The Art Of Coaching

The knot in your stomach. That flush of unease when you know you’ve fallen short of your own standards.  The only way to truly adapt and evolve is through real vulnerability—not the gentle, polished kind from TED talks, but the raw honesty that forces you to confront hard truths about yourself.  This isn’t about stepping out of your comfort zone in a clichéd way; it’s about embracing the discomfort and going to war until you’re fully transformed. Today’s guest, Kyle Holland, knows a thing or two about facing challenges head-on. As an Exercise Physiologist with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, he’s worked in some of the most demanding environments and spent 10 years with the 160th SOAR(A), a Special Operations Unit in the Army. Kyle has also trained professional athletes and MMA fighters at Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning and worked with both the University of Iowa and Louisville’s football programs. A devoted husband and father of three, Kyle brings a grounded perspective to every topic he tackles. In this episode, Brett and Kyle dive into real talk on topics including: Taking accountability for your actions when you’re in the wrong How to turn your setbacks into springboards for grow with grace  Strategies to avoid being cut by the double-edged sword of strengths and weaknesses Why politics gets us so riled up  *Brett reveals a major life change and how he’s choosing to respond We want to thank Kyle for joining us! Follow him on X at @CoachK_Holland and on Instagram @coachkyleholland. You can also find him across the AOC universe—at our live events and online in our digital community. AOC WORLDWIDE - If you’d like to host one of our Live Events in the United States or ABROAD, we’d love to bring AOC directly to you.  This includes Speaker School, Brand Builder, and our new Writer’s Workshop. We’re hitting the road and would love to partner with you to create an amazing experience for you, your team, and your community.  Reach out to us at [email protected] and our team will work on the logistics. THE APPRENTICESHIP - We’re coming back to the northeast March 22nd-23rd!  Join us and our friends from King Strength & Performance in Livingston, NJ for our highly interactive 2-day workshop for those looking to improve their ability to communicate, lead, and build strong relationships.  This isn’t a “rah-rah,” motivational, death by powerpoint seminar.  Instead, you’ll experience the practice, coaching, and feedback you need to truly grow.  And better yet, you’ll get to take home a quantifiable communication evaluation tool, as well as several other tools to help you strategically approach any conversation.  Sign up TODAY.  We’ll see you there! THE COALITION - We’re all busy, but we still strive to grow. How do you truly measure progress? It can be a tough pill to swallow, but it’s worth remembering: intentions mean nothing without action. If you need help distinguishing between what’s urgent and what truly matters in your brand or business, then this group is for you! Think of it as your personal board of advisors—no BS, just a clear framework to help you start taking action. It's virtual, so it fits easily into your schedule, and includes a retreat to a fun location! If you're tired of the excuses and ready to act on your dreams of more, fill out this form, or reach out to us at [email protected] and our team will be in touch about getting you in our next round.. Related Episodes: E350 | The End of The Year Goal Audit You Need E311 | Vulnerability in Leadership Referenced Resource: Book: Crystalizing Public Opinion by Edward Bernays  Follow Us: Website: ArtofCoaching.com Instagram: @coach_brettb X: @coach_brettb

Audit. It’s one of the most unsettling words in the English dictionary, carrying a connotation of fear and unease that makes people shy away from even the slightest hint of it  But, like most intimidating things, an audit becomes far less daunting once you look at it more closely. One definition of an audit is simply “a systematic review or assessment of something.” Think of it as a straightforward check-in—a moment to take stock of where you stand and where you want to go. At the end of the day, an audit is really about something we talk about time and time again: accountability. It’s a chance to be honest with ourselves about what’s working, what’s not, and how we can move forward with intention. In today’s episode, Brett guides you through practical steps to reflect, recalibrate, and get back on track before the year wraps up. If you wait until January it will be too late. Topics we’ll dive into include: Assessing your goals and determining when to pivot How to  measure growth and allow yourself grace when it’s lacking Identifying your needle movers and deciding if it’s time to double down  Letting go of the things and people who no longer serve you Constructing an immediate action plan to get started NOW If you find this episode helpful, check out our most updated FREE Self – Reflection Guide or browse through any of our other free resources! We’ve also created an amazing virtual course called Blindspot designed to help you tackle the barriers keeping you from achieving your personal and professional goals. Consider joining our Mighty Networks Digital Community, where you’ll gain access to information, discussion, and a group of professionals (including the AoC Team) who are serious about their development and will help you confront the biggest obstacles keeping you from achieving your goals.  For only $19.99/ month (free cancellation at any time) you can take your communication, leadership, and relationship skills to the next level.  If you’d like to host one of our Live Events in the United States or ABROAD, we’d love to bring AOC directly to you.  This includes Speaker School, Brand Builder, and our new Writer’s Workshop. We’re hitting the road and would love to partner with you to create an amazing experience for you, your team, and your community.  Reach out to us at [email protected] and our team will work on the logistics. New to our content? Start with the foundational text that inspired it all—grab a copy of Conscious Coaching today! If you’d like to purchase a signed copy, proceeds will go to supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Association. Your support of our small business means the world to us, and we’re incredibly grateful to have the chance to personally thank you for being part of our community! Related Episodes: E303 | Critical Questions To Ask Yourself Before The Year Ends Recommended Resource: Take our Drives Quiz! Follow Us: Website: ArtofCoaching.com Instagram: @coach_brettb Twitter: @coach_brettb

“I’M DONE.” It’s one of the most frustrating feelings in the world.  You’ve tried everything to fix things but just can’t get through to someone. You keep hitting the wall over and over.  But what if there’s a way to revisit the problem, to approach it from a different angle, and open their minds (and ours) to new possibilities?  In this compact episode, Brett gets straight to the point of navigating these messy situations, helping you zoom out to see the situation for what it truly is, and recognize when it's time to look in the mirror—ultimately leading to a resolution when it feels like all hope is lost. Key subjects covered: Diagnosing the REAL issue: the most crucial first step to solving any problem How to see into your blindspots through someone else’s perspetive Two types of errors, their differences, and how to avoid both The “Triple A Approach” to ensure YOU aren’t the problem Understanding the role our ego plays in the root cause of our discontent One of our missions as a company is to be a beacon for people facing challenges like those we discussed in today’s episode—whether you want to become a better leader or navigate the scary realities of entrepreneurship. Our 1:1 mentoring program was built to fill that gap and provide you with a clear path to progress. Let us know how we can help. Reach out at [email protected]. The Apprenticeship - Join us for a live Leadership Training Workshop that will make you more socially agile. When we say “leadership training,” we’re not talking about cliché trust exercises or bland motivational speeches. This workshop dives into the essential skills that people often wish they'd learned earlier—how to manage tough conversations, navigate power dynamics, negotiate effectively, and drive meaningful change. If you're tired of people-problems, want to grow as a leader, or aspire to step into a leadership role, this event is for you! Join us on March 22-23, 2025, in Livingston, NJ, and take your leadership abilities to the next level. Check out our full 2025 live event schedule to find the date and location that work best for you! New to our content? Start with the foundational text that inspired it all—grab a copy of Conscious Coaching today! If you’d like to purchase a signed copy, proceeds will go to supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Association. Your support of our small, family-run business means the world to us, and we’re incredibly grateful to have the chance to personally thank you for being part of our community! Related Episodes: E313 | How To Communicate With Someone Who Shuts Down or Stonewalls E343 | The Power of Indirect Influence: Strategies for Convincing Stubborn People Referenced Books: Team of Teams by Stanley McChrystal The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman Extra Stuff: Explore our favorite books across business, leadership, psychology, and more—click here or visit artofcoaching.com/readinglist/ to get our FREE reading list. Visit our Amazon storefront for our favorite books, home office essentials, gym gear, grooming tools, and even coffee brewing essentials—all personally tested and trusted. Click here or visit amazon.com/shop/coach_brettb for all the goods. Follow Us: Website: ArtofCoaching.com Instagram: @coach_brettb Twitter: @coach_brettb

Empty Coaching.  Words and phrases that lack teeth. “Good job! You’re getting there! I like that.” “We’ve got to get better. C’mon, step it up. That’s not what I’m looking for.” We’ve all been guilty of letting these clichés fly out of our mouths at one point or another. But do they actually help inspire change or simply fill the silence? In today’s episode, we cut through these hollow lines and explore how we, as leaders and coaches, can move beyond surface-level feedback to foster both immediate performance improvements and long-term growth..  Brett and our guest, Tex McQuilkin, get to the heart of what makes feedback impactful—what to say, when to say it, and how to become the kind of leader the world truly needs. Tex, a national-level presenter, coach, and content creator, brings his expertise as a certified strength and conditioning specialist and holds a Master’s in health behavior change. He’s led seminars in 16 countries, working with everyone from professional athletes to Navy SEALs. Today’s show is a very fun and honest conversation between two friends and colleagues on a range of topics including: Augmented feedback: the different types and how to make each one impactful The #1 tactic any coach or leader can use to improve IMMEDIATELY Shame as a motivator and our ability to harness negative emotions How treating our thoughts as “tourists” can help us defeat our negativity bias And *BONUS*: What Michael Myers can teach us about coaching We want to thank Tex for joining us! Follow him on Instagram @mcquilkin, check out his new podcast, Captains & Coaches, and catch him across the Art Of Coaching universe—whether at our live events, in our mastermind group The Coalition, or online in our digital community. The Apprenticeship - Become more socially agile with our live Leadership Training Workshop. When we say “leadership training,” we are not referring to cheesy corny trust-falls, motivational speak, or anything of the sorts.  We are talking about the things that people say they wish they would have known earlier in their career and life - how to navigate difficult people and conversations, power dynamics, negotiations, and implement change. If you deal with people-problems at all, if you’re in a leadership position or want to be in a leadership role, if you want LESS DRAMA - you need to get to this event! Check out our entire 2025 live event schedule for the best date and location for you! New to our content? Start with the foundational text that inspired it all—grab a copy of Conscious Coaching today! If you’d like to purchase a signed copy, proceeds will go to supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Association. Your support of our small, family-run business means the world to us, and we’re incredibly grateful to have the chance to personally thank you for being part of our community! Referenced Episodes: E342 | Unpacking The Controversy of Nike's Latest Ad Referenced Article: What Shamu Taught Me About A Happy Marriage

Our lives are not the movies.  When sudden, unpredictable events like family hardships or natural disasters strike, it can feel like we’re living in one. But more often, the changes in our stories are subtle.  The turmoil is internal, and we’re left to wrestle with our challenges quietly, on our own.  Today’s guest is no stranger to this real-life push and pull. She knows what it’s like to juggle the expectations of motherhood, navigate life transitions, and manage the chaos that comes with it all. Dr. Emma Laird, PT, DPT, OCS is a board-certified physical therapist at Pro Kinetix in Oakland, California, specializing in orthopedic care. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from MGH Institute of Health Professions and is a certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. Emma brings a holistic approach to helping her clients return to their favorite activities while promoting lifelong movement health. A Bay Area native, Emma is passionate about sports and strength training, values she learned early on from her active upbringing. When she's not working, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé, their dog, exploring local breweries, and staying active outdoors. Today’s show is a real-world conversation on topics such as: Maintaining a healthy connection with your partner during a season of change The myth of our “best self” and how optimal is fluid Managing internal and external pressures on your career during family changes  Redefining success and recalibrating your goals to align with your new life path The power of showing up consistently as your authentic, imperfect self We want to thank Emma for joining us! If you’re in the Oakland, CA area and need help recovering from an injury, visit her and her team at Pro Kinetix. You can also find her in our Art Of Coaching universe facilitating one of our live events and online in our digital community. The Apprenticeship - Bottom line, this is for anyone who coaches, mentors, or helps others in any capacity. It’s for leaders who aren’t just talking about personal growth but are ready for a different type of challenge. Our live leadership training workshop goes beyond the usual clichés. No cheesy trust falls or empty motivational speeches. We dive into the real skills you wish you’d learned earlier in life: navigating tough conversations, handling difficult people, managing power dynamics, and driving real change. If you deal with people-problems at all, are in a leadership position, or want to step into one—and if you're ready to turn personal growth from lip service into real commitment, THIS EVENT IS FOR YOU! Check out our entire 2025 live event schedule for the best date and location for you! Related Episodes: E313 | How to Communicate With Someone Who Shuts Down and Stonewalls E339 | Scott and Jamie Livingston: Overcoming Challenges In Relationships