Your-Presentation Framework – that shows you how to:

• Strategically formulate and map any presentation for optimum results
• Outline and organize your key messages
• Engage your audience with authenticity and grace whether you are speaking online or onsite

As soon as you register, we will schedule your Welcome Strategy Call. We’ll discuss the main skills you want to hone during this cohort. You will also take your own human wiring assessment so that we get to the root of your Authentic Speaker Style.

When: Tuesday, June 13, 2023 from 9-5 pm Eastern Time
Two online feedback sessions: July 11 and July 18, 2023 12-1:30 pm Eastern TIme
If you’re out of town, feel free to join us online for all three sessions. Our 360 hybrid camera, gives you the experience of being in the room.

Please note that because of the interactive practice sessions with each attendee, seating is limited. Registration will close on Friday, June 9 or when all the seats are filled whichever comes first. Please register at: https://www.excellerateassociates.com/speaker-lab

What Is Your Market Telling You?

May 11, 2023 by Lisa Mininni Leave a Comment

The market and how people respond to it can be a finicky element that can make or break any company. While it’s important to keep your pulse on your market, it’s just more important to apply what the market is telling you by using innovative ways to address it.

In December 2017, I purchased a building that was vacant for over 7.5 years. It was a total gut job. Exterior painting, 6 new HVAC units, drywall, flooring, parking lot and roofing repairs and décor. I had only two months to get the first half of the building completed because the lease on my previous office was expiring.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a general contractor to return my calls. However, with the help of referrals from a nearby building owner, I was able to put his team of trades to work at a time when his projects were slowing down. Within two months, we had conferencing facilities holding up to 50, coworking offices as well as private suites.

The Problem

The problem was that for over a year, I couldn’t find a tenant for three suites. These three suites could be combined or leased out individually.

In January 2020, the pandemic happened and I had more people asking about coworking private offices. At the time, I remembered the best advice I received from a colleague, Lynn Drake of Compass Commercial, who coincidentally was my broker for the building. I remember her words like it was yesterday. “Lisa, pay attention to what your market is telling you.”

You see, I discovered a balance. I had a dream of this coworking and conference facility for small business, and I could still accomplish it if I was flexible and paid attention to what the market was telling me.

The Solution

I converted one of the vacant private suites fitting four coworking offices into it. Before they were built, I had coworking members who wanted them full time. Did I necessarily plan to add another coworking suite? No, but the market was showing me the demand.

While our market for coworking continues to be professional services companies, the market in a post-pandemic world is showing demand for both small office suites and coworking options. Additionally, corporations are adding stipends for coworking as a way to keep or attract high-performance talent who can’t or otherwise don’t want to work from home.

We also ended up with a hybrid facility that offers conferencing facilities, coworking and private suites as well as business and leadership mentoring through Excellerate Associates. It’s a one-stop destination for business innovation.

I invite you to consider how you can strengthen or reinvent your company when the market shifts by asking yourself:

1. What is the market telling you and how will you address it?

2. Are trends forecasting growth for your industry? If yes, how will you distinguish yourself from the growing competition and what will be the impact on your company? If trends are not forecasting growth, what could you shift in your business model to sustain your business through the market shift?

3. How can you use your assets differently perhaps serving a slightly different market while leveraging what you already built?

Invitation

If you want to stand out from the rest who offer similar products and services, I invite you to register for:

Create Your Signature Program 0n Thursday-Friday, May 18-19, 2023

PLEASE REGISTER HERE

Scale Your Offerings

April 27, 2023 by Lisa Mininni Leave a Comment

This past week, I had the pleasure of leading a new cohort of business owners at our Wake Up Profitable Boot Camp to scale their business. By working through our proprietary system, they created openings by revealing their limiting beliefs, clarified their ideal clients, and shifted the way they support their business model.

We also looked at how to distinguish their business from all others who have similar products and services. It is always fascinating to watch how their signature asset gets birthed.

You may not realize it, but your company has a signature asset that defines your approach, process, product, or model so that it is easily understood. Yet, many business professionals don’t take the time to define it, design it and market it.

However, when you integrate your signature asset through your marketing, your prospects quickly understand what you do, making it easier to do business with you. You also create a higher perceived value because you can ensure its implementation.

Creating a signature program is important for a number of reasons:

1. Establishing expertise: A signature program can help establish your company as the go-to resource by showcasing your unique approach.

2. Consistency: By having a signature program, you can ensure that your content and services are consistent and aligned with your brand messaging.

3. Marketing: A signature program can also serve as a powerful marketing tool to differentiate yourself from competitors and attract new clients or customers.

4. Increased revenue: A well-designed signature program can lead to increased revenue streams, as clients or customers may be more likely to purchase a package or ongoing services related to the program.

5. Efficiency: A signature program can help streamline your business processes and make it easier to scale your offerings.

Overall, creating a signature program can help you establish credibility, differentiate your company from competitors, and increase revenue while also improving efficiency and consistency in your business.

Reminder

If you see value in distinguishing your company from others who have similar products and services and develop the sales process to increase the lifetime value of each customer or client, register today for:
Create Your Signature Program
May 18-19, 2023

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