🎧 Podcast Title: Wired for Excellence: The Neuroscience of Change with Chris Hayes

🎙️ Guest: Chris Hayes, Author of Wired for Excellence

🔍 Episode Description:

Don’t miss this fascinating deep dive into the brain science behind organizational change. In this episode of the Improvement Nerds Podcast, host Mark Ryan sits down with Chris Hayes, leadership expert and author of the upcoming book Wired for Excellence, to explore how neuroscience can help us lead better, think clearer, and build cultures that thrive.

Chris explains how our brain’s threat and reward systems, including the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, influence everything from team performance to psychological safety. You’ll learn how leaders can use this knowledge to create environments that reduce resistance, increase engagement, and foster excellence at every level.

Whether you're in Lean, Agile, Six Sigma, HR, healthcare, or education, this conversation will equip you with powerful new ways to lead through complexity and connect with your people.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: Why Neuroscience Matters in Change Work

02:45 – Meet Chris Hayes and Wired for Excellence

06:18 – What Happens in the Brain During Change

10:32 – The Role of the Amygdala and Threat Response

14:50 – Prefrontal Cortex: The Seat of Executive Function

19:43 – Psychological Safety and Cognitive Overload

24:17 – Brain-Smart Strategies for Leading Change

30:10 – Applications in Healthcare, Business, and Beyond

36:22 – How to Design with the Brain in Mind

42:40 – Final Reflections and a Preview of Chris’s Book

45:15 – Outro and Resources

📚 Resources & Links:

Connect with Chris Hayes: chayes@getimpacts.com

Hosted by Mark Ryan of The Green Dot Group

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#WiredForExcellence #NeuroscienceOfChange #OrganizationalExcellence #LeadershipDevelopment #ChangeLeadership #BrainBasedLeadership #ImprovementNerds #ChrisHayes #ProcessImprovement #LeanLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #ContinuousImprovement #ChangeManagement #NeuroscienceAndLeadership