The Art Of Coaching

It’s time to flip the script. If you’re like me, you’ve fallen victim to procrastination guilt - the feeling that something’s wrong with you, you’re broken, or you haven’t found your true “why” because you’re waiting until the last minute to get a certain task done.  The truth is, our perception of procrastination has been tremendously influenced by the unrealistic expectations of nonsense leaders...

“I’m sorry.” Depending on the context, these can be some of the hardest words to say.   Whether it’s because emotions are running high, you aren’t sure what you’re sorry for (but you feel it’s what the other party wants to hear), or any number of other conflict resolution scenarios, these words often get used and abused, making their impact dull or unintentional. In today’s episode, we define and...

Are you in a job or situation where you’re feeling stuck, unfulfilled, under-appreciated or just ready for something new?   We hear you! You're not alone. If you're considering leaving and/or going out on your own, there are some essential questions to ask yourself before taking the leap. On today's episode, I'll give you not only a comprehensive guide to some of the factors you need to consider, ...

What is your brand?   What do you want to be known for? If you don’t have a solid handle on the answers to these questions, you'll have a hard time communicating with others what you bring to the table. In today’s episode, our guest Greg Hoffman, former Nike Chief Marketing Officer, teaches us how to apply principles of branding and design from top companies to our own personal brand. Specifically...

What is your first thought or reaction when you get this text message? “That’s fine.” The sender could have meant “I agree with everything you just said/ suggested,” or “I have no opinion and will have no problem with the option you’ve chosen,” or “that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard but I’m going with it because I don’t care to contribute to the decision.”  The issue with text messaging as t...

With more than 70 Olympians and 30 medals to his name, there aren’t many coaches as prolific as Stu McMillan.  But did you know he’d had 38 jobs by the time he was 37 (including one as a “baked potato boy”)?  How about that he didn’t start working in elite track & field until his 40’s? This week, we had the chance to sit down (in person!) with Stu and discuss topics and questions he seldom address...

“Unless you live in North Korea, everything you do as a coach is persuasion.” Did that grab your attention?!  In today’s episode, Keir Wenham-Flatt explains his use of humor and overall philosophy when it comes to making his message stand out in a sea of information.  He says, “you must grab attention first to earn the right to convey your message to people.”  Keir is a strength coach with over a...

Picture this: you’re talking to someone you just met at a social gathering, negotiating with a potential client or presenting to a group of skeptical attendees. Try as you might to connect with or get them to share or interact, they give you absolutely nothing in return...  It’s the equivalent of talking to a brick wall.   While frustrating, getting someone who is shy, quiet or less social to open...

The word “toughness” might be one of the most overused and misdefined in coaching and leadership; something we routinely seek and preach, but rarely understand.  Toughness isn’t about grinding through pain and it isn’t built doing “hard” things we routinely encounter; True toughness is better described as making smart decisions in challenging situations and problem solving through obstacles not re...

We’re living in a society more polarized and intolerant than ever before; A society in which it’s hard to tell a joke, let alone disagree with someone. But to evolve and for this to change, we need principled insubordination, systematic rule-breaking, and people not afraid to engage with those who share different views.  On today’s episode we have the pleasure of talking to Dr. Todd Kashdan, (Ph....

When it comes to personal and professional development we all know books, podcasts and seminars won’t cut it. Simply put- greater input doesn’t equal better output.   At a certain point, we need community, accountability and exposure to a diversity of thoughts and perspectives; We need help tackling our unique obstacles and highlighting our blindspots.     On today’s episode we discuss the single...

Jack Crawford isn’t your ordinary 10 year NFL vet… and this just might be one of the most interesting episodes to date.  On today’s show, Jack takes us on a journey from his childhood playing cricket and the *real* football in the streets of London to gorilla trekking in Uganda (with a few stops in professional football along the way).  We discuss everything from his unconventional views on good c...

What would we be able to accomplish if our teams, cultures and companies encouraged people to give each other feedback with radical candor, speak up when wronged and challenge colleagues and supervisors to think differently? What would happen if we were able to recognize, attack and eliminate workplace injustice and “just work”?    On today’s episode we talk to Kim Scott, author of Just Work: Get...

We’ve all had what we thought was a great idea: a new invention that’ll make us millions, the perfect scheme to get back at our petty neighbor, the solution to end world hunger…    Okay maybe nothing that grand, but you get the point; There are hundreds of ideas that play bumper cars in our minds on a daily basis.  And yet, the majority of these ideas stay there, rotting away because we lack the t...

With how highly they’re touted, you’d think we know everything we need to know about habits and routines; But much of what we’ve heard or read about creating, sustaining and breaking them is pop-psychology, anecdote or trend- not rooted in science.    On today’s episode, we talk to one of the world’s leading experts on behavior change and habits: Dr. Wendy Wood. We get her take on what it really t...

There are some seriously interesting people at the airport... You know them, you’ve seen them, hey maybe you are them! From Security Gate Suzy to Food Court Freddie, on today’s episode we’re breaking down the magical creatures you’re bound to spot during your next trip.  And don’t worry, today’s show isn't meant to be  serious, we’re just having fun. So sit back, relax and enjoy some good natured...

Taking time to do comprehensive audience research before speaking is the single greatest way to ensure our message comes across the way we want.    …And yet hardly any of us will do this thoroughly enough to make a real difference.    But we only get one chance to make a first impression and when people are trusting us with their time, money and attention- we have a responsibility to honor them at...

As we mature into adults, we become a smorgasbord of the good, bad and ugly experiences we endure growing up; Each has a hand in shaping who we become as leaders, coaches, parents, teachers, mentors, and friends.  But regardless of where we begin, the decision to either re-write these narratives or succumb to their self-fulfilling prophecy is the most important one we can make in our development....

Welcome to 2022- where positivity is trendy, motivational quotes plaster coffee shop walls and the “self-help” and “leadership” sections of bookstores have become one.    This may be the norm, but it’s not productive for society.    In our messy world, reducing complex human behavior and leadership to clichés and black & white thinking can be both dangerous and ineffective.    True leadership requ...

It’s not everyday we get to welcome a world champion to our show- let alone one willing to dive into the weeds on everything from building a brand to standing up for yourself when no one else will.  Julianna Peña is the reigning UFC Bantamweight Champion and ESPN’s 2021 Female Fighter of The Year (among MANY other awards). Her victory over Amanda Nunes has been called one of the greatest upsets in...

None of us have an abundance of both time AND money. So why do some people invest in themselves while others fall back on the same excuses over and over again?  It’s simple- for those that don’t invest, either they don’t believe in a particular brand, the product or their own ability to put it to use. For those that do, it comes down to understanding and appreciating the long game. Those who inves...

More often than not, our brilliant ideas are stymied because we lack the skills to properly think through them and take the first step; We get stuck. How do I put this into words and get it out of my head? How do I communicate this in a way that will allow others to share my vision? How should this look or feel or function? Will this even work? And what happens if it does? On today’s episode, we’r...

Assertiveness is key to getting what we want and/or need, but getting it wrong can cost us tremendously… “When we push too hard, or in an ineffective way, our counterparts may resist giving us the material outcomes we want or our relationships might fray. When we do not push hard enough, we fail to have our own needs met and risk undermining our own well‐being.” (Ames, 2008) So what do we do when...

We like to say meanings are in people, not in words.  That statement never seemed more true than in reference to today’s guest, Lacey Jai Henderson. After losing her leg to Synovial Sarcoma at 9, Lacey has worked to rewrite the script for people living with disability everywhere.  Following a Division I athletic scholarship for cheerleading, Lacey started competing in Paralympic Track and Field. T...

“True genius, in strategy or anywhere, lies in self-control, self-mastery, presence of mind, and fluidity of thought.” - Robert Greene  When it comes to the study of human nature, power dynamics and social intelligence, there’s perhaps no one more knowledgeable than Robert Greene.  Collectively, his 7 (soon to be 8) books have sold more than 20 million copies, and along the way he’s consulted coun...