The Art Of Coaching

Time is an invaluable commodity and yet we waste it beating around the bush with convoluted communication and messages wrapped in peripheral fluff and unnecessary noise. Have you ever wondered how much time would we save if we acted like humans and said what we meant?   In this solo episode, we’ll break down several case studies and discuss how to effectively read a situation, manage paraverbals (...

What would managers and leaders learn if they had access to raw feedback from their team? What truths would be unearthed and what leadership styles would rise to the top? As the “Undercover Millennial”, today’s guest Clint Pulver gives managers a peek behind the curtain in their own organization while gathering data and proposing solutions in order to close the gap between leaders and the lead. Ha...

These days it can feel like we’re being beaten over the head with leadership cliches like “grind in silence,” “be seen not heard” and other preachy rhetoric about servitude...    We’ve been told that good work will speak for itself and that self-promoters aren’t in it for the “right reasons”…    But how do we reconcile these “leadership laws” with the understanding that in order to adapt and evolv...

We all know people who don’t enroll in the 401k program at work despite understanding the power of investing or those who won’t stop smoking even though there’s a history of lung cancer in their family. But while incredibly frustrating to the outside observer, we are all resistant to change in some aspect of our lives.    Understanding where and why we resist change is important because modifying...

Living in a moment when competition for our attention is at an all time high makes the medium through which we convey our message absolutely critical. From social media to marketing, the platform we wield (or don’t wield...) can communicate as much about our values as the words themselves. And while this debate is nothing new, today’s guest Kenny Kane has a unique perspective on this issue and man...

Unless you keep the same job from the time you leave school until the time you retire, you’re bound to experience change. Like a personal relationship, moving up within or leaving one workplace culture to join another requires understanding, adaptation and most importantly communication.    So how do you go from being just a tactician to manager/director who needs to understand both the minutia AN...

Regardless of occupation or title, we all write. Whether it’s in short form on social media or long form as in email, proposals, blogs, articles, books, or academic journals- it’s something that unites all fields.    That being said- what’s your perception of writing? Do you enjoy the craft or is it the bane of your existence? Were you raised to think of writing as a formal process reserved for ac...

Our early communication style can be heavily influenced by parents, teachers and coaches but when we transition to different stages of life and form new relationships, sometimes those initial behaviors no longer serve us.   As humans, shedding those previous practices and forming new ones (albeit necessary) can feel completely foreign- as if we’ve forgotten who we are and where we came from.  But...

It’s not common for strength coaches to crossover into other fields or add the title of “entrepreneur” to their resume- much less in the world of artificial intelligence. Today’s guest Chad Wesley Smith has done both at the highest level.  For both my training nerds AND my non-coaching audience, this episode is a great representation of how leaders can ethically brand themselves, develop auxiliary...

In light of recent events I wanted to release an extra, time sensitive episode.  Last week at the NCAA basketball tournament a social media post showing the disparities between the men’s and women’s “weight rooms” went viral. One photo resulted in a litany of content that uncovered not only differences in the equipment and facilities, but of the testing protocols, food, “swag bags” and more.  With...

Sometimes this podcast is a place to learn tactics and strategies and other times it's a place to share hard, honest truths. Recently, a conversation with a friend about the fleeting nature of fatherhood sparked an examination of my priorities and time. As a result I wrote a deeply personal piece about a few things I’ve reflected upon and perhaps even (re)learned over the past year. Some of this I...

HEADS UP! There are only a few days left to register for The Communication and Leadership Strategy Summit! On March 20-21th, 2021 we’re hosting an interactive online event about navigating the messy realities of leadership and communication. Learn tactics and strategies from top professionals in the fields of finance, performance, medical, business and the military. Click here to sign up before it...

Today we flip the script and my good friend Ali Kershner interviews me, asking personal and professional questions I’ve never addressed on air before.  I’m a relatively private person but for this special Q&A I air out some dirty laundry and answer a few of the tougher questions I’ve gotten over the years.    Sit back, relax, enjoy Ali’s dulcet tones and get a glimpse behind the curtain. Just wait...

If you’ve ever had even the smallest inkling of an idea or desire for putting a figurative pen to paper and writing a book - this one’s for you.  Today’s episode is dedicated to everything I’ve learned, mistakes I’ve made and what you ABSOLUTELY need to know about the process of writing and publishing.  I will warn you- if you’re looking for someone to pump you up and encourage you to drop everyth...

In our industry, those who have a large brand, social media presence or product (regardless of value or purpose) are often met with critiques, sneers, and snide remarks like “what a sellout”... It’s difficult to put yourself out there when surrounded by a profession that has long told you the secret to success is to put your head down and work harder but no one will hear your message or benefit fr...

If we were to question all commonly accepted leadership practices and qualities, which would hold up and which would break down?  On March 20-21, 2021, we’re doing just that. Join us for the first-ever virtual Art of Coaching Communication and Leadership Strategy Summit.  We’re tired of endless Zoom meetings and powerpoint presentations so we’re opting instead for two days of INTERACTIVE discussio...

In case you missed it… our newest resource BLINDSPOT™ is now open!  If you want to clarify your message, find your niche, create meaningful work and use it to help more people - this digital toolkit will be an absolute GAME. CHANGER.  But don’t waste any time - access to BLINDSPOT™ is only open for 2 more days! Click here to sign up now.  ___________________________________________________________...

When done well storytelling can access a primal level of human psychology.  With complex characters, varied settings, unique conflicts and resolution, storytelling is “manipulation for good” teaching us lessons, growth and a better way to live. Coaching is in many ways, storytelling.  Today on the show I’m joined by someone who studies storytelling professionally. Michael Tucker (filmmaker and wri...

Let's not bury the lede - I struggle asking for help. I've often wondered if it's possible to do in a way that doesn't compromise relationships or  reputation because (to the untrained eye) asking for help can seem to convey weakness, lack of fortitude, intelligence, and even organization. But none of us get through life without help in some form... So why do we have such an aversion to it? Today...

Should we niche down or embrace range? If you read the newsletter this week, you know exactly where I stand on this topic. If you haven’t yet, click here to get the full story ! Either way, it’s time to dive deeper into this debate.   Now - before you armor up with your facts and figures about why you’re Team Specialist or Team Generalist... hear me out.  “Niching down” mustn't apply to every aspe...

"I want to put something out there to help more people but I lack the confidence, knowledge or experience to do so." Sound familiar? I've heard these words reverberate in my own head and from the people in our community for a long time. But that statement above - it's not true. In fact, it's a lie. And it's one of many our mind makes up to trick us and hold us back from providing value to those wh...

Every year we hear people utter the phrase “New Year, New You” before launching into a series of nuanced forms of goal setting. While optimism is great, looking ahead without knowing how to identify blind spots that lurk around the corner sets us up to be ambushed. But what is a blind spot? How can you identify one? Most importantly, how does both too much optimism and too much cynicism potentiall...

Welcome to the final episode of 2020. We saved the best for last.  Burnt out from online webinars, Zoom meetings, and long-winded technical presentations? We are too. That’s why we cut the fluff and created something brand new. Introducing the inaugural (and virtual)...   Art of Coaching Communication and Leadership Strategy Summit! On March 20, 2021, hear top leaders from a range of professions s...

On March 21, 2021, we are hosting the inaugural (and virtual)...   Art of Coaching Communication and Leadership Strategy Summit! Hear leaders from a range of professions share essential tactics and strategies for navigating communication challenges in our new normal. After all, the future belongs to those who learn diverse skills and combine them in creative ways.   Sign up here! Now for today’s e...

Today, we’re talking about what’s become a polarizing and almost dirty word: Politics.  But I’m not interested in debating election results or partisan policies. I want to discuss another kind of politics, one that gets less press…  micropolitics.  Micropolitics (also known as office politics) are the tactics we use every day to influence and manipulate a context to suit our needs. It might sound...