leadership training Archives - Excellerate Associates

Are You Operating on Autopilot?

March 6, 2025 by Lisa Mininni Leave a Comment

The first time I met the CEO of a rapidly growing company, I listened—not just to his words, but to the cues of his human wiring.

As he shared about his business, I quickly discerned that he was someone who liked to act on his own ideas, thrived on verbal communication, juggled multiple tasks, and preferred a loosely structured work environment.

Curious about his company’s growth, I asked if things were slipping through the cracks. His immediate response? “Yes.” I continued with a series of targeted questions, each met with the same realization. Finally, he paused and asked, “How did you know?”

The answer is simple: When you understand how people are wired—how they process information, make decisions, and respond under pressure—you can anticipate challenges before they arise. And when you communicate in a way that aligns with their natural wiring, it’s the highest form of respect and connection.

In fast-growing companies, human wiring becomes amplified under pressure. If not managed, it influences everything—from decision-making to team dynamics to company culture. Many people unknowingly operate on autopilot, only to wonder why they aren’t achieving their desired results.

When you understand human wiring, you can put the right systems, leadership distinctions, and teams in place to achieve success a lot easier.

Invitation to Elevate Your Leadership

If you’re inspired to harness human wiring for transformative results, join us in the upcoming Excellerate Associates Master Class:

Wired to Win: Your Path to Passion, Purpose, and Prosperity March 27-28, 2025
Join us online or onsite in Livonia, Michigan

🔹 Unlock Ways to Amplify Your Strengths – Discover how your innate wiring influences your decisions, relationships, and business outcomes—and learn how to align it with your true purpose for unstoppable success.

🔹 Master the Science of Peak Performance – Identify how to work with your wiring instead of against it, so you can eliminate resistance, reduce burnout, and accelerate results with ease.

🔹 Expand Your Leadership Capacity – Learn how to effectively lead, delegate, and empower others by leveraging their strengths and working through them to drive greater impact.

Register: https://www.excellerateassociates.com/wired-to-win
Dates: March 27-28, 2025
Tuition: Pay in Full Early Tuition and 3 Easy Installments available

Wired to Win: Inspire Others Into Action – Reduce Turnover – Become an Effective Leader

February 20, 2025 by Lisa Mininni Leave a Comment

Have you ever been in a meeting and one person monopolized the conversation where others had great ideas but never shared them?

One of the biggest challenges professionals face in meetings is creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their perspectives and ideas. Often, this happens because we overlook a key factor—how different people are wired to process and communicate information.

Take the Internal Thinker, for example. These individuals are naturally introspective and logical. In group settings—especially when discussing new topics—they tend to stay quiet, not because they don’t have valuable insights, but because they prefer to process information before speaking.

So how do you ensure an Internal Thinker actively contributes? The answer is simple: send an agenda in advance.

Since Internal Thinkers like to reflect before sharing, giving them a clear agenda with discussion topics ahead of time allows them to prepare their thoughts. When they have the opportunity to process information beforehand, their participation in meetings becomes more meaningful and impactful.

By understanding and adapting to different communication styles, you create a space where everyone can contribute at their best. It’s a small shift that leads to more engaging, productive, and effective meetings.

I have hundreds of case studies in how business professionals reduced turnover from 99% to 0 in 3 months or how they increased sales 90% in 30 days by learning how human wiring works.

That’s exactly what we’ll dive into at Excellerate Associates’ Wired to Win: Your Path to Passion, Purpose, and Prosperity. This isn’t just another leadership seminar. It’s an experiential master class where you’ll step into live role-play exercises that show you—in real time—how to transform communication, build confidence, and even increase sales conversions. By the end, you’ll walk away knowing how to:

-Motivate others into inspired action
-Elevate your leadership impact with precision
-Maximize performance and productivity effortlessly
-Master the art of enrollment to create real buy-in—whether it’s with clients, employees, or stakeholders

If you want to become a highly effective business professional, I invite you to register by February 28, 2025 for the Wired to Win: Your Path to Passion, Purpose and Prosperity on March 27-28, 2025. As an added bonus, when you register by February 28, you will receive a scholarship ticket to the Wired to Win 101: How Are You Hardwired session on March 14, 2025.

Learn More and Activate Your Scholarship Ticket to the 101 Now By Registering for Wired to Your Path to Passion, Purpose, and Prosperity 2-day Master Class before February 28, 2025

From Resistance to Buy-In: How ‘Why’ Transforms Organizational Change

November 21, 2024 by Lisa Mininni Leave a Comment

As you know, organizational change is necessary for growth, innovation, and sustainability. However, implementing change isn’t simply about deciding what must be done and announcing it to your team.

As a leader, you must go deeper by answering a critical question: Why? Why are you making the change?

Why Understanding “Why” Matters

Human wiring plays a significant role in how individuals respond to change. For people naturally wired toward certainty and information, unexpected changes can provoke resistance, confusion, or even outright refusal. These individuals thrive on understanding the logic and purpose behind actions. When you take the time to explain why change is necessary, you create alignment, clarity, and buy-in.

In my book, Me, Myself, and Why? The Secrets to Navigating Change, I underscore that when you fail to address the “why,” you risk alienating a key segment of your team, leading to poor morale, increased turnover, and ultimately, failed initiatives. Conversely, when you articulate the purpose behind change, you invite collaboration and commitment.

Articulating the Why: Leading with Clarity and Intention

The key to explaining the “why” is to connect it to outcomes that also resonate with the audience. A one-size-fits-all explanation won’t suffice because each team member processes information differently.

In addition to explaining the why, you should:

1. Tailor Your Communication
For analytically wired individuals, use data and logic to support the change.
For relationship-driven team members, focus on the human impact and shared values.

2. Tie the Why to Tangible Outcomes
Highlight the possibilities that the change will lead to—for the organization, the team, and individuals.

3. Repeat and Reinforce the Message
Communicating change is not a one and done. Reinforcement builds certainty. Use multiple channels and formats to ensure clarity.

Examples

Example 1: Implementing New Technology

A manufacturing company wanted to adopt a new project management platform. Initially, the leadership team only announced the what—the new platform—and the how—training schedules. Employees pushed back, questioning why they needed to abandon the familiar tools.
The leadership recalibrated their messaging. They explained why the change was occurring:

• The old system couldn’t scale with company growth.
• The new platform would streamline processes, reduce errors, and save hours of repetitive work.
• By connecting the “why” to benefits for employees—less stress and more efficiency—the leadership turned skeptics into advocates.

Example 2: A Shift in Strategic Direction

A retail chain shifted its focus from brick-and-mortar stores to e-commerce. Employees, particularly those in physical locations, felt threatened and uncertain about their future. The CEO took a transparent approach, hosting town halls to explain the strategy.

Why: Consumer behavior was shifting rapidly toward online shopping, and adapting was necessary to remain competitive.
What it would lead to: Growth opportunities in e-commerce and investments in reskilling employees for digital roles.
This clarity reassured employees and positioned the company as forward-thinking.

The Science of Explaining “Why”

Research supports the effectiveness of explaining the “why” during change. Studies published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior found that when leaders provide a clear rationale for change, employees are more likely to engage positively and exhibit higher levels of trust and motivation.

Final Thoughts on Navigating Change

Navigating change is about more than getting from Point A to Point B; it’s about enrolling others in a way that they are moved and motivated around the change. Leaders who align their strategies with human wiring by focusing on the “why” foster environments where employees feel valued and empowered. When people understand the purpose of change—and see the possibilities of what it leads to—they’re more likely to commit to the journey.

To implement this approach in your own leadership practice, reflect on your audience’s natural wiring, craft a compelling “why,” and ensure it not only aligns with your company values and priorities but that others see something for themselves in their active participation in the change. Because ultimately, the secret to successful change isn’t just explaining the “what” or the “how”—it’s making the “why” resonate.

Invitation

To see how and “why” human wiring can transform your organization, join us on December 13, 2024 for Wired to Win 101: How Are You Hardwired? MORE ABOUT THIS MASTER CLASS HERE.

A Tale of My Epic Fail

June 27, 2024 by Lisa Mininni Leave a Comment

I failed epically.
I didn’t set out to fail, but in hindsight,
my actions (or lack of) aligned with failure.

One evening, I returned home to find slim pickings when it came to making dinner.
My grocery shopping procrastination just caught up with me.

So I started searching in my kitchen with what food I had on hand.
Hickory-smoked tuna. Check.
Pasta. Check.
Mayo. Check.
Or so I thought.

As I was making the pasta and already opened the tuna, I realized the date on the mayo was expired.
No problem. I have another one in the pantry.
Or so I thought.
That, too, was expired.

Now what do I do without mayonnaise?
I’m no Bobby Flay, but I could try a recipe.
A quick Google search and voila!
A mayo recipe.
I had all the ingredients including an immersion blender.

Minutes in to blending lemon juice, mustard, oil, and an egg, I realized something went horribly wrong.
It did not look like mayonnaise.
Not. At. All.

In fact, despite adding mixing time, I ended up with a dripping, mustardy mess.
A quick taste matched the visual mess.
What I did have was a messy kitchen blender, wasted time, and ingredients.

Not to be deterred, I asked myself what we had that looked like mayonnaise.
Bingo!
Spicy ranch dressing.

Spicy ranch with hickory smoked tuna and pasta.
That’s workable.

Was dinner an epic fail?
Yes.
Maybe not a colossal one, but nonetheless, an epic fail.
But edible.

Was something new created?
Absolutely.

Did I learn something?
Many things.

Will I be able to ever beat renowned chef, Bobby Flay?
Never.

But this I do know…
Epic is relative.
Epic fails…

…don’t last.
…teach us what not to do.
…get us out of our comfort zone.
…tap into our creative.

Cheers to ingenuity and to your next epic fail.
If you’re not failing, you’re not growing.

Human Wiring: It Influences Your Company Culture More Than You Realize

February 16, 2023 by Lisa Mininni Leave a Comment

Hu man wiring refers to the innate, neurological tendencies and traits that are present in every individual. It’s no surprise, then, that human wiring has a significant impact on company culture, as it influences how employees interact with each other, how they approach their work, and how they respond to the environment they work in.

Specific ways in which human wiring can affect company culture include:

1. Communication

Different people have different communication styles and ways they process information, which can impact how they interact with others in the workplace. Some individuals may naturally prefer more direct communication, while others may require more diplomacy or tact. Understanding these differences at a level where you can deliver communication they way the other person wants to receive it can help build a more harmonious and effective workplace culture.

When a client known for his direct, authoritative communication style, went through human wiring awareness training, he was flabbergasted at how he occurred to others. He had no awareness that his direct style was causing stress for his team. When he understood the innate needs of his team members and with a few tweaks in the way he approached them made a difference in employee engagement and productivity. Instead of running away when he entered the room, the workplace environment became interactive and enjoyable.

2. Conflict Resolution

Human wiring influences the way individuals’ approach and resolve conflicts. Some individuals prefer a collaborative approach, while others are comfortable with confrontation. Using a confronting approach with someone who needs a collaborative approach is a recipe for a trip to your HR department. When you understand human wiring and use effective communication and conflict resolution tools, your team can actively participate in promoting a positive, productive and drama-free workplace culture.

When a colleague, who preferred a collaborative approach, mentioned that his boss would shoot down every idea he had, I suggested that he find out what was most important to his boss. With a few targeted questions, he was able to get to the heart of his boss’s viewpoint. Once he addressed each concern, his boss bought in to his latest idea.

3. Leadership Styles

Depending on human wiring, a leader may be more authoritarian or directive, while others may be more democratic or collaborative. Providing leaders with personal awareness training creates leaders who generate a more effective workplace environment.

For example, one of our clients has a leadership team that possess two common human wiring elements. Each senior leader has a high degree of autonomy and a high sense of urgency (impatient). With this mix of wiring, they are inclined to push themselves and others for immediate results, often creating unrealistic timeframes. Since their leaders naturally pushed (high urgency) for results, their staff found the greatest rewards came by delivering results quickly. However, rather than departments collaborating, people worked in silos making independent decisions to get results. This autonomous, results-driven leadership team found themselves operating in less-than-ideal productivity and profitability. There was often rework because decisions were made in silos, quickly, and without inter and intra-departmental collaboration.

My clients quickly realized the influence of their natural wiring in shaping the company culture. Once they raised awareness of their wiring’s influence on the company’s culture, we were able to set up leadership development tools, a cultural framework, and processes to align what they say their values are and demonstrate those values in action.

When you are clear on your key cultural alignment factors along with the impact of your team’s human wiring on the company environment, you get to the root of cultural alignment, team productivity, authentic and conscious leadership, and company performance.

Overall, understanding human wiring gives company leadership the tools to create a workplace culture that is supportive, productive, and positive for their employees. By valuing and leveraging the unique strengths and perspectives of each individual, companies can build a productive and resilient organization.

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