The Art Of Coaching

Hiring is an essential part of any business and can be, as I’m sure you probably know, an extraordinarily frustrating one.  It seems like no matter how many interviews you conduct, how well recommended a candidate comes or how decent they are as a person, many still don't work out. We understand this well as we’ve sure made our share of errors in hiring, but data shows we aren’t alone. In fact, so...

It’s not everyday we get the chance to discuss the nitty gritty behind-the-scenes detail required to provide exceptional service (sans compromising quality) with someone who has built a powerhouse company from the ground up.  Today, Matt Reynolds gives us a look under the hood at his online coaching model and his take on the “training” market that can be saturated with mediocrity. You’ll want to t...

We’re bringing you something a little different for today's bonus episode. Recently I was a guest on my friend Scott Livingston’s podcast “Leave Your Mark” and our conversation was so good I wanted to make sure you had a chance to listen to it here; a “multicast” if you will.  Alongside Scott (a regular on our show, see episodes 58 & 128 ) and his good friend Dom Gauthier (a business leader, coach...

This was by far the hardest episode I’ve ever had to record. And yes, I phrase it that way purposefully; telling this story is something I very much view as a responsibility. So where do I begin? It’s true- at this point many people know bits and pieces of my story but there’s still much I haven’t shared. Today's episode is the full, unabridged, unapologetic, uncensored saga of my hospitalization...

When trying to convince someone or alter their behavior we often lead with facts and figures. Ironically, that might be the LEAST effective strategy for inspiring real, lasting change. Rather, we should utilize the most powerful persuasive ability humans possess: storytelling.   You might roll your eyes or reminisce on bedtime stories as a kid, but good stories aren’t just for fun and laughs- they...

WE ARE BRINGING BACK OUR MOST POPULAR FREE ONLINE WORKSHOP! CLARITY 2.0: TUESDAY, JULY 27th at 3:00PM EST.  Register at artofcoaching.com/clarity Imagine leaving your family and moving to a foreign country where you don’t speak the language or know the culture, tasked with making some of the world’s most elite athletes faster and stronger while winning multiple World Championships and Olympic meda...

Positive thinking is overdone and often ineffective when applied to the messy realities of life and leadership.  I’m not saying there isn’t a use for it but rather that we should rethink when and to whom we recommend it. Why? Positive thinking can lull us into a false sense of security, make us overconfident and keep us from taking action when we need to.  What if instead of judging thoughts as po...

“Where there’s a journey, there’s sacrifice” - Nikita Emtsov  It has always been our goal that listeners hear themselves in the guests we interview on this podcast because it’s only when you relate to a person that their story and message resonates and moves you to action.  Nikita Emtsov is a perfect representation of the professionals in the Art of Coaching community and in this episode you’ll he...

It’s time to rethink how we approach coaching female athletes. Understanding and appreciating nuances in their physiology and psychology is one thing, treating them as a “special population” is another. So which differences should we attend to and which just aren’t true?    Today we’re joined by Christina Myers, a strength and conditioning & gymnastics coach who’s changing the game when it comes t...

We’re coming at you with a special BONUS episode! On today’s show, Brett is joined by Ali for a casual Friday conversation in which they answer your most difficult questions, talk about what they’re nerding out on and share their take on current events. On today’s episode: How to approach conversations about race, gender, & politics as a leader Programming essentials for youth athletes Strategies...

We’ve heard the leadership cliches, read the business books and tried the various morning routines but something’s still not clicking...   We can try to work harder and hope our efforts don’t go unnoticed... or we can flip the script, become a unicorn and work with ninjas.    No seriously, just ask Mark Fisher.    Mark is an international speaker, consultant, and entrepreneur. He and his “non-sexu...

The greatest athletes, inventors, artists and minds have something in common…    Of course they all have incredible work ethics, support systems and above average talent and luck- but those qualities don’t differentiate the great from the very best.    In truth- there is no template for world class performance. So what is it that separates them?    According to our guest, Gabe Polsky- an award-win...

Why is it that regardless of major, minor or specialty our education system remains obsessed with teaching students the “what” but not the “how”?  If we’re lucky, students leave school prepared with tools of their trade but still missing the skill set to put those tools into action, adapt for changing circumstances and/or convince someone they need that tool in the first place.  Fortunately, some...

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...