Deepen Your Lean Leadership Skills with Brain Science

How Understanding the Brain Improves Problem-Solving, Influence, and Continuous Improvement

Webinar Description

Many Lean and continuous improvement efforts stall—not because the data is wrong or the tools are flawed, but because people don’t respond the way leaders expect.

The missing piece is often how the human brain actually works.

In this on-demand KaiNexus webinar, Elizabeth Swann explores how insights from brain science can help Lean leaders communicate more effectively, influence change, and create conditions for better problem-solving.

Drawing on decades of experience guiding Lean transformations across nonprofits, healthcare systems, and Fortune 100 organizations, Elizabeth explains why facts and data alone rarely move hearts and minds—and what leaders can do instead.

Through real-world examples, stories, and practical techniques, this session shows how visuals, storytelling, listening, and environment shape decision-making, engagement, and improvement outcomes. Leaders will learn how to adapt their approach to match how people think, feel, and generate ideas—especially under pressure.

This webinar goes beyond theory to offer practical ways Lean leaders can leverage brain science to improve communication, foster creativity, and strengthen continuous improvement cultures.

View all previous KaiNexus Continuous Improvement Webinars

What You’ll Learn

• Why facts and data alone often fail to drive change

• How visuals and stories influence understanding and alignment

• The role of listening, attention, and “waiting to talk” in leadership effectiveness

• How brain processing speeds affect meetings, communication, and problem-solving

• Why people generate their best ideas away from meetings—and how to harness that

• Practical ways to design meetings and improvement work that align with how the brain works

Who This Webinar Is For

This webinar is especially valuable for:

• Lean, Kaizen, and continuous improvement leaders

• Executives and senior leaders responsible for culture and performance

• CI coaches and facilitators who lead workshops and problem-solving sessions

• Healthcare, manufacturing, and service leaders navigating complex change

• Anyone looking to improve influence, engagement, and idea generation

Key Insight: Better Leadership Starts with Better Brain Awareness

When leaders understand how the brain processes information, emotion, and ideas, they can:

• Communicate more effectively

• Reduce resistance to change

• Improve collaboration and listening

• Design meetings and improvement efforts that actually work

As Elizabeth explains, Lean leadership isn’t just about better tools—it’s about aligning leadership behaviors with human biology.

About the Presenters:

Elisabeth Swan

Elisabeth has consulted in the business process performance industry for over 30 years. Her experience spans from helping local non-profits expand their reach to guiding Fortune 100 companies through Lean Transformations. She has trained and mentored thousands of people in improvement projects generating millions in savings. She has deep experience coaching problem solvers and facilitating leadership retreats, strategic planning sessions, process walks, and kaizen events.

Elisabeth is the Co-Designer and Lead Instructor for the Lean Six Sigma Leadership Course at University of California, San Diego (UCSD). She is a co-founder of Just-in-Time Café, and co-host of the Just-in-Time Café podcast. She co-wrote The Problem Solver’s Toolkit: A Surprisingly Simple Guide to Your Lean Six Sigma Journey, and her latest book is, Picture Yourself a Leader: Illustrated Micro-Lessons in Navigating Change.