The Art Of Coaching

We’ve all had somebody in our life we genuinely wanted to help — but couldn’t seem to get through to. Maybe they’re going through a rough season. Maybe they seem shut down. Maybe they’re stuck in a pattern they can’t see. Sometimes that person’s been us. This episode digs into what’s actually happening when someone won’t let you in, why logic almost never changes behavior, and what to do instead. We cover why most people default to the wrong influence tactics when they’re trying to reach someone, what people are really protecting when they put up walls, and how comparison — even when it comes from a good place — can make the problem worse. If you’ve ever said “they’re just not motivated” about someone you care about, this one’s going to reframe that for you.   “If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide, please seek professional help. You can reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline anytime by calling or texting 988.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​“   What You’ll Learn:   ∙ Strategies for breaking through when someone seems despondent or completely shut down   ∙ What to check yourself on when you catch yourself problem-solving instead of connecting   ∙ ⁠The one influence strategy you’re probably relying on too much — and why it’s making things worse   ____________________     Follow Us: Website: ArtofCoaching.com Instagram: @coach_brettb X: @coach_brettb

Most people have spent years studying feedback — the frameworks, the techniques, the dos and don'ts. But almost nobody has ever been asked one simple question before receiving it: How do you want feedback? That's the focus of today's episode. Brett breaks down why this single question might be the most underrated communication tool in your arsenal — and why it works on a level most people never think about. It's not a hack. It's not a trick. It's old-style values that the noise of modern leadership advice has buried. And once you start using it, you'll wonder why you ever walked into a feedback conversation without it.   What You’ll Learn:   ∙ Why most feedback conversations fail before a single word is spoken.   ∙ How one question disarms defensiveness and gives you useful intel at the same time.   ∙ ⁠The difference between catering to someone's preferences and surrendering to them.   ∙ Why this is power dynamics in action — and why that's a good thing.   ____________________     Follow Us: Website: ArtofCoaching.com Instagram: @coach_brettb X: @coach_brettb

For myself and a lot of other people, it seems like folks are getting more and more unprofessional. Not just individuals — organizations too.    People hide behind screens. They don’t want to have real conversations, and it chews up time and wastes energy.   You’ve got to find a way to get past that in today’s world.   So today we do a broad ranging Q&A on how to be assertive when you need to be — whether you’re dealing with a lazy contractor, a business that didn’t deliver, or just trying to get out of your own head.    How to frame conversations whether they’re over email or in person, so you decrease the likelihood of things escalating. How to take the governor off, say what you need to say with a clear, assertive message, and maintain your composure in the process.   What You’ll Learn:   ∙ How to say the hard thing without over-explaining, apologizing for it, or walking it back   ∙ Why most people mistake conflict avoidance for kindness — and what it's actually costing them in their relationships, career and credibility   ∙ How to deal with people who are unprofessional or hide behind screens instead of having a real conversation   ∙ How to stop overthinking   ____________________     Follow Us: Website: ArtofCoaching.com Instagram: @coach_brettb X: @coach_brettb

In this episode, Brett breaks down many of the themes that rarely get addressed in modern leadership conversations. He talks about power dynamics, internal and external conflict, and what it actually looks like to lead when the situation isn’t clean or clear. That includes navigating manipulative behavior, managing seemingly no-win situations, and making decisions that can carry real personal and professional ramifications. The situations faced can tempt you to soften your standards or drift into people-pleasing just to keep external stakeholders satisfied. Brett explores how to avoid that trap, how to read the room more accurately, and how to assess what’s really going on beneath the surface — not just in others, but in yourself. He also shares an update on his upcoming book with Penguin Random House, which releases December 1, and explains why he chose to focus on the morally gray, psychologically demanding side of influence and leadership. Preorders are live at artofcoaching.com/book.   What You’ll Learn:   ∙ The morally gray decisions that challenge your assumptions and beliefs   ∙ How internal conflict can be more destabilizing than external opposition   ∙ The subtle ways leaders drift into people-pleasing to satisfy stakeholders   ∙ Navigating manipulative behavior and seemingly no-win environments   ____________________     Follow Us: Website: ArtofCoaching.com Instagram: @coach_brettb X: @coach_brettb

Most people can name a great coach or leader. Far fewer can explain what actually makes one. In this episode, Brett breaks down what separates truly elite coaches and leaders from everyone else—and it's not what most people expect. From the role of self-awareness to the uncomfortable truth about dark triad personalities who win, Brett challenges the romanticized version of coaching and replaces it with a more honest, battle-tested one. If you work with people in any capacity—athletes, executives, teams—this episode will sharpen how you see the craft and yourself.   What You’ll Learn:   ∙ The specific traits that separate elite coaches from effective ones   ∙ Why measuring success by wins alone misses the full picture   ∙ Common arguments people make to defend toxic coaching—and why they fall short   ∙ How self-awareness directly impacts a coach's ceiling and longevity   ____________________     Follow Us: Website: ArtofCoaching.com Instagram: @coach_brettb X: @coach_brettb