The Art Of Coaching

BLACKFRIDAY30 gets you 30% off ALL ONLINE COURSES.    We can all agree that listening is a foundational skill. And it makes sense- research shows we spend half our waking hours listening (Hargie, 2017; Kelley, 2019). But are you listening or are you just hearing? True listening requires encoding, reflection, and delivering on what you heard. It’s a skill, it requires practice and it’s required to...

The prospect of assigning a dollar amount to your time can evoke feelings of frustration, guilt, confusion and imposter phenomenon.  And yet, whether you're salaried, hourly or a business owner / entrepreneur, it’s essential to know what your time is worth. Not only will this calculation help you to decide between opportunities, it’ll allow you to communicate your value and build a healthy relatio...

Coaching is all about discovering what makes an individual tick so you can help them take the next step in their life, career, or sport… But when you work with people who aren’t consistently motivated, compliant or driven, it can feel like solving a 10,000 piece puzzle. And yet, that’s the job; Whether you train athletes or work with professionals, it’s up to you to figure out the puzzle- not shir...

We’ve all faced what seem like impossible decisions: Which job should I take? Is this the person I really want to spend my life with? Can I even afford to take vacation right now? We’re also faced with hundreds of smaller decisions on a daily basis: What do I want for dinner? Should I watch tv or read a book? Should I take the car or ride my bike? Given the frequency in which they pop up, it’s obv...

The number one complaint we hear from coaches and leaders is “I don’t have enough time”.  But is that really the issue? There’s plenty of data to support that on average we actually work less and have more “leisure time” than ever before…  So what gives? Today’s episode is a deep dive into the illusion of not having enough time and the questions we should be asking ourselves to get to the bottom o...

Whether we like it or not, we’re living in a culture of “heroic individualism” in which numbers and results dictate our success and drive our sense of fulfillment.    And while many current mindfulness techniques (& other “anecdotes”) teach us to move away from this lifestyle, not all of these practices are applicable for those of us who need to provide for our families and/or aspire to more.    B...

How is it that our minds- complex and powerful beyond measure, capable of constructing skyscrapers and inventing life-saving procedures, can simultaneously be our greatest enemy?  The answer may reside in our “chatter”, the ruminating, negative voice in our head that reminds us of our fears and insecurities while democratizing the human condition.  On today’s episode, we’re diving deep into what “...

When I first released my book Conscious Coaching , I had no idea the chapter about Archetypes would cause such a stir. Since then, the idea of using terms like Wolverine, Skeptic, Royal, and Technician to classify general patterns of human behavior has continued to ignite controversy and debate for coaches and leaders alike.   In this episode I’m going to put some of this controversy to rest becau...

If a total stranger came up to you and asked you to write the word “pickle” in a library book so they could prank their friend (and not have their handwriting recognized), would you do it? Sounds strange, but think about this for a moment... Research (performed by today’s guest) overwhelmingly shows that we say yes more often than we say no to requests like this (despite the request requiring us t...

Entrepreneurship may seem like an elusive endeavor in which you have to quit your 9-to-5, jump in head first, throw caution to the wind, sell your soul to investors and live on ramen…   But real entrepreneurship is messier, more complex, diverse (and also attainable) than what the movies, tv shows, and allure of Silicon Valley can make it seem. And while there’s no one type of entrepreneur, there...

By now you’ve probably heard us sing the praises of improvisation and its benefits in communication, awareness and listening. If you haven’t, the premise is simple- we think of improv as the best way to practice accepting and appreciating change.  But it goes much further than that. Improv has been used to teach individuals interpersonal skills in countless arenas- from helping immigrant children...

It’s time for another bonus Friday episode! Today, Brett and Ali discuss their vocal idiosyncrasies while making a compelling case for the consumption of more fiction. Don’t worry, it’s not all fun and games... They also share a helpful strategy for making hard decisions.  On today’s episode: How to identify vocal tendencies like “uptalk” and “vocal fry”  The hidden benefits of playing video games...

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...