Think Fast, Lead Smart: The Neuroscience Behind Better Leadership

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Speaker : DR. CLAIRE MUSELMAN
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When : Friday, November 14, 2025
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Time : 01 : 00 PM EST
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Dr. Claire Muselman is a nationally recognized expert in workers'
compensation strategy and leadership development. As the Co-Director of
the Master of Science in Leadership Program at Drake University and COO
of WorkersCompensation.com, Claire blends academic insight with
real-world experience. With over 20 years in the industry, she brings a
unique perspective that emphasizes empathy, communication, and
operational excellence. Her dynamic style and strategic mindset make her
a sought-after speaker, consultant, and educator across the insurance,
risk, and leadership sector.
This session offers a deep dive into the neuroscience of leadership—what happens in the brain when we make decisions, handle conflict, communicate under pressure, and manage energy in demanding environments. We will decode how the brain processes information, filters emotional cues, and accesses clarity or confusion depending on internal and external stimuli.
Participants will explore the brain's two key systems—reactive (fast and emotional) vs. reflective (slower and more deliberate)—and how leaders can activate the latter to make better, smarter decisions even when time is tight. You will learn to recognize signs of cognitive overload, emotional hijacking, and autopilot behavior and gain tools to shift toward clarity, composure, and curiosity.
This session will also examine the science of attention, memory, and stress regulation, showing how to manage focus across tasks, minimize distractions, and foster cognitive endurance. Whether leading in person or virtually, you’ll learn how to harness brain-friendly strategies to keep yourself and your team aligned, agile, and engaged.
Using real-world examples, interactive reflection, and accessible science, the session will cover:
- The impact of decision fatigue and how to reduce cognitive strain
- Emotional triggers and the brain’s stress response during conflict or change
- How to build neurologically sound routines for daily leadership
- Brain-aligned strategies for feedback, influence, and strategic thinking
- Building psychological safety through language, tone, and presence
You will also learn how your environment influences your brain’s ability to make decisions. From lighting and noise levels to digital overload and multitasking culture, we will break down how environmental stressors impair decision quality and what leaders can do to mitigate those effects. Simple environmental tweaks can lead to massive improvements in clarity and collaboration.
We will examine the interplay between emotional intelligence and cognitive capacity. Leaders with high EQ and strong mental flexibility are more resilient in the face of uncertainty, better able to pivot during change, and more effective at regulating their internal state. You will explore how to strengthen both your emotional awareness and your executive functioning to lead with calm presence and thoughtful action.
Additionally, this session will unpack how neuroplasticity supports leadership growth. Your brain is constantly changing based on what you do, think, and feel. We will explore tools and habits that rewire your brain for clarity, composure, and compassion—three essential traits of high-performing leaders.
You will gain insight into the brain’s reward system and how it affects motivation, engagement, and goal-setting. Understanding how dopamine influences behavior will help you lead with greater influence and inspire sustained performance.
We will also look at the science behind social cognition—how the brain reads facial expressions, tone, and context. This knowledge helps leaders build rapport, resolve conflict, and cultivate more emotionally attuned team dynamics.
Finally, you will learn how to embed brain-friendly practices into meetings, performance reviews, team rituals, and leadership communication. This includes incorporating micro-pauses, applying cognitive load balancing, and reinforcing feedback with psychological safety techniques.
You will leave with:
- A framework to shift from reactive to reflective leadership
- Practical strategies to reduce cognitive overload and prevent burnout
- Techniques to train your brain for attention, presence, and recovery
- Methods for integrating neuroscience into everyday leadership practice
- Tools to increase motivation and decision clarity in yourself and others
This is not theory—it is applied science made actionable. Whether you are navigating high-stakes conversations, guiding others through change, or juggling multiple roles, this session will empower you to think fast, lead smart, and show up as the kind of leader people want to follow.
Join us for a brain-based reboot that puts clarity, confidence, and connection at the center of your leadership playbook.
Areas Covered
- The neuroscience of decision-making under pressure
- Emotional regulation and cognitive clarity in leadership
- How to reduce decision fatigue and boost energy
- Using EQ and brain science to improve influence and communication
- Tools for managing team dynamics and psychological safety
- Designing environments that enhance mental clarity and resilience
Who Should Attend
- Managers and People Leaders
- Senior Executives
- Learning & Development Professionals
- HR Business Partners
- Coaches and Leadership Consultants
- Professionals stepping into leadership roles
Why Should You Attend
Have you ever found yourself making rapid decisions only to second-guess them later? Or perhaps you have led a conversation that spiralled unexpectedly, despite your best intentions. These are not personal failures—they are brain-based behaviors. This session will help you understand the neurobiology behind your reactions, communication style, and leadership presence so you can respond rather than react, especially when the stakes are high.
Today’s leaders are operating in complex environments—fast-moving, emotionally charged, and often unpredictable. The margin for error is slim, and the cost of miscommunication or burnout is high. This session empowers you to lead with a new kind of agility—one rooted in neuroscience and aligned with how your brain actually functions in high-pressure situations.
You will learn how your brain’s default wiring impacts leadership decisions. From cognitive biases and emotional triggers to decision fatigue and attention management, this session will help you navigate the internal forces that drive your behavior and influence your team’s experience. It is about working smarter—not harder—by training your brain to access clarity, calm, and creativity in the moments that matter most.
We will also explore the neuroscience of resilience—how leaders can bounce back quickly, sustain energy, and adapt without losing focus. You will learn strategies to build a more neurologically resilient leadership style that fuels long-term performance and prevents burnout.
If you have ever struggled with staying composed during conflict, motivating teams through change, or maintaining mental clarity in back-to-back meetings, this is the toolkit you’ve been waiting for. We will uncover how small tweaks to your routines, language, and environment can create big shifts in how your brain—and your team—functions.
Whether you are a seasoned leader or stepping into new responsibilities, this session will give you:
- A science-backed understanding of how your brain leads under pressure
- Real-time strategies to regulate stress and boost executive functioning
- Practical tools to communicate with clarity, confidence, and composure
- A roadmap for decision-making that integrates logic, emotion, and intuition
Leadership is not about being the smartest in the room—it is about being the calmest, clearest, and most adaptive. Join us to explore how brain-based leadership can help you move from reactive to responsive, and from overwhelmed to aligned.
Topic Background
Leadership today demands more than quick thinking—it requires smart, adaptive, and emotionally intelligent decisions under pressure. Neuroscience provides insight into how leaders can think clearly, regulate emotions, and respond strategically, especially in high-stress, fast-paced environments. This session explores how brain science can shape better leadership, decision-making, and communication by aligning your actions with how your brain—and your team's brains—actually work.
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$160.00
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