The Leader’s Lab

Finally, a safe place to test, experiment and practice the leadership conversations

you've been avoiding.

An invitation-only online laboratory to level up your leadership. Where small business owners like you can experiment with new ways of leading without the fear of getting it wrong.

Why Should You Get In The Lab?

You're brilliant at what you do. That's why you started this business.

But the leadership part? That keeps you up at night.

What if you say the wrong thing?

What if the conflict drags on for weeks?

What if you make it worse?

What if they leave, and I have to take on that work again?

So you avoid the hard conversations. Keep the underperformer a bit longer. Do the work yourself instead of delegating. All while your business and your sanity pay the price.

Spots are limited. This is invite-only for a reason.

I'm Guessing...

You didn't start a business to become a manager. You started it because you were exceptional at your craft.

But now you're spending more time putting out people's fires than doing what you love. And every difficult conversation you avoid costs you:

Time – Managing around problems instead of solving them.
Money – Keeping the wrong people too long, then paying to replace them.
Energy – The mental load of unresolved team issues.
Growth – Your business can't scale when you're the bottleneck.

The worst part? You know what needs to happen. You just don't trust yourself to handle it without making everything worse.

Why Traditional Leadership Training Fails

Most leadership programs teach you theory.

Give you frameworks.

Send you back to your business with a folder full of notes and zero confidence.

You don't just need information and education. You need a safe place to practice.

That's why The Leader's Lab exists.

Ready to EXPERIMENT?

Register Your Interest Now

This Isn't Your Average Leadership Program

It's a 6-month, invitation-only laboratory where hand-picked small business owners test and experiment leadership skills and dynamics on each other.

Think of it as your testing ground. A place where you can:

✔️ Try out difficult conversations in a high-trust environment.

✔️ Experiment with delegation and accountability.

✔️ Practice giving feedback without the fear of destroying relationships.

✔️ Build confidence through real application, not theoretical learning.

You'll be part of a carefully curated group that follows one simple rule:

No d*ckheads allowed (seriously).

Every member is selected not just for their business success, but for their commitment to growth.

Their own and everyone else's.

What You'll Do In The Lab

Month 1: Stop Leading Like You Owe Someone An Apology

Define who you are as a leader and what you stand for. Practice setting standards, boundaries and expectations with the group so you can do it with your team. This month, we will lay the groundwork for the group and your business.

Month 2: Navigate The Messy Human Stuff

Role-play the difficult conversations sitting in your inbox. Practice giving feedback that has a positive impact. Learn to diffuse conflict and effectively influence your team and stakeholders by using communication insights and building your own voice.

Month 3: Delegate Without The Micromanager

Stop checking their work every five minutes. Build systems that let you hand things off without wondering if it'll all fall apart. Practice trusting people with your business (in small, safe steps).

Month 4: Upgrading Your Communication Skills

Learn how to stop wasting your (and other's) valuable time in meetings. Learn to find the root cause of challenges and address them. Learn to speak up in the moment instead of stewing about it. Apply optimism to increase motivation.

Month 5: Design a Business That Doesn't Need You (For Everything)

Map out what success looks like when you're not the answer to every question. Practice stepping back without everything falling apart. Build the plan to escape from 60+ hour weeks.

Month 6: Lock In What Works, Ditch What Doesn't

Honestly assess what you've learned and what you'll actually use. Create your personal leadership playbook. Set up systems to keep growing instead of reverting back to old habits.

The best leaders don’t just grow businesses, they grow people so in this final phase of the Leader's Lab, you'll put in place the plans to continue your personal and business development outside of The Lab.

What Makes The Leader's Lab Different?

Learning how to lead a high-performance team is easier when you're part of one.

The Leader's Lab isn't about consuming content. It's about application, accountability, and support within a powerful group dynamic.

You'll join a hand-picked group of small business owners who co-create a high-trust environment. Together, you'll practice vulnerability, feedback, and collaboration.

This becomes your testing lab for new ways of being as a leader.

This Is For You If:

You avoid difficult conversations because conflict feels too risky.

You keep underperformers longer than you should because managing performance terrifies you.

You know you’re the bottleneck to your own success.

You do work yourself instead of delegating because "it's easier".

You want to trust your team but don't know how to let go of control.

You've decided that now is the time to change.

What’s Included

This is a 6-month program. This is what you get:

ADVanced Insights Assessment Report

12 x Group Coaching Sessions

12 x (Free) Optional Working Sessions

3 x Power Sessions

(1:1 Coaching)

Private Group Chat

Tools, Templates & Resources

Our Guarantee

If you attend every session, and you're doing the work but not getting your defined key results,

we'll work with you 1:1 for free until you do.

What People Are Saying

"The work I’ve done with Shannyn has definitely helped me make better business decisions and establish the right people in the business, the best procedures/processes, and the best strategy for employee management."

"It didn’t take long for Shannyn to realise that I needed to work on personal development before I could work on the business, which I believe helped me to grow as a leader in preparation for the business growth that was inevitable."

"I have found Shannyn’s business coaching to be insightful and incredibly valuable for helping me to get focused on my priorities for growing my business in a way that works for me. She knows her stuff and is very down to earth and compassionate."

Dr Christian Varney

Wellness Chiropractic

Krys Sutton

The CRM Team

Christina Canters

Podcast Services Australia

MEET your lab technician

Shannyn Merlo

I've watched brilliant business owners destroy their teams in two ways: being too 'nice' to address problems, or lacking the emotional intelligence to see how their actions are killing morale.

I've been both those versions myself and, and worked with countless small business leaders who struggle with both sides of this coin. Neither gets the best results.

My role in The Lab isn't to teach you leadership theory. It's to create the environment where you can practice the hard stuff safely, call out what I see happening in real-time, and make sure the group stays honest with each other.

"I believe being a leader is so much more than a title. It's how you show up, how you grow, and how others grow around you because of how you're showing up. If you're ready to become the leader your business and the world needs more than ever...

I'd love to have you in the room."

Shannyn Merlo – Founder of Inspired Outcomes Consulting.

Investment

$1200 per month X 6 MONTHS – Pay Upfront and receive a 10% discount

Your investment in your leadership and your business could save you years of trial and error and thousands of dollars of lost productivity and headaches.

Express your Interest Now! 👉 Spots are limited. This is an invite-only group for a reason because we’re building a high-performance team with, and on purpose.

STILL NOT SURE?

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the time commitment?

We meet twice a month for 90 minutes. You’ll be encouraged to run experiments each week and provide feedback to the group. This group will keep you accountable. Your contribution is designed to stretch you and yet be doable even while running a business.

Optional working sessions will be held on the "off-weeks" and are a great chance to commit to working "on" the business and investing in your growth.

What if I miss a session?

The power of this program is the dynamic of the group to support and hold each other accountable. We accept that life sometimes gets in the way (and sessions are recorded), however, “too busy” will not be an excuse that the group will accept for not attending the live sessions.

I’m a manager of a team, but I don’t own the business – is it for me?

Yes, although the program is targeted towards small business owners, if you’ve read this far and you see the benefits of this program for you leading your team, you should complete an expression of interest. We will discuss whether this is a good program for you.

Do I need a big team?

No, but your role will need to be a leadership one, where you are responsible for the performance of others to make the most of this program.

I’ve done other leadership programs. How is this different?

This isn't a passive course. It’s a live, interactive experience. You’ll practise in real time, with feedback, support and accountability you can’t get from a webinar or podcast.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes. Payment plans are available, and we’ll talk through options on your EOI call.

What if I’m not sure I’m “ready”?

If you're curious, that’s enough. Complete your expression of interest and we’ll have a no-pressure call. We’ll explore where you're at, what you need, and whether this is the right next step for you in your leadership journey.

What happens after I apply?

Once you’ve completed the EOI form, you’ll be taken to a booking page to book a time to chat. In our chat we will ensure this right program for you and address any questions you might have. If it’s a good fit for you, we’ll invite you to join us. If not, we can talk about alternative supports that might suit you.

Ready to start being the leader who could transform your business?

Complete your Expression of Interest form below. You'll be invited to book a time to chat where we'll ensure this is the right program for you and address any questions.

If this program is a good fit, we'll invite you to join.

If not, we'll discuss alternatives that might suit you better.

Express Your Interest To Get In The Lab Now

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Still not sure this is for you?

If you're curious enough to read this far, you're probably ready for a conversation and you're welcome to get in touch directly. The worst that will happen is you get clarity on your next step. The best? You join a group that transforms your business and leadership for the better – FOREVER.

Services

Coaching

Consulting

Workshops

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