The Art Of Coaching

E201 | How to Reach Out to Someone You Respect and Admire

You’ve been sitting on this draft for months. You want to hit send, but now you’re second guessing yourself… Why does reaching out to someone you respect and admire have to feel so awkward? 

Maybe you’re asking for a job and you’re afraid you’ll get turned down and the relationship will suffer as a result. 

Maybe you're reaching out to someone who has the job of your dreams and you want insight on how they got there, but you don’t want to inconvenience them with trivial questions.  

Either way, you’ll leave this episode with confidence to not only send the email but assurance that you crafted a clear, concise message that the person you're reaching out to will respect you for. 

In this episode:

• How to do your research prior to writing the email
• How to create a clear ask so your message is unmistakable
• How to choose the appropriate medium: email, phone, text, etc. 
• The 3 things the person you reach out to wants to hear
• A sample email you can use a template for your next introduction 

Right now I’m offering signed and personalized copies of my book, Conscious Coaching for just $10 (50% off the Amazon price). Go to artofcoaching.com/book to get yours (supplies are limited)!

Also, be sure to check out our new gift guide at artofcoaching.com/shop - included are new t-shirts, sweats, beanies, mugs and even some graphic tees. If you’re still gift hunting, these are perfect for any coach or leader. 

Quick shout-out to our podcast partners: LMNT, Momentous, VersaClimber, and SAGA. Supporting them supports us and allows us to continue bringing you this content for FREE!

• LMNT: Our go-to on-the-go hydration product. With no sugar and no additives, LMNT is how I stay hydrated when training in the Georgia heat and traveling every other weekend. LMNT is offering you a free pack at DrinkLMNT.com/AOC - give them a try and let us know what you think! (Watermelon salt is my favorite).
• Momentous: For those looking for the cleanest, best tasting protein and supplements on the market, Momentous is my choice. Their products are for athletes as well as individuals who just want to ensure they are getting enough protein in their diet. Code: BRETT25 gets you 25% off your first order. 

• VersaClimber: For the most efficient, difficult, low-impact workout you’ll ever experience, you need a VersaClimber. This will forever be a staple in my home gym. Tell them Brett sent you!
• SAGA: This technology makes workouts more efficient even when you don't have access to weight. Don’t worry about the jargon or the science, they explain it all at saga.fitness. Use COACHBRETT20 for 20% OFF!

E200 | What to Do When Trying to Help Makes Things Worse

It’s a frustrating situation. You’re going out of your way to help someone out and it’s just not taking. You can’t get through to them. They don’t want to listen. You might even feel like your attempt to help has made the situation worse. What gives!?

Help me, help you. Help me…Help you! 

You might be surprised to hear that maybe you’re the problem. 

In this short, digestible, actionable episode I cover the strategies and tools necessary for you to gain clarity of the situation so that you can create buy-in and have the impact you’re looking for. Including:

• The most likely reasons you’re probably not getting across to someone 
• 8 questions you should ask yourself before diving into problem solving mode
• The ONE thing you must have in order to help someone effectively
• Defining social agility and strategies to improve it 

Right now I’m offering signed and personalized copies of my book, Conscious Coaching for just $10 (50% off the Amazon price). Go to artofcoaching.com/book to get yours (supplies are limited)!

Also, be sure to check out our new gift guide at artofcoaching.com/shop - included are new t-shirts, sweats, beanies, mugs and even some graphic tees. If you’re still gift hunting, these are perfect for any coach or leader. 

Only THREE spots remain at our NY/NJ Apprenticeship, January 22-23, 2022! Click here to get yours today!

Finally, a big shoutout to our sponsors. LMNT is offering a FREE sample pack of 8 flavors (just pay $5 shipping). Head to DrinkLMNT.com/AOC to claim yours. To get all of our partner discounts for Momentous, SAGA, VersaClimber, DFND and Ice Barrel, click here to learn more.

E199 | Cliché Advice You Should Rethink or Ignore

These days there’s no shortage of well-meaning leadership, relationship, and financial advice. It seems at every turn we’re reminded, “Winners never quit”, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”, and “You have two ears and one mouth for a reason”. 

...And while some sound pleasantly helpful, there are times this guidance is total B.S. 

On today’s show we take a stab at debunking and/or playing devil’s advocate with some of the cliché advice we blindly accept so we can better decide what’s worth following, what’s worth ignoring and what just needs an update?

Get ready, hot takes aplenty in this one!

Reminder: Don’t miss your chance to:

• Save $200 on our Austin, TX Apprenticeship (March 12-13th, 2022). Prices go up DECEMBER 12th.
• Save $300(!!) on our Brand Builder workshop (March 18-19th, 2022). Prices go up DECEMBER 18th.

Welcome our new partner LMNT! If you’re in the market for a hydration product that actually tastes good, is free of sugar and all natural- Go to DrinkLMNT.com/AOC for a free travel pack! 

Finally, thank you to our good friends at Momentous for always supporting us and helping us keep this podcast free from the beginning. Whether you’re an active person just looking to get your protein intake up, or you’re an elite athlete- they have the best tasting and cleanest supplements in the game. Go to livemomentous.com and use code: BRETT25 for 25% off your first order.

E198 | CPT. Anna Zamora: How to Overcome Resistance to Change

The most dangerous phrase in any organization is “because that’s how we’ve always done it”.  It’s the utterance of those scared of change, unwilling to think laterally, and clinging desperately to their comfort zone. Any true leader knows that in today’s rapidly evolving world, those who last will be those who adapt- plain and simple. 

As hard as change may be, imagine trying to implement it at the ground level of an organization steeped in tradition and hierarchy like the Army. That’s what today’s guest Captain Anna Zamora is trying to do; Not only has she been tasked with implementing a new culture surrounding soldier health and wellness, she has had to prove the viability of the program to those around her and above her. 

Captain Anna Zamora was a D1 strength coach from 2010-2020 with stops at Duke, Yale, UConn, Penn State, and DePaul. She’s been a member of the Army National Guard since 2010 and is currently a CPT of medical services and National Guard Director H2F at the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, VA. *You can find the rest of her bio below*

We cover:

• Navigating micropolitics, power dynamics and stakeholders at work
• How to promote change & influence senior leadership in your organization
• A breakdown of how to design and use role-playing drills (and a live example!)
• Strategies to make your first 100 days at a new job more successful

Connect with Captain Zamora:

Via Instagram: @aaliciaz

Also check out:

• The Army Combat Fitness Test 
• More about her program, H2F 

Quick shout-out to our podcast partners: LMNT, Momentous, VersaClimber, and SAGA. Supporting them supports us and allows us to continue bringing you this content for FREE!

• LMNT: Our go-to on-the-go hydration product. With no sugar and no additives, LMNT is how I stay hydrated when training in the Georgia heat and traveling every other weekend. LMNT is offering you a free pack at DrinkLMNT.com/AOC - give them a try and let us know what you think! (Watermelon salt is my favorite). 

 

• Momentous: For those looking for the cleanest, best tasting protein and supplements on the market, Momentous is my choice. Their products are for athletes as well as individuals who just want to ensure they are getting enough protein in their diet. Code: BRETT25 gets you 25% off your first order. 
• VersaClimber: For the most efficient, difficult, low-impact workout you’ll ever experience, you need a VersaClimber. This will forever be a staple in my home gym. Tell them Brett sent you!
• SAGA: This technology makes workouts more efficient even when you don't have access to weight. Don’t worry about the jargon or the science, they explain it all at saga.fitness. Use COACHBRETT20 for 20% OFF! 

Captain Zamora has also formerly been:

• Enlisted 371st Sustainment Brigade- Ohio NG
• Ground Ambulance Platoon Leader 141st Medical Company- CT NG.
• Battalion Medical Officer & Medical Platoon Leader, 2-112th Infantry Battalion (Stryker) PA NG
• Medical Operations Officer 108th MMB
• Medical Logistics Officer 6-54th SFAB, IL NG
• Illinois Project Officer H2F

E197 | Steffi Sorensen: Why It Pays To Be An Underdog

Without experiencing true difficulty, doubt, or adversity, it’s hard to know what any of us are really capable of. Truth is unless we’re thrust into such adversity, it’s nearly impossible to manufacture the type of hardship required to test our limits. 

Today’s guest, ESPN college basketball analyst Steffi Sorensen, has dealt with more than her fair share. And while she probably wouldn’t wish recent experiences on anyone, there’s no doubt she’s grateful for the resilience built along the way. Join us as we discuss her path and how she’s managed to turn doubters and difficult times into an advantage. 

Steffi was a former women’s basketball player at Florida, joined ESPN in 2011 as a color commentator, and is now a college basketball analyst and sideline reporter for SEC Network. She joined SEC Now as an analyst for the 2019-20 women’s basketball season. She was a sideline reporter for college football games on FOX Sports, as well as a fitness model and trainer. She spent one year playing professional basketball in France before starting as a color analyst for ESPN3 in 2010.

We discuss: 

• Managing introversion as a public figure and professional speaker 
• How to assert yourself and find your voice as a young professional
• Finding your “on-air” personality without sacrificing authenticity 
• Learning from and through mistakes made (even on national television)

Connect with Steffi:

Via Instagram: @steffi_sorensen

Via LinkedIn: Steffi Sorensen

If you didn’t already hear… we have a new partner in hydration! LMNT is our go-to on-the-go hydration product. With no sugar and no additives, LMNT is how I stay hydrated even when training in the Georgia heat and traveling every other weekend. 

Right now, LMNT is offering you a free pack at DrinkLMNT.com/AOC - give them a try and let us know what you think! (Watermelon salt is my favorite). 

E196 | How to Evaluate ”Soft-Skills” So You Can Become a Better Coach

No matter what field you're in, technical skills will only take you so far. Eventually, you’ll need to leverage interpersonal skills to stand out and effect change. Problem is, society has misrepresented what it takes to train these skills, making them seem like intangible or innate qualities that can’t be measured or managed. 

In reality, there’s more research on human interaction than any exercise or programming methodology (by far) and it’s quite simple to evaluate said “soft skills”. That’s why on today's episode we’re doing a deep dive into our proprietary social skill evaluation, how you can use it, and how it’s evolved over time. 

Hint: it’s not just a matter of assessing “verbal and non-verbals”… 

We’ll cover:

• How to measure something subjective and contextual like communication 
• Why you need a comprehensive interpersonal evaluation and how it can help
• The major components most other social skill evaluations miss 
• A breakdown of the AoC evaluation and how to use it situationally

If you want more on this subject and a copy of your own, you’ll have to join us in person at one of our Apprenticeship communication workshops. All upcoming locations and dates are listed here: artofcoaching.com/apprenticeship! 

Now, for some fun announcements: 

We have a new partner! LMNT is our go-to hydration product. With no sugar and no additives, LMNT is how I manage to maintain my voice when speaking for 16 hours and traveling every other weekend of the year. 

Right now, LMNT is offering you a free pack at DrinkLMNT.com/AOC - give them a try and let us know what you think! (Watermelon salt is my favorite) 

Also, on today’s episode you heard us talk about our new SPEAKING SCHOOL. If you’re interested in learning how to grow your speaking career, become more confident speaking publicly, or just need help refining a talk you’re giving go to: artofcoaching.com/mentoring for information on personalized, tailored sessions!

E195 | Quit Lying to Yourself: Cutting Through the B.S. in Coaching

If you’re listening to this episode, you’re lying to yourself… But you’re not the only one.  

Turns out most of us aren’t honest about the REAL reason we do what we do. Why? Because being honest requires admitting we have selfish desires and that we haven’t put ourselves in positions to experience failure. Neither are inherently pleasant but both are required if we want to get out of our own way and make real progress. 

Today’s episode will be a wake up call for many of you. I won’t lie- it’s a hard hitter. But if you’re able to listen and dig deeper internally, I promise you’ll come away a better coach and leader. 

We’ll cover: 

• The REAL questions you need to be asking yourself
• Why it’s human (and necessary) to be selfish about certain things 
• Ways to identify what you’re lying to yourself and others about 
• The difference between experience and exposure and how to train the former 

At the end of the day- who you want to be does NOT matter if you haven’t figured out who you are.

It’s that time of year and there are lots of Black Friday sales going on! 

1. SAGA - the best wireless BFR cuffs on the market are also on major blackfriday sale - 30% OFF (when you USE CODE BLACKFRIDAY30). 
2. Momentous - for all of your protein and supplement needs, use code BRETT25 for 25% off your first order! 

On today’s episode you heard Brett talk extensively about The Apprenticeship. With a full slate of workshops already scheduled for 2022, your excuses for not coming to one are dwindling... 

Let’s put it this way- what TRUE leader wouldn’t take the opportunity to get better at communication and the interpersonal side of coaching? 

Check out artofcoaching.com/apprenticeship for a list of upcoming events!

E194 | How To Become A Better Listener

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 ask better questions, to give rewards (people actually want), and to assert yourself. 

 

Put more eloquently: “Listening is the willingness to let another person change you” - Alan Alda

 

On today’s episode we cover:

• The differences between hearing and listening 
• The 5 types of listening and the 4 types of listener 
• Verbal and non-verbal indicators to show you’re engaged
• How to practice the skill of listening 

 

As you heard, practice requires application. Simply put, these skills mean nothing if you don’t practice and get evaluated on them. We have one Apprenticeship left this year. 

 

Join us in Asheville - November 13-14 

Like listening, working out doesn't have to be complicated to be effective. In fact, my wireless BRF cuffs from SAGA Fitness have reduced the time and intensity I spend working out to get the same results. Do yourself and us a favor: Use Code: COACHBRETT20 to save 20% at checkout. By supporting them you’re supporting us.

E193 | What To Charge For Your Time & Expertise: A Deep Dive

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 relationship with money. 

 

Today’s episode will be a deep dive into how to confidently communicate what you’re worth, decide what to charge and how to not feel guilty doing so. We’ll discuss tactical strategies for understanding what variables should go into your decision as well as:

 

• Two different strategies for calculating what your time is worth

• Why it doesn’t matter what you charge so long as you OVER-deliver

• How to train yourself out of poor habits / unhealthy relationships with money

• How to know when and what to give away for free

 

If exercises like this are helpful, you’ll get tremendous value from our Build Your Brand Workshop. We aren’t afraid to charge for this 2-day intensive workshop because the information shared and the value you’ll gain from networking and learning how to apply these principles to your business will be incomparable. 

 

This is one you WON’T want to miss- artofcoaching.com/brand.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by our incredible sponsors:

1. VersaClimber: Our favorite low-impact, efficient cardiovascular strength workout! - Tell them Brett and Art of Coaching sent you!

2. SAGA: The best wireless, bluetooth enabled BFR cuffs - COACHBRETT20 = 20% off 

Connect out our co-co-host Jake Swart:

Via Instagram: @docjakeswart

Via his website: https://www.athletespotential.com/

Via his podcast: The Active Atlanta Podcast

E192 | Elisabeth Oehler: Toxicity in Coaching Culture - How to Combat It

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 shirk responsibility and fulfill your own agenda. 

Luckily, today’s guest Elisabeth Oehler doesn’t hold back, sharing her best strategies for adapting to and understanding the individuals you work with so you can more successfully guide and collaborate. 

Elisabeth is a strength coach and licensed weightlifting coach by the German Olympic Sports Confederation. She’s also a full time coach and consultant for her company (EO Performance) in which she helps organizations develop long term athletic development programs and does online coaching for recreational athletes, semi-pro and elite athletes in rugby, football, soccer and weightlifting. Prior to this, she mainly coached in elementary schools and kids on a volunteer basis. 

We discuss:

• How to program for and communicate with a younger generation
• Dealing with criticism and people who don’t agree with your opinion 
• Approaching and coaching lazy, unmotivated or traumatized athletes
• The reason we don’t actually want to be life-long learners...

Connect with Elisabeth:

• Via her website: https://www.eo-performance.com/
• Via her twitter: @eo_performance

Today’s episode is brought to you by our incredible sponsor: VersaClimber: Our favorite low-impact, efficient cardiovascular strength workout! - Make sure to tell them Brett and Art of Coaching sent you!

Follow me on social media:

Via Instagram: @coach_BrettB

Via Twitter: @coach_BrettB

Subscribe to my YouTube channel here

Learn More About My Courses, Clinics, and Live Events At: www.ArtofCoaching.com