The Art Of Coaching

E191 | A Tool For Making Better Decisions

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 obvious decision making is one of our most heavily used and important skills. Yet more often than not we rely on emotional or gut reactions to make them and if we can’t come to a decision ourselves… our next option is usually to reach out to friends/family to validate our choices. 

Luckily, we have a tool that can help make the decision making process exponentially clearer…

Click here for your free download: Artofcoaching.com/decision

 

This opportunity matrix will equip you with a systematic way of characterizing variables important to the decision making process (safety, security, physical and emotional health, social and relational needs, aspirations and desires), allow you to compare several opportunities side by side and weigh tradeoffs as you make your decision.

 

Give it a try and let us know how it works for you! Also, use it in your hiring process (as an extension to the tools suggested in E182: Critical Tips for Improving Your Hiring Process) to see if your candidates are right for your position. 

 

Speaking of decision making- here’s an easy one. Our partner SAGA fitness offers the easiest and cheapest set of BFR cuffs on the market. They sync directly with your phone and do all of the calibration and programming for you so you can get an efficient workout from the comfort of your own home sans tons of equipment and time. Use code BRETT20 for 20% off your order!

 

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

E190 | Why It Seems Like We Never Have Enough Time

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 of this: 

• Are we simply filling our idle time with other tasks?
• Is our to-do list mal-aligned with our values?
• Are we comparing our time to others?
• How are we “valuing” our time?
• Why do we hate unwinding?
• Who owns our time?

We’ll tackle these questions and other fallacies then give you a new approach* to figuring out how to make more time for the things that matter. 

*Hint: it’s not to wake up earlier, use a planner, go to bed later, or set a timer.. 

While you’re here, check out the resources mentioned in this episode:

• Tips for being more productive: E49: Productivity That Matters

• A strategy for dealing with a day that goes off the rails: Chaos checklist
• Our online course designed to help coaches navigate careers and life: VALUED
• A free quiz to discover what drives dictate your behavior: Drives Quiz
• Want to learn how to build your brand? Come to our Brand Builder workshop!

Speaking of time and being more efficient- there’s no tool more valuable than the VersaClimber. This is the ONE piece of equipment I’ll use when strapped for time and needing a good, hard workout that won’t crush my joints. Reach out to our friends and tell them Brett and Art of Coaching you! 

The Apprenticeship - Join us before the end of the year!

• Cardiff (Wales): October 9-10th

• Asheville: November 13-14th

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

E189 | Brad Stulberg: The Practice of Groundedness

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. 

 

But “groundedness” belongs in a category of its own. Defined as “the internal strength and true self confidence that comes from learning how to practice the timeless skills of acceptance, patience, presence, vulnerability and community”- today’s guest Brad Stulberg is on a mission to dispel myths around this ancient practice while making it more practical for the everyday person and leader. 

 

Brad researches, writes, and coaches on health, well-being, and sustainable performance. He is bestselling author of the new book, The Practice of Groundedness, and also Peak Performance. His work has been featured in The New York Times, New Yorker, Atlantic, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine, Forbes, and more. In his coaching practice, he works with executives, entrepreneurs, and physicians on their performance and well-being. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

His new book, The Practice of Groundedness, has been marked down by over 40 percent for a limited time! If you are thinking about getting a copy, take advantage of this great deal!

We discuss: 

• Ways groundedness differs from typical mindfulness/gratitude practices
• Strategies for combating heroic individualism and how get off the “Hedonic Treadmill”
• Building strong community and the need for local as well as distant ties
• “Performative” versus true vulnerability - how to achieve the later 

Connect with Brad: 

Via Twitter: @BStulberg 

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

Speaking of achieving performance, recovery and health at the highest level, we’d be remiss not to mention our greatest partner in the space- Momentous. Check out their entire line of protein and supplements at livemomentous.com and use code BRETT25 at checkout for 25% off your first order and 15% off any subsequent orders!

E188 | Ethan Kross: Chatter - The Voice In Our Head, Why It Matters & How to Harness It

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 “triggers” this inner voice and some very practical tools that can prevent it from overpowering our current condition. 

Ethan Kross is one of the world’s leading experts on controlling the conscious mind. An award-winning professor in the University of Michigan’s top ranked Psychology Department and its Ross School of Business, he is the director of the Emotion & Self Control Laboratory.

Ethan has participated in policy discussion at the White House and has been interviewed about his research on CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, Anderson Cooper Full Circle, and NPR’s Morning Edition. His research has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, The New England Journal of Medicine, and Science.

We discuss: 

• What is “chatter”, where does it come from and how can we nip it in the bud?
• 3 practical strategies to combat these negative thoughts and voices
• The benefit of creating a personal “chatter board of advisors”
• Tips for using and desiging your environment to quiet your mind 

Connect with Ethan:

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

Via Instagram: @ethankross 

Via Twitter: @ethan_kross

 

Some of the chatter I have surrounds my lack of activity when I’m on the road and the toll travel takes on my body. Luckily, packing my SAGA BFR cuffs in my suitcase has helped immensely. If you’re like me and want a tool to help you get a hard, efficient workout that you can take anywhere (including a hotel room), check out their WIRELESS BRF cuffs. Code BRETT20 will get you 20% OFF your order (nearly $50!). 

The Apprenticeship - Join us before the end of the year!

• Nashville: September 25-26th - SOLD OUT

• Cardiff (Wales): October 9-10th
• Asheville: November 13-14th

E187 | Archetypes: What They Are, What They Aren‘t & How They Help Us Grow

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 because while the terms and ideas are still accurate, the surrounding context, interpretations and use of the framework have become convoluted and misconstrued. 

 

First and foremost, archetypes are universal and recognizable patterns of human behavior. They are simple heuristics that can be used to make a complex system (humans) slightly more comprehensible. Organizing them into a unifying roadmap can be important and helpful but in no way is it meant to be a complete nor static solution for approaching human interaction.

  

In this episode we’ll cover:

• What archetypes are & what they are not 

• How archetypes can be misperceived and misinterpreted

• Using archetypes to understand behavior and become a better leader

• Revisiting common archetypes and the overarching framework  

While we’re here, I’d like to give a shoutout to our good friends at Momentous and a special thanks to my friend Chris DiSanto who always makes sure our AoC army is taken care of at live events. If you’re looking for the highest quality supplements on the market, there’s only one company we trust- Momentous. Use code BRETT25 to get 25% off your first order! 

 

If you’re looking for more on the concept of Archetypes, you can check out the podcast reflection sheets (they accompany every episode) and our online course Bought In (the sequel to the book that started it all Conscious Coaching). 

 

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

E186 | Dr. Vanessa Bohns: You Have More Influence Than You Think

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 to engage in socially undesirable behavior).

Why? We all have more influence than we think but because we aren’t aware of how we come across or are too nervous to ask for what we actually want/need, we often struggle to see the direct link between our behavior and people’s changing perceptions, actions and opinions.

Dr. Vanessa Bohns is an experimental social psychologist and professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University, and holds a PhD in psychology from Columbia University and an AB from Brown University. She is the author of You Have More Influence Than You Think: How We Underestimate Our Power of Persuasion and Why it Matters (OUT SEPTEMBER 7th, 2021). Her writing has appeared in the New York Times and Harvard Business Review, and her research has been featured by the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and NPR’s Hidden Brain.

We discuss:

1. Why informal influence (gestures, facial expressions, tone) can trump formal influence
2. The best (and worst) mediums to use when influencing others
3. Why you should always just MAKE THE ASK if you want or need something
4. Consent & why we say yes even when we don’t want to
5. The 3 things we can do to assess the influence we have and better utilize it

Connect with Dr. Bohns:

*PSA* Pick up her book TOMORROW: September 7th, anywhere you can get the book. 

Via Twitter: @profbohns

Via her book: You Have More Influence Than You Think: How We Underestimate Our Power of Persuasion and Why it Matters

Via her website: https://www.vanessabohns.com/

 

You heard from Dr. Bohns herself that experience and knowledge are two VASTLY different things. What if we could see ourselves influencing others in real time, understand what tactics we have at our disposal and how to make sure we come across as we’d like. That’s what the Apprenticeship (our live two day workshop) is all about: role playing, video analysis, a research backed evaluation, and lots of practice. But we’re officially down to our last few Apprenticeships of 2021! 

Join us before the end of the year: 

• Boston: September 11-12th  SOLD OUT
• Nashville: September 25-26th 
• Cardiff (Wales): October 9-10th
• Asheville: November 13-14th

Finally, a resource that can help with self-awareness: Take our FREE and SHORT quiz to learn what really “drives” you and underlies your behavior. Better yet, have your whole staff or team take the quiz. Unlike other personality assessments (of which this is not), we measure your behavior in different contexts because we all show up differently depending on time, place and people. So take it once when you’re in a great mood, once in a poor mood, once when you’re hangry, once when you’re feeling fresh. You get the point.

artofcoaching.com/whatdrivesyou

E185 | Juliet Starrett: The Truth About Taking Risks, Changing Careers & Building a Business All While Being a Kick-Ass Parent

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 is something they all seem to have in common- a burning desire to solve a specific problem. 

 

Juliet Starrett is the perfect embodiment of THAT entrepreneurial path. In addition to her role as CEO of the world-renowned digital health and fitness company — The Ready State, she’s also an attorney, mother, and former professional whitewater rafter. 

Juliet co-founded The Ready State with her husband, Kelly in 2008. At the time it was called Mobility|WOD, and it went on to revolutionize the field of performance therapy and self-care. Juliet and Kelly also co-founded San Francisco CrossFit and StandUpKids together. She’s a Precision Nutrition Level 2 certified coach and co-author (with Kelly) of the Wall Street Journal bestseller, Deskbound. She also helped mastermind the marketing campaign that drove Kelly’s books Becoming A Supple Leopard and Ready to Run onto the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.

Connect with Juliet: 

Via their website: www.thereadystate.com

Via LinkedIN: Juliet Starrett

Via Instagram: @julietstarrett  

On today’s episode we cover: 

1. Hiring and firing good people: the most important part of small business
2. How to adopt an abundance mindset when it comes to competition in your field
3. Battling burnout and the myth of balance in business and life
4. Working with your spouse and navigating the overlap of personal & professional life

Spots for our Fall 2021 small group mentorship program (The Coalition) are almost gone! If you’re ready to take the next step in building your career, personal brand or business, join our growing family and get personalized mentorship and accountability from our team and a diverse array of professionals. Don’t wait, Apply here!

If you’ve been searching for an effective non-load bearing workout (perfect for returning from injury and travel), you need SAGA BFR cuffs. The first wireless version to hit the market, SAGA has made what was once a niche, complex tool accessible to everyone. We’re glad to have them as a part of our team! Get $50 OFF by using code BRETT20 at checkout!

E184 | Patricia Madson: How Improv Helps the World's Best Thrive in Sport, Business & Beyond

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 assimilate to social settings in the U.S. to comedy, it’s now used pervasively as a learning tool for business school students, C-suite executives, military, lawyers, doctors, coaches and beyond. 

Today, we’re speaking with one of the world's authorities on improvising in daily life, Patricia Ryan Madson. She’s the author of IMPROV WISDOM: Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up and a professor Emerita from Stanford University where she’s taught since 1977. She is a frequent speaker for business and educational groups and her corporate clients have included: IDEO, Google, Gap Inc.'s Executive Leadership Team, The Lucille and David Packard Foundation, the Banff Centre for Leadership, Sun Microsystems Japan Division, Apple Computers, Adobe Systems, and Price Waterhouse. 

Today, we get to learn from her: 

• The essential “rules” and guiding principles of good improvisors
• What do to with someone who doesn’t want to improvise or is “too cool for school”
• The ramifications of NOT accepting and practicing improv in our daily lives
• Why it’s easy to understand but very hard to practice consistently

Connect with Patricia:

Via her website: www.improvwisdom.com

Via her blog: www.improvwisdom.blogspot.com

Via her email: improvwisdom@gmail.com

 

If you’re interested in trying improv yourself, come to one of our communication workshops. At The Apprenticeship, you’ll be exposed to all of the principles we discuss on today’s show and many more. Not only that, we’ll equip you with the skills you’ll need to tackle life and leadership’s messy moments and a chance to practice them and fail safely. 

Speaking of practicing safely, SAGA’s wireless BFR cuffs allow us to workout and rehab safely from anywhere in the world. Using the app which automatically detects your occlusion pressure and adjusts the cuffs accordingly, you’ll never have to second guess whether your set-up is correct. These are now a must in all of my travel bags. Use code BRETT20 for 20% off your next order.

E183 | Uptalk, Choosing the Right Opportunities & Why You Need More Fiction in Your Life

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 and watching trashy tv
• What to do about information and input overwhelm 
• A different approach to thinking about difficult decisions

If you have any feedback or want your question answered on our next casual conversation Friday, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter - artofcoaching.com/begin and email info@artofcoaching.com! 

Look- our favorite part of these fun Friday episodes is that they cover a wide range of topics while allowing our listener a break from some of the heavy and/or serious topics we cover during the week. That’s exactly how we view the Momentous performance products- they target not just elite athletes, but the regular person and their protein is the best tasting out there! Use code Brett25 for 25% off your first order and 15% off each of the following. 

Also, connect with us @aoccoaching on Instagram. This is our “new” home for helpful communication tools, quotes, questions to ponder and even the occasional meme!

E182 | Critical Tips For Improving Your Hiring Process

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, some research suggests that 81% of new hires fail…. But why? 

The answer is actually quite simple, it’s the fit. Either individuals are put in the wrong role, it’s the wrong company, they didn’t know what they wanted or they weren’t properly vetted in the first place... 

In addition to discussing our company process, today I’ll share a tool we’ve developed to assess fit; a tool that arose as a result of conservations I had with individuals we’ve mentored in communication and leadership training (see artofcoaching.com/mentoring for more) and of course, our own trial and error.

Tools like these will feature prominently at our upcoming Brand Building Workshop. This two day workshop is NOT the same as our Apprenticeship. This will be an intimate, intensive gathering of professionals who want to learn and practice tools and strategies for clarifying and growing a brand, and to understand the nuances of building a business in a way that works for them. 

Head to artofcoaching.com/brand for more information and to apply! 

Speaking of brands, I want to give a massive thank you to Chad Nelson and Yeti. We appreciate juggernauts like them rooting for underdogs like us trying to make a difference at the grassroot level. Be on the lookout for more collaboration between us and if you do come to one of our workshops or join the Coalition, don’t be surprised if you see their stuff well represented or in your hands… 

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