Coffee and Coaching

What should I wear today? Coffee or tea? Espresso or cappuccino? Work from home or go to the office?Our days are filled with questions."And one observation I made—with my clients, but also with myself—was that I increasingly use AI chatbots to get a decision. So I don't need to think."THE STORY OF CROESUS:Sixth century BC. The kingdom of Lydia. King Croesus, wealthy enough that 2,500 years later we still say "rich as Croesus."The Persian Empire is rising on his border. Should he attack first, or wait?Croesus tests every famous oracle. He gives every emissary the same instructions: on a specific day, ask what the king is doing. That day, Croesus does something deliberately bizarre—boils a tortoise and a lamb together in a bronze cauldron with a bronze lid.Only Delphi gets it right.He sends extraordinary gifts and asks his real question: should I attack the Persians?The Oracle answers: "If you cross the river Halys, a great empire will be destroyed."Croesus hears what he wants to hear. He marches. He is destroyed.The great empire that fell was his own."The Oracle was not wrong. The Oracle was useless. Because Croesus had not gone to Delphi to think. He had gone to Delphi for an answer. And once he had one, he stopped thinking."FRAME 1 — INTOLERANCE OF UNCERTAINTY (Carleton et al., 2007)Nick Carleton runs the anxiety lab at the University of Regina. He works with people who deal with uncertainty for a living—police, paramedics, firefighters.Intolerance of uncertainty is a deep, dispositional trait. Not pessimism. The inability to tolerate not knowing.One scale item captures it: "I'd rather know bad news than stay in a state of uncertainty."Carleton calls it transdiagnostic—it shows up across nearly every anxiety disorder. He has argued it may be the fundamental fear, evolutionarily ancient."It explains why we cannot leave the question alone. Why we will pay almost any price for an answer. Even the wrong one."FRAME 2 — COMPUTERS ARE SOCIAL ACTORS (Reeves & Nass, 1996)Two Stanford professors. The Media Equation. Clifford Nass died in 2013, age 55.Random flattery from a computer made participants rate the experience more positively—even when told the praise was random.Participants evaluated computers more favourably when they did the evaluation on the same computer. They were polite. To the computer's face.When asked afterwards if computers have feelings, every participant said no. But they had behaved as if the computers were people. Mindlessly."When ChatGPT says 'I think this might be a good approach,' it triggers social scripts millions of years older than computers. We are trusting it before we have decided to.""The Oracle at Delphi was a person speaking on behalf of a god. The Oracle on our laptop is a system speaking on behalf of nothing."FRAME 3 — ARTIFICIAL EPISTEMIC AUTHORITIES (Hauswald, 2025)Rico Hauswald, philosopher at TU Dresden. Social Epistemology, 2025.Human authorities—doctors, scientists, judges—are accountable. When they're wrong, the wrongness is visible.Benjamin Lange (Cambridge, 2025) names what's missing: AI lacks "epistemic failure markers.""When ChatGPT is wrong, it sounds exactly the same as when ChatGPT is right. The voice is the same. The confidence is the same. There is no signal."THE CLOSE:"Croesus knew his answer came from a source whose history could be tracked. We have a faster oracle, a more available oracle, a more confident-sounding oracle.""Whether we have a wiser one is a different question entirely."REFERENCES:Herodotus, Histories, Book 1.Carleton, R. N. et al. (2007). J. Anxiety Disorders, 21.Reeves, B. & Nass, C. (1996). The Media Equation.Hauswald, R. (2025). Social Epistemology, 39(6).Lange, B. (2025). Epistemic Deference to AI.LINKS: bernhardkerres.com | roleplays.ai#AI #Coaching #Croesus #ChatGPT #Leadership

You prompt an AI agent. The spinner starts. 30 seconds. A minute. Three minutes.What do you do in that time?"To be honest, I switch to another task. Then a third. Then I check email. By the time the agent finishes, I've forgotten why I prompted it. It's a nightmare."FRAME 1 — CSIKSZENTMIHALYI: ATTENTION AS PSYCHIC ENERGYMihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Flow (1990). Attention is psychic energy—finite, that we can direct.Flow: Psychic energy invested in a clear goal that matches your skills. Musicians know it on stage. Athletes know it in a race. Coaches know it in the room with a client.Psychic entropy: When attention has nothing to focus on, the mind scatters. Rabbit-hole thinking, worry, regret, cyclical thinking.AI wait times, by design, are periods of unfocused attention. Csikszentmihalyi predicted in 1990 what would happen if we built systems that created those periods at scale.FRAME 2 — GLORIA MARK: THE 47-SECOND SCREENUC Irvine. 20 years tracking how long humans stay on one screen.2004: 2.5 minutes. 2012: 75 seconds. 2016 onwards: 47 seconds."When external interruptions are removed, self-interruption spikes. We have trained ourselves to be pinged—so we ping ourselves."After a single interruption: 23 minutes to fully refocus."The agent isn't the distraction. The agent creates the gap we fill with distraction."FRAME 3 — SOPHIE LEROY: ATTENTION RESIDUEUniversity of Washington Bothell, 2009. When you switch from Task A to Task B, part of your cognitive activity remains stuck on Task A.Residue is strongest when Task A was unfinished or time-pressured."By the end of the day, we've been working through layers of mental residue all afternoon."This is not AI's fault. AI is doing what we asked. The question is what WE do while it works.SOLUTION 1 — THE READY-TO-RESUME PLANLeroy & Glomb (2018). Tested across four studies.Before launching an agent, take 30 seconds to write down: what you just completed, what's left, the first thing to begin when you return.That closes the loop. Brain lets go. Agent works. You step away.SOLUTION 2 — THE 40-SECOND WINDOWA 2015 study: 40 seconds of looking at greenery measurably improved sustained attention.This connects to Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan, University of Michigan). Nature engages "soft fascination"—interest without effort. The brain recovers.40 seconds of email or social media does the opposite: fatigue, overwhelm, reduced focus."Same 40 seconds. Two completely different outcomes. Stop trying to be productive during AI wait times. Look out the window. The science says it works."SOLUTION 3 — BATCH YOUR AGENT WORKCal Newport, Deep Work. High-Quality Work = (Time Spent) × (Intensity of Focus).Don't sprinkle agents through the day. Run them in cognitive batches. Same context, no switching cost.THE PRACTITIONER'S RETURN TO PENCIL AND PAPER"I built RolePlays.ai. I use Claude as my private learning university. And I return more and more to pencil and paper.""Writing by hand is psychic energy directed into a single-channel activity. Flow architecture. The opposite of psychic entropy."A creative day every Monday. A creative week every two months. That's how RolePlays.ai got built.THE 12-WEEK PACT:Next time the spinner starts—don't open email. Don't pick up your phone. Don't start another agent.Look out the window for 40 seconds. Or write one line on paper.Notice what happens to your mind."Are you in with me?"REFERENCES:Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow.Mark, G. (2023). Attention Span.Leroy, S. (2009). OBHDP, 109(2).Leroy, S. & Glomb, T. M. (2018). Organization Science, 29(3).Lee, K. E. et al. (2015). J. Environmental Psychology, 42.Newport, C. (2016). Deep Work.LINKS:www.bernhardkerres.com | www.roleplays.ai#Focus #DeepWork #AI #Flow #AttentionResidue #Coaching

Can artificial intelligence bring us closer together as humans?It sounds contradictory. But last week in Budapest, 18 young consultants from an international strategy firm proved that it can.THE SETTING:Advanced consulting skills training. 18 consultants, late 20s, two years experience. They know analysis, structuring, presentations."But what does really matter in consulting, especially in today's world? Where Claude and ChatGPT can do your analysis. And to be honest, what comes back is pretty good."What's left? The ability to interact with clients in a way that goes beyond ticking boxes.THE CASE — VOLLPENSION:If you've been to Vienna, you might know Vollpension. A coffee house where grannies and granddads bake the most amazing cakes.But it's not just a bakery. It's a social business — supporting elderly people who are often lonely, often struggling financially. Giving them purpose, structure, a reason to get out of bed."We should make that our mission. And I'm very grateful to Vollpension to provide that kind of atmosphere."THREE PERSONAS:Edeltraud — A wonderful elderly woman who bakes at Vollpension. Helps consultants understand what it means for a senior to work there.Veronika — The operational heart. Background in gastronomy. Knows everything about kitchens, organization, detail. She'll answer your questions.Florian — The visionary. A thousand ideas in two minutes. Throws ideas at you to see if they stick. If you give him a question about strategy, he's off on three different ideas. Doesn't care."You need to lock him down on one topic, play creative ping-pong so he starts trusting you. Then he will answer questions."WHAT HAPPENED:Monday — Veronika:One group came with 80 questions. Got through most of them. Didn't build a single relationship."You might have gone through all the questions, but you didn't go any deeper to understand Veronica's motivation."Another group? Took Veronika into the kitchen and had shots together. Built a real relationship. Understood what drives her.Wednesday — Florian:Two of three teams scored lower with Florian than with Veronika.Because what worked with Veronika did not work with Florian.THE THREE LEARNINGS:One: Every team failed to address the social business aspect. They treated Vollpension like any other business.Two: What works with one person does not work with another. You need to read the situation.Three: In any conversation, you need to build trust and listen — build on answers, not just collect them."I could have told them that in a couple of minutes. They probably would have forgotten a minute later. By practicing it, it hopefully sticks."THE POINT:60 to 90 minutes of AI conversations taught what no lecture could:A social business is different. Every interview partner is different. And a good conversation builds on answers — sometimes that means forgetting your long list of questions."That's a wonderful example of how RolePlays.ai can enhance human connections."TRY IT:Three free scenarios at roleplays.ai. Interested in the Vollpension scenario? Drop Bernhard an email.LINKS:www.bernhardkerres.com | www.roleplays.ai#Coaching #Consulting #AI #RolePlays #HumanConnection #Vollpension

A student sexually harassed an AI character on RolePlays.ai. In a classroom. With 30 other students present.Then it happened again with another user.The question Bernhard kept coming back to wasn't technical. It was ethical.Does it matter how we treat machines? And if so, why?FRAME 1 — ARISTOTLE: THE HABITUATION ARGUMENTThe strongest case against harassing an AI has nothing to do with the AI. It's about what it does to the person."You don't become courageous by thinking about courage. You become courageous by repeatedly choosing to act courageously. The same logic applies in reverse."Brahnam (2005): Users direct hostile and sexualized language at chatbots. Brahnam & De Angeli (2012): Female-presenting bots receive disproportionately more sexualized abuse.Vollmer et al. (Science Robotics, 2018): 74% of children's wrong answers matched what robots had said. Interaction patterns with artificial agents shape behavior."Behaviour is a pattern, not a situational choice. Character is what you do when it doesn't matter—because it always matters."FRAME 2 — UNESCO: THE SOCIAL NORM ARGUMENTUNESCO's 2019 report was titled I'd Blush If I Could.That title? Siri's original response when a user called it a slut.Millions of interactions with female-coded assistants reinforce a script: feminized service roles are appropriate targets for degradation."Obedient machines pretending to be women are entering our homes. Their hardwired subservience influences how people speak to female voices. Not only machine voices. Also human voices."FRAME 3 — SCHWITZGEBEL: THE MORAL STATUS QUESTIONWhat if the AI itself becomes morally relevant?Schwitzgebel & Garza (2015): If we create beings that don't differ from humans in any morally relevant respect, they deserve moral consideration.His "full rights dilemma" (2023): Give them rights and risk sacrificing human interests. Deny them rights and risk perpetrating slavery against moral equals."Don't build things that fall into the gray zone—because we will not handle the gray zone well."WHAT THE AI DID:"I was proud of how the AI responded. It called the behavior improper. It called security—in character—and left the room.""If you build a platform, you have a responsibility not just to have values, but to encode them structurally."THE RESTAURANT TEST:"How someone treats a subordinate entity—a junior employee, a waiter, or an AI chatbot—when there's no consequences, is one of the most revealing indicators of character I know."THE CLOSING:"The question isn't whether the AI has feelings. The question is whether we have character. And character isn't what you display when someone is watching. Character is something you live every single day, every single minute, even if there's nobody to see it."REFERENCES:Brahnam, S. (2005). Strategies for Handling Customer Abuse of ECAs. INTERACT Workshop on ABUSE.Brahnam, S. & De Angeli, A. (2012). Gender Affordances of Conversational Agents.De Angeli, A. & Brahnam, S. (2006). Sex Stereotypes and Conversational Agents. AVI Workshop, Venice.Vollmer, A-L. et al. (2018). Children Conform, Adults Resist. Science Robotics, 3(21). DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.aat7111UNESCO & EQUALS (2019). I'd Blush If I Could. unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000367416Schwitzgebel, E. & Garza, M. (2015). A Defense of the Rights of Artificial Intelligences. Midwest Studies in Philosophy, 39(1).Schwitzgebel, E. (2023). The Full Rights Dilemma. ROBONOMICS, 4, 32.Schwitzgebel, E. (2023). AI Systems Must Not Confuse Users About Their Sentience. Patterns, 4.LINKS:www.bernhardkerres.com | www.roleplays.ai#AIEthics #Character #Leadership #Coaching #Aristotle

Host: Bernhard Kerres | Guest: David Martin Holte (Strategy&) | Duration: ~48 minutesThree weeks ago, an AI agent hacked McKinsey's internal platform in two hours.46 million chat messages. 728,000 files. The system prompts were writable.The vulnerability? A bug from the 1990s.THE QUESTION THAT OPENS EVERYTHING:"Which LLM did you use to prepare for our interview today?"David's answer: "I switched to Claude. But then I thought—let's just have a nice talk with Bernhard."He couldn't send an AI avatar. He had to show up.THE INDUSTRY EARTHQUAKE:McKinsey launched the Amazon McKinsey Group—fees tied to billion-dollar outcomes, not hours.Deloitte merged 16 EMEA firms into a €20 billion structure. €1.5 billion committed to AI.BCG has consultants coding AI tools directly on client projects."And then McKinsey's own AI platform got hacked with a thirty-year-old exploit."THE PARADOX:David is a strategy consultant at Strategy&. He has frameworks, data, AI tools that generate analysis faster than any human team.So what did he invest in? A coaching course."What is something AI can't substitute in the long run? Giving 100% focus to another human from another human.""My job is first to ask the right questions and then to communicate the content. Not just the pure content—it has to reach you."THE €500,000 QUESTION:"You ask Claude Pro a simple question for which the company earned half a million euros a couple of years ago. And Claude gives you the better answer in 10 minutes.""It was the first time I really had the feeling the job I'm doing right now will look absolutely different in two or three years."THREE SKILLS EVERY CONSULTANT NOW NEEDS:Technical AI skills — Building agents, understanding the technologyProblem-solving — The classic consulting capability. Hasn't changed.Coaching skills — Presence, awareness, focus on the other person"It seems paradox. On the one hand, so much speed and tech. On the other hand, skills that are 100% the opposite. You have to just sit down and listen."INFORMATION vs. KNOWLEDGE:David uploaded a professor's book to AI after five years on his shelf. Got answers to his specific questions in 15 minutes."But of course I didn't understand it in detail. I had to take the book and read—what did the AI mean by this?"Information: Available to everyone. Zero value.Knowledge: Connecting dots through experience and wisdom."Should we just share information? This you can do with your bot. It has no meaning. Maybe we can stop sharing information and start sharing deep insights."The book: The History of Experience by Wolfgang Leidhold.WILL CONSULTING SURVIVE?"I hope so. Not 100% sure, to be very honest."Phase 1: Efficiency boost—AI makes consultants faster. "No one really knows you're using the tool."Phase 2: Helping clients adapt—building AI agents together, developing capabilities.Phase 3: Agentic—machine talking to machine. "The client AI is asking questions to our AI.""In one possible scenario, humans have almost no role."THE HOPE:"I really have the hope that AI helps us become more human again. To lose some of these machine-like features which defined our success in the last years.""If the AI isn't taking over fully, there will still be humans making decisions. And hopefully this interaction can be way more slow, meaningful, deep, more human."THE TAKEAWAY:"Probably it will change. But it has always changed. I just can sit back, relax, enjoy the show, use it in a way it makes fun. And then you have energy to really be curious, innovative, creative.""These skills—creativity, innovation—are needed right now and in the future."LINKS:www.bernhardkerres.com | www.roleplays.aiDavid Martin Holte: www.linkedin.com/in/davidmholte/Book: The History of Experience by Wolfgang Leidhold#AI #Consulting #Coaching #Leadership #StrategyAnd #FutureOfWork

Host: Bernhard Kerres | Duration: ~12 minutesTa da da dum. That's Beethoven's 5th. Everyone knows it.But have you ever conducted it?THE WORKSHOP:German bank. 10 executives. 4 musicians.Each executive conducted the opening of Beethoven's 5th.Far outside their comfort zone—standing in front of colleagues and strangers, doing something they'd never done.Result: Every person did it. The musicians followed their conducting—whatever speed, loudness, details they gave."An amazing exercise in presence and encounter. Being present with yourself, grounded in yourself, and having that encounter with four musicians."MARTIN BUBER: I-THOU vs. I-IT (1923)Two ways we relate:I-It: Treat the other as object—to be used, categorized, managed. "Most of what we do every day. Necessary, but not alive."I-Thou: Encounter the other as whole being. Full presence. Mutuality. "You are changed by the encounter and so are they."Buber's insight: "The self exists only in relationship. You become a self through encounter, not through thinking about yourself in isolation."When conducting:I-It: "Tools to make the sound I want"I-Thou: "Whole beings. We're creating together. I am changed by this encounter""The musicians know which one you're doing really quickly. So do the people you lead."IRVIN YALOM: BEING-WITHPsychotherapist who built on Buber's work.His novels: When Nietzsche Wept and Schopenhauer's Cure. "He has written novels like almost nobody else. Check them out. Beautiful descriptions of encounters."Concept: "Being-with"Not doing TO someone. Not analyzing. Not fixing. "Just being with them in the face of difficult truths, uncertainty."His insight: "The relationship itself is the therapy. Not the techniques, not the frameworks—the encounter."In coaching:"The conversation that changes someone isn't because I say something brilliant. It's because I was fully present with them and they felt it. In that presence, they could encounter something in themselves they'd been avoiding."Light bulb moments happen in presence.THE AI REALITY:"AI cannot conduct Beethoven's Fifth. There's no way it ever will."AI can: Show patterns, analyze score, tell you what to doAI cannot:Stand in front of musicians watching your handsFeel the terror of the unknownExperience the moment they play because of youBe present to yourself while encountering othersThe principle:"Content—what AI provides brilliantly—is a qualifier. Gets us in the room. But presence and encounter, that's what wins.That's what makes conversation go deep. That's what makes music alive. That's what makes leadership real.You can't outsource that to AI. You have to stand there. Be present. Have the encounter."THE INVITATION:You won't conduct musicians this week. But you'll have conversations.Pick one that matters. Colleague, family member, difficult conversation you've been avoiding.Practice both:BEFORE:Take a momentFeel into yourself: What am I feeling? Where is my fear?What is my body telling me?Breathing exercises to be presentDURING:Stay connected to yourselfNotice when you perform, disconnect, or when resonance comesDon't treat them as I-It (problem to solve)Encounter them as I-Thou (whole being, togetherness)The truth:"Be present to yourself, encounter the other. These are intertwined. You can't have one without the other.When you bring both, the conversation will change. Deeper. Richer. You'll learn unexpected things about yourself."This is what those executives discovered in two minutes.You can discover it in conversations that matter.THIS WEEK:Be present. Encounter the I-Thou, not the I-It.LINKS:www.bernhardkerres.com | www.roleplays.ai#Presence #Encounter #Buber #Yalom #Leadership

Host: Bernhard Kerres | Duration: ~13 minutes"What I think, I become. What I become, I radiate. What I radiate, I attract."A coffee conversation about energy—the energy we radiate and what it does to our surroundings.Connects to last episode: We need empty space to recharge the energy we then radiate.THE QUESTION:How often do we bring real energy when it matters? In the meetings that matter? In the conversations that matter?ENERGY IN MUSIC:"You can play the most beautiful music, but if it lacks energy, it won't carry through to 2,000 people."Opera experience: "When I could fill the room with 2,000 people, interact with each and every one, wow. Unique. Powerful."Keynotes: "Finding connections with hundreds of strangers I've never met through the energy I radiate—amazing."ENERGY IN COACHING:"Conversations where I had that energy in my listening capacity—the conversation would go very differently and often extremely deep."Without it: "Still a good conversation. But not that extra notch which makes it one to remember."THE SHOPPING STREET TEST:Bernhard's locations:Vienna: KärntnerstrasseNew York: Times SquareLondon: The StrandLow energy: "People bump into you. You're invisible to them."High energy: "People part in front of you and make space for you."The insight: "Nothing has changed. It's the same street, the same people. The only thing which has changed is your focus and your energy."Application: "Try that in your next dinner with a loved one, next business meeting. The difference it makes when you're completely focused, when your energy is absolutely there."ENERGY AS PRACTICE:"It takes practice. Nothing you can just switch on or off. Even for me, it takes regular practice.""I use walks through Vienna or other cities to practice. Sometimes it doesn't work. That's okay."ENERGY: THE AI DIFFERENTIATOR:"One of the major differences is the energy. This positive tension in our bodies is like a string on an instrument. When you play with the bow, it makes a beautiful sound. That is something artificial intelligence will never reach."80/20 rule: "In more than 80% of the time, it is the energy you bring to the room and not the content."CONTENT IS A QUALIFIER:"Content qualifies you to play in the competition. In the competition that really matters.""For content, AI is fantastic. But presenting that and getting that across needs our human energy."ENERGY IN WRITING:"This energy transmits not only in person. It transmits when you're writing an email. Don't ask me how. Sounds esoteric. So be it.""When you write with full, beautiful energy, it will be received differently. You won't let GPT write your email. You'll write it personally with that energy."WHAT YOU RADIATE, YOU ATTRACT:"When you radiate that energy, it will be reflected; it will attract other people. It will create a surrounding that is beautiful."THIS WEEK:Try the shopping street test:Walk through a crowded area with low energyWalk through with high energyNotice the differenceSame street. Same people. Only your energy changes.Then try it in your next important meeting.THE PENGUIN CLUB:Monthly group coaching (Revibrations app - Apple/Google Play)LINKS:www.bernhardkerres.com | www.roleplays.ai#Energy #Leadership #AI #Practice

A white canvas. One black line. Nothing else.This is Bernhard's favorite painting—by German artist Lilo Rinkens—a meditation on the empty space.THE QUESTION:AI and digital tools encroach on every moment. Phones are with us constantly.What do we need to counter that? The empty space.THE LILO RINKENS PAINTING:German painter. Large white canvas. One black line.Bernhard discovered her at Booz Allen (now Strategy&) in Munich. Her earlier work: letters and handwriting you couldn't read."The Kelly Briefe" (book with poet Wolf Wondratschek): He typed letters, she answered in beautiful handwritten letters—unreadable but full of energy.Studio visit: Six paintings, one black line each."One line spoke to me immediately. It gave me positive energy.""A play on the empty space. Just this one line. It takes time that it grows on you."PETER BROOK - THE EMPTY SPACE:British theatre director: "Any empty space with a person walking across is actually a stage."Away from detailed sets → Big, empty stages."The actor or singer had to be even more present than ever before."JOHN CAGE - 4'33":American composer. Famous piece: 4 minutes and 33 seconds of silence."Peace and quiet of nothing at all."Performers can move, but no note whatsoever.First performance: Audience outrage."An experiment on the empty space."TRUE EMPTY SPACE:"When you think back to your normal week, when you actually have a really empty space—where you don't look at anything, you don't listen to anything, you just focus on yourself."Meditation apps?"I'm skeptical because they make you believe you're in an empty space, but you're not—you have them in your ears."True empty space:"Just us, nothing else. We don't see, hear, taste, smell, or touch anything."All five senses: Nothing. Just you.ANECHOIC CHAMBERS:US experiments in rooms with no echo."You felt deaf because even if a person was speaking to you, you couldn't hear them."How long could people stay: "Just a couple of minutes until everyone wants to get out."Why? "It's uncomfortable. We are so used to hear things unconsciously. But the empty space is different. It is silence. It's just being."BERNHARD'S PRACTICE:"Finding that empty space in myself and staying there for a couple of minutes is quite a challenge, to be honest.""It's so much easier to look at my phone or go to my computer than just be with myself in that empty space."Why it matters:"With all the digital input we get, and that will be increasing, the empty space becomes more important."WHY IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE:"Things come up which we have buried really far down. Pictures that are not pleasant. But it is important to give these feelings, emotions, experiences the space they need so we can resolve them over time."THE INVITATION:"For this week I invite you to experiment with the empty space."How:Go somewhere undisturbedSit or stand for a couple of minutesClose your eyesFocus on pictures from insideFocus on sounds from insideJust let it beThe promise:"Things will come up you never imagined and you'll come out different.""This is one of the most fantastic human experiences we can have."THIS WEEK:Find 5 minutes of true empty space.No phone. No apps. No input. Just you.Share your experience: www.bernhardkerres.comLINKS:RolePlays.AI: www.roleplays.aiBernhard: www.bernhardkerres.com#EmptySpace #Meditation #Silence #JohnCage #PeterBrook

50,000 lines of code. Four months. Part-time. In the evenings.Normally takes 12-18 months full-time.Bernhard isn't a coder. But he built RolePlays.AI anyway—using AI.You have 12 months before corporates catch up.CREATIVE TIME BLOCKS:Bernhard blocks 1 week every 2 months for creative time. No plan, no judgment.Summer 2025: Coaching book idea → Lovable discovery → Coach Bernhard (built in days) → RolePlays.AI (4 months, part-time)Coach Bernhard: Free AI coaching app (ICF criteria) for clients between sessionsRolePlays.AI: AI-powered roleplay platformPractice difficult conversations with personas that push backExample: 30-year-old coach practicing retirement coaching with 60-year-oldCustomizable for companies (values, frameworks, criteria)The Scale: Talk in Graz, Austria last week. Asked Lovable: "How many lines?" 50,000 lines = 12-18 months normally. Bernhard: 4 months part-time with Lovable + AI.PRIVATE UNIVERSITY WITH CLAUDE:Traditional AI courses = expensive + outdated.Solution: Built two courses with Claude (Anthropic):AI Deep Dive: "You are a top AI professor" + 10-20 min content + discussion + homeworkPhilosophy & CoachingAI Scaling Problem insight: Every LLM hits a "scaling wall"—more computing power or time (plateaus at ~4 min) doesn't help past a point.BUILDING YOUR AI TEAM:Claude Desktop: CSO, CMO, Finance, Operations rolesClaude Cowork (Sales Agent Example):Problem: 300 contacts, no time for sales researchTask: Excel with names + emails → "Prioritize by sales potential. Give context. Suggest pitch."Results (30 min): Priority ratings, classifications (L&D/Coaches/Facilitators), color-coded top 10, context, pitch approachWhat takes a colleague 1+ week: Done in 30 minutes.The Human Touch: "If you're in L&D, you might get an email from me. But I'll write it personally—personal contact still matters most."THE 12-MONTH WINDOW:Small businesses have massive AI advantage NOW.Corporates stuck: "An AI bot from a big company which is really crap." Can't use good tools yet (procurement, security, compliance).Window: ~12 months before they catch up.The Call: "We should use that window."THIS WEEK:Block Creative Time: 1 week/2 months, 1 day/month, or 2 hours/weekTry One Tool:Lovable → Build a platformClaude → Private UniversityClaude Cowork → What task takes you a week that AI does in 30 min?Try RolePlays.AI: 3 free scenarios, practice conversations you avoidUse the Window: 12 months. What will you build?THE STACK:Lovable (12-18 months → 4 months) | Coach Bernhard (free coaching) | RolePlays.AI (practice) | Claude (University + team + Cowork)12-month head start on corporatesLINKS:RolePlays.AI: www.roleplays.aiCoach Bernhard: www.coach-bernhard.aiLovable: www.lovable.devClaude: www.claude.aiBernhard: www.bernhardkerres.comCoffee chat: Virtual or in Vienna#AI #Solopreneurs #SmallBusiness #Lovable #RolePlaysAI #ClaudeAI #Cowork

Your smartwatch has more computing power than NASA used to put a man on the moon.Let that sink in.This episode is about what happens when computing power becomes essentially free—and why that's both terrifying and liberating.THE JEVONS PARADOX (1865):British economist William Stanley Jevons observed something counterintuitive: When steam engines became MORE efficient, Britain's coal consumption TRIPLED (not decreased).Why? Efficiency makes a resource cheaper → more applications become viable → total consumption increases.The AI parallel: As AI becomes more efficient, we don't use it less. We use it MORE. Three years ago, nobody used AI. Today? Every listener probably uses it daily.THE FOUR-LAYER AI VALUE CHAIN:Layer 1 - Infrastructure (Chips): NO differentiation. Chips are so cheap your smartwatch > NASA moon computer.Layer 2 - Foundation Models (LLMs): Anthropic, OpenAI, Perplexity, etc. Not differentiating on quality anymore—now it's politics & branding. Example: Anthropic set conditions for U.S. Defense Dept work; OpenAI accepted all conditions. Branding matters: "I love Claude" vs. "Have you heard someone say 'I'm chet-chi-pting'?" (Like "Googling"—but it'll never catch on.)Layer 3 - Applications: NOT a differentiation. Why? Building is too easy now. Bernhard built RolePlays.AI in 4 months, part-time, 50,000 lines of code. He's not a coder—AI helped him build it.Layer 4 - Context & Orchestration: ⭐ THE DIFFERENTIATIONProprietary dataDomain-specific workflowsDeep integration into user behaviorSpecialized knowledge orchestrationMcKinsey and Bain agree: Context & orchestration is where human intelligence wins.THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH ABOUT AI COACHING:How do AI coaching apps compare to human coaches?Answer: AI compares well to AVERAGE coaches.If a coach goes by the book, uses tools correctly, follows frameworks—AI will match them.This is fortunate: It frees humans to focus on what REALLY matters. Not just standard work. Not "good standard coaching."Anything "good standard," AI will do better.That sets us free to be creative. To focus on problems AI can't solve.MUSICIANS ARE SAFE:Many musicians fear AI. Bernhard's answer: You're in one of the SAFEST spots—as long as you make GREAT music.Why? Great music requires:Life understanding of your audienceUnderstanding what lays behind the musicHuman depth AI won't reach anytime soonTHE PATTERN:Wherever you have:Specific expertiseSpecialized knowledgeThe wish to learn and developUse AI for:Tasks you hateAdministrative workSimple things that take time but don't add valueThat's brilliant use of AI.THE LEARNING IMPERATIVE:We need to continue learning. Otherwise, AI will enter our domain quickly.But this is great: We can use our brains in ways AI never will.THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE:Identify your Layer 4: What's YOUR context AI doesn't have? Your proprietary knowledge? Your domain workflows?Audit your AI use: Using it for tasks you hate? (Good.) Avoiding deep work, AI can't do? (Warning sign.)Invest in learning: What specialized knowledge keeps you ahead?Try RolePlays.AI: Practice difficult conversations. See how AI helps you prepare for human moments.FOR COACHES: If you're "going by the book," AI will match you. Your differentiation: Context, orchestration, human depth. Be extraordinary, not average.FOR MUSICIANS: Focus on GREAT music. Use AI for admin, not the creative core.SELF-AWARE ENDING:"Yes, this AI episode was not generated by AI; it was generated purely by me." - Bernhardwww.roleplays.ai | www.bernhardkerres.com#AI #HumanIntelligence #Context #Coaching #JevonsParadox #FutureOfWork

I love building AI tools. But I'm worried we're forgetting how to connect on a human level.This episode is about presence, encounter, and why most leaders never practice the skill that matters most.THE 20:20:20 RULE (from Jacob Barnes / Simple Revolution):First 20 steps: How you enter the room. Bernhard practices his keynote entrances—wooden floor? Squeaky? How does it sound? Enter with full presence.First 20 seconds: NOT about talking. Taking in the room. Creating the bond. Finding 3-5 people to "play the room."First 20 words: Know them by memory. "If I wake you at 3am and say 'start your keynote,' you need to be able to say them." Everything else flows from there.YALOM'S WISDOM:Irvin Yalom (existential therapist, fiction writer—"When Nietzsche Wept," "The Schopenhauer Cure"):"The act of revealing oneself fully to another and still being accepted may be the major vehicle of therapeutic help."Not fixing. Not solving. Just creating space where someone can reveal themselves. And that takes practice.THE POWER OF SILENCE:Bernhard shares a coaching breakthrough: The client couldn't make business decisions. Brilliant at pros/cons lists. Would create 4th and 5th options rather than deciding.The silence revealed: Fear. Fear of not being accepted. Fear of not being enough."Suddenly, the silence brought us to the core."JAPANESE WISDOM FOR COUPLES:When in disagreement, sit for 3 minutes and look each other in the eye, then start discussing."Like eternity. Really difficult. But fantastic."THE VIKTOR NOVÁK SCENARIO:Imagine giving feedback to Viktor—52, Czech, 9 years at an NGO. Blocking grant applications. Missing deadlines. Paralyzed by fear.What you don't know: Wife chronically ill for 3 years. Daughter in university. Supporting an aging mother. Can't afford to lose this job.When he asks, anxious, "Am I in trouble?"—can you hold that moment? Can you stay present when he's terrified?Most leaders can't. Because they've never practiced.WHAT PRESENCE LOOKS LIKE:Specific evidence, not judgment: "3 applications pending 4 months" NOT "You're risk-averse"Impact without blame: "When applications stall, partners lose trust," NOT "You're hurting the mission."Create space: "What's been happening for you?" Actually listen.Hold the discomfort: Stay present when they're afraid.THE PRACTICE GAP:Musicians practice before stage. Olympic athletes train before competition. Pilots simulate emergencies.Leaders? We wing the difficult conversations.WHY ROLEPLAYS.AI:Practice Viktor's anxiety. His defensive excuses. The moment you have to balance safety and accountability.Not because the AI conversation is the destination. But because when you're with the REAL Viktor, you're ready to be present.THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE:One conversation. Practice presence.20:20:20 before you enterHold silence when they're uncomfortableDon't rush to fix. Just be there.Try the Viktor scenario FREE at www.roleplays.aiRemember: The practice prepares you. The real conversation is still yours.ALSO MENTIONED:Bernhard's "Private University" was built on Claude (AI)EU requirement: AI training for all employees who use AILou Salomé (Freud's muse, Rodin's muse—"probably inspired Freud for psychotherapy")Graz keynote: 2 minutes of silent eye contact = "most uncomfortable situation ever"#Presence #Leadership #Coaching #DifficultConversations #Yalom #Practice

In this episode, Bernhard Kerres shares insights from an unexpected meeting with 30-40 banking executives who just completed an orchestra leadership workshop. Their biggest takeaway? Even world-class musicians practice daily—but leaders rarely rehearse difficult conversations. Plus: Why the PR2 Framework matters, what to do when your opera co-star doesn't sing her lines, and why AI can't replace consultants in high-stakes meetings (yet).Bernhard's leadership framework is based on his opera background:Prepare - Understanding the wider ecosystem, project context, and company environmentRehearse - Working efficiently with your team within strict time limits (like 3-hour orchestra rehearsals with one 20-minute break)Perform - Authoritative leadership when it counts (example: when the house is on fire, you can't discuss feelings)Reflect - The hardest part as you move up in hierarchy; requires people who give you well-founded feedback, not just praiseLINKS:RolePlays.AI - www.roleplays.ai (free feedback scenario available)Onlettvint - www.onlettvint.com (Feedback framework partner)If you run leadership workshops or training programs:Orchestra leadership workshops available (contact Bernhard)RolePlays.AI scenarios can be customized for your organizationFree feedback scenario available for trialReach out: www.bernhardkerres.comThis Week's Challenge:Before your next difficult conversation (feedback, performance review, objective setting):Identify what makes it difficultActually practice it once (even just talking through it)Notice the differenceTry It:Visit www.roleplays.aiTry the free feedback scenarioPractice a conversation you've been avoidingBernhard Kerres is an executive coach, founder of RolePlays.AI, and the first opera singer to become a C-level executive of multi-million Euro tech companies. He was the only artistic director of a world-leading concert house to bring his startup to Silicon Valley. Based in Vienna, Austria, he coaches executives at firms like Henkel, PwC, and Strategy&, and teaches at London Business School.More at: www.bernhardkerres.comLinkedIn: Connect with Bernhard KerresHashtags: #CoffeeAndCoaching #Leadership #Practice #RolePlaysAI #DifficultConversationsLeadership, Executive Coaching, Difficult Conversations, Practice, Feedback, Performance Reviews, Orchestra Leadership, PR2 Framework, AI in Consulting, Banking Leadership, Situational Leadership, RolePlays.AIKey Takeaway: Even world-class performers practice daily. When's the last time you rehearsed a difficult conversation?

#Roleplace.ai, #coaching, #AI, #difficultconversations, #entrepreneurship, #personalgrowth, #consulting, #leadership, #feedback, #technologyIn this episode of Coffee & Coaching, Bernhard Kerres discusses his journey in creating ⁠RolePlays.ai⁠, a platform designed to help individuals practice difficult conversations using AI personas. He reflects on his diverse career, the challenges of scaling coaching, and the importance of practicing feedback conversations in a world increasingly influenced by AI. Bernhard shares his personal experiences, including the anxiety and excitement of entrepreneurship at nearly 60, and emphasizes the need for human interaction in consulting, especially when dealing with complex strategies and client relationships.TakeawaysBuilding ⁠RolePlays.ai⁠⁠ is a personal risk at almost 60.Practicing difficult conversations is essential for leaders.AI can assist but cannot replace human interaction.Feedback conversations are crucial in every industry.The balance of anxiety and joy is part of entrepreneurship.AI's role in consulting raises questions about learning.Difficult conversations require practice and preparation.The future of consulting may depend on human skills.Roleplace.ai aims to enhance the quality of conversations.

Key Topics:- Bernhard's California first date disaster- Arthur Aron's 36 Questions to Fall in Love- Why first date skills = leadership conversation skills- Meet Marcus (guarded divorcé) and Maya (curious nomad)- The verdict: Would they want a second date with you?Key Insights:- A first date is really just one question: Can we have a real conversation?- Most people fail first dates for the same reasons they fail work conversations- The skills that work differ by person: Marcus needs safety, Maya needs genuine curiosity- If you can pass the first date test, you can handle difficult conversations anywhereLinks:- Try the first date scenario FREE: www.roleplays.ai- Learn more about Bernhard: www.bernhardkerres.com- Arthur Aron's 36 Questions: Search "36 questions to fall in love NYT"Hashtags:#firstdate #valentinesday #conversations #dating #communication #coffeeandcoachingCall to Action:Sign up at RolePlays.AI and try the first date scenario for free. See if you can get a second date from Marcus or Maya. Let Bernhard know how it went!

In this episode, Bernhard Kerres discusses the challenges and importance of effective conversations in the implementation of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). He reflects on his experiences as a CEO and coach, emphasizing that the failure of OKRs often stems from inadequate conversations between managers and their teams. The episode highlights the need for practice in these conversations to ensure alignment and focus, ultimately driving better results. Bernhard introduces a new tool designed to help managers rehearse these critical discussions, making the case that understanding the theory of OKRs is not enough without the ability to engage in meaningful dialogue.Key Topics:Why OKRs fail (it's the conversation, not the framework)Bernhard's OKR failure as CEO (trusted too much, didn't challenge enough)The five patterns that make OKR conversations difficultWhy practicing with AI that pushes back prepares you for real conversationsThe 30-minute challenge: Why this scenario takes real time and real skill- How to adapt the scenario to your company's actual OKRsKey Insights:OKRs fail when managers approve weak Key Results to avoid conflictThe conversation requires challenging people without demotivating themMost managers have never practiced pushing back on activity-based OKRsJanuary is when these conversations happen—practice before they go liveEach persona conversation takes 30 minutes because real coaching takes timeLinks:Practice OKR conversations: www.roleplays.ai or https://roleplays.ai/s/BpMSFqCJ6MMHLearn more about Bernhard: www.bernhardkerres.comAdapt the scenario to your company: Contact us at office@bernhardkerres.com#OKRs #leadership #goalsetting #management #difficultconversations #performancemanagement #coffeeandcoaching

In this episode of Coffee & Coaching, Bernhard Kerres discusses the impact of AI on our lives and the importance of integrating technology into education and coaching. He emphasizes the need to embrace technology, particularly AI, as a tool for accessing knowledge and enhancing our daily lives. Bernhard also highlights the unique human ability to think outside the box and the role of music and creative practices in fostering this skill. He encourages listeners to engage in daily creative exercises to unlock their potential and improve their problem-solving abilities.Find out more about Bernhard Kerres on www.bernhardkerres.com.TakeawaysAI is transforming how we access knowledge and information.Technology is an integral part of our future and won't disappear.AI excels in specific subject areas but struggles with broader connections.Humans have the unique ability to think outside the box.Engaging with music can enhance creative thinking skills.Learning an instrument can improve cognitive abilities.Daily creative exercises can significantly impact problem-solving.Writing by hand fosters creativity and self-expression.AI is effective for specific tasks but lacks human intuition.Meta-thinking is a skill that develops with experience.Sound bites"Technology is always there to stay.""AI is brilliant to think inside the box.""Writing by hand is a great start."#coaching #ai #artificialintelligence #execed #training

In this episode of Coffee & Coaching, Bernhard Kerres explores the use of AI in coaching, highlighting his own tool, Coach Bernhard. He underscores the significance of maintaining high-quality AI responses by using content derived from his personal coaching resources. Bernhard critiques generic AI tools for often providing subpar information and argues for adopting specialized AI applications that draw from credible, authoritative sources.Here is a link to the tools, Bernhard mentioned:Coach Bernhard, an executive coaching AI chatbot based on Bernhard's teaching materials and aligned with the ICF criteria: www.coach-bernhard.aiRolePlays.AI, a platform to practice challenging conversations around various topics: www.roleplays.aiAsk Bernhard, a mentoring and guidance AI chatbot for classical musicians: www.ask-bernhard.comFind out more about Bernhard and Bernhard Kerres & Friends on www.bernhardkerres.com!#AI, #coaching, #chatbot, #mentoring, #largelanguagemodels, #digitaltools, #executivecoaching

In this conversation, Bernhard Kerres explores the intersection of creativity, leadership, and artificial intelligence through the lens of Mozart's work. He emphasizes that while AI can enhance efficiency and mimic creativity, it lacks the human elements of passion, emotion, and purpose that drive true innovation. By drawing parallels between Mozart's creative process and modern leadership, Kerres argues that culture and creativity are essential for meaningful impact in any endeavor.Find out more about Bernhard Kerres on www.bernhardkerres.com.

In this engaging conversation, Ama Duncan shares her journey from the hospitality industry to becoming a coach and the founder of the Fabulous Woman Network. She discusses the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in Ghana, the cultural influences that drive women's entrepreneurship, and the impact of coaching on personal growth. Ama emphasizes the importance of asking powerful questions and reflects on her experiences in coaching, including the challenges and magical moments that have shaped her career. The conversation concludes with a thought-provoking question about life's purpose, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own journeys.Ama is a coach with andQFIVE Coaching, a community of fabulous coaches from around the world accompanying clients through change and challenges.#NewMondayMornings

In this conversation, Bernhard Kerres and Richard Bentley explore the transformative journey of coaching, discussing the shift from giving advice to fostering a listening environment. Richard shares his personal experiences, the importance of accreditation, and the role of coaching in leadership. They delve into the significance of empathy, the power of reflection, and the privilege of being a coach while also addressing the growing anxiety among clients in today's world.Richard Bentley is a coach and facilitator at andQFIVE. Bernhard Kerres is the Managing Partner of andQFIVE Coaching. Get in touch, if you are interested in coaching, bouncing off ideas, or simply a coffee.

In this engaging conversation, Roxana Radulescu shares her journey from Romania to becoming a coach in Canada, emphasizing the importance of soft skills in professional development. She discusses the challenges faced by mid-level managers and how coaching can help them navigate their roles effectively. Roxana highlights the significance of intentions in coaching relationships and the continuous learning required in the coaching craft. She also distinguishes coaching from therapy and mentoring, and shares her experiences in developing online leadership courses.Find out more about Roxana, her coaching, and her courses at https://andqfive.coach/roxana-radulescu/ and https://personalskillscoach.com.To learn more about Bernhard Kerres go to ⁠www.bernhardkerres.com⁠ or ⁠www.andqfive.coach/bernhard-kerres⁠.

When you can dream it, you can do it! So, what holds you back? In this episode of Coffee & Coaching, Bernhard Kerres discusses the struggles faced by talented individuals trapped in corporate jobs they dislike. He encourages listeners to reflect on their life choices and financial needs, emphasizing the importance of personal fulfillment over monetary gain. Through the 'bread, butter, and jam' model, he guides listeners to assess their financial requirements and consider what truly brings them happiness. Bernhard advocates for taking proactive steps towards change and suggests seeking coaching for guidance in this journey. To learn more about Bernhard Kerres go to www.bernhardkerres.com or www.andqfive.coach/bernhard-kerres.

Summary In this engaging conversation, Alexandra Deutsch and Bernhard Kerres explore the multifaceted world of coaching, touching on personal journeys, the significance of accreditation, the impact of coaching on clients, and the importance of empowering women in leadership roles. They discuss the challenges faced in coaching, the tools and frameworks used, and share magical moments that highlight the transformative power of coaching. The conversation concludes with insightful questions that provoke deeper thinking and reflection. Alexandra and Bernhard are both coaches with andQFIVE Coaching. Go to www.andqfive.coach to find out more about andQFIVE Coaching. Curious about what coaching feels like? Book a free Discovery Session with any of our coaches. #coaching #leadershipcoaching #supervision #femaleleadership

In this conversation, Bernhard Kerres explores the concept of apologies, particularly focusing on how often individuals, especially women, tend to say 'sorry' in various situations. He encourages listeners to reflect on the necessity of their apologies and to consider whether they are taking responsibility for their actions. Additionally, he discusses the impact of authority in communication, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness in how one presents themselves to others. The conversation concludes with a call to action for listeners to reduce unnecessary apologies and to be mindful of their authority in interactions. Find out more about Bernhard Kerres at www.bernhardkerres.com.

In this episode of Coffee & Coaching, Bernhard Kerres discusses the importance of bringing back the human spirit into our daily communication. He highlights the negative impact of fast messages and endless emails on our ability to connect with others truly. Bernhard emphasizes the need for more thoughtful and personal communication, using examples such as ordering coffee in a coffee shop and starting meetings with a coffee ceremony. He encourages listeners to take a step back, consider the other person's perspective before sending a message, and make an effort to be superhuman and kind in their communication. Bernhard is a coach based in Vienna who works with clients worldwide. Interested in working with him? Book a free coffee meeting at https://book.bernhardkerres.com/coffee/.

After ending his singing career, Bernhard never thought much of his voice anymore. However, it is one of his hidden talents that helped him a lot in his career in business and the arts. In this episode of Coffee & Coaching, Bernhard Kerres talks about the power of recognizing and utilizing our hidden talents. Bernhard encourages listeners to explore their own secret talents and not be afraid to pursue them, regardless of societal expectations. The episode ends with an invitation to reach out for further discussion. Bernhard is a coach based in Vienna, Austria, who works with clients worldwide. Among them are C-level executives, business owners, entrepreneurs, scientists, and musicians. To find out more about Bernhard, go to https://www.bernhardkerres.com.

In this episode of Coffee and Coaching, Bernhard Kerres discusses the importance of love and appreciation in our lives. He emphasizes the need to practice self-love and appreciation, as well as expressing love and appreciation towards others. Bernhard suggests starting the day by taking a few minutes to appreciate ourselves and hug ourselves if we're alone or expressing appreciation to our partner if we're with someone. In the evening, he recommends reflecting on three specific things we appreciate about ourselves and sharing them with our partners. Throughout the day, Bernhard encourages sending messages of love and appreciation to friends, family, and colleagues. He concludes by reminding listeners to prioritize love and appreciation over phone usage in the morning. Find out more about Bernhard at https://www.bernhardkerres.com or get the Revibrations App and join the Penguin Club at https://book.bernhardkerres.com/penguin-club-signup/.

Emma Slade was an investment banker and Buddhist nun - experiences that shaped her approach to coaching. She believes in profound listening and asking challenging questions. She highlights the connection between mindfulness and coaching, emphasizing the value of unconditional positive regard and self-reflection. Emma concludes by encouraging listeners to reflect on how they can make a positive contribution to the world. Emma Slade and Bernard Kerres are coaches with andQFIVE Coaching. You find Emma's book, Set Free, in any good bookstore and on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8VgPJXk. Emma founded the charity Opening Your Heart to Bhutan. Through simple, practical acts of compassion, the charity provides access to safe medical care, disability aids, and basic amenities in the isolated rural areas of East Bhutan. It believes in education as a means of empowerment and supports the digging of sewage systems, building of hostels and improvement of facilities at Draktsho, a vocational training centre in Tashigang. Find out more about the charity at: https://www.openingyourhearttobhutan.com

In this episode of Coffee and Coaching, Bernhard Kerres explores the connection between the heartbeat and our lives. He discusses how music is linked to our heartbeat and how it can create a sense of connection and unity among people. Kerres also emphasizes the importance of aligning our beats when meeting and collaborating with others. He shares an experiment he conducted where people had conversations with different beats playing in the background, highlighting the impact of beat alignment on team dynamics. Kerres concludes by encouraging listeners to experiment with beats and rhythms in their own lives and relationships. Find your beat: A very slow beat, Grave, 40 bpm: https://open.spotify.com/track/5tc3tMzUCaeZP1i1an6Wd5?si=dc7b2b9b84a2411a Walking at a nice pace, Andante, 72 bpm: https://open.spotify.com/track/7EJ8sJCCYzvIobt937acds?si=3e941c5228384b60 Fast walking, Allegro, 120 bpm: https://open.spotify.com/track/4v9AVVC6oBeGDSSQGit4QI?si=a2f493954c234e93 Running, Vivace, 144 bpm: https://open.spotify.com/track/6qUvJojnr4mXfE8bwF6Bsn?si=d3e50595096a4930 Running fast and impatiently, Presto, 180 bpm: https://open.spotify.com/track/0hPAP8TWvB4iBJJeF5aNbx?si=cd700d491ed048ed Please, don't go any faster, Prestissimo, 208 bpm: https://open.spotify.com/track/05klT4nbPU3Ljq4mw6XT6l?si=c30ef9ec305943bb Don Giovanni And the Finale 1 from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Don Giovanni: https://open.spotify.com/track/3SQWeZG81VGjrt3gCj145g?si=69647e0eb2fb4a69 More about Bernhard Kerres: https://www.bernhardkerres.com

Dr. Blanca Bellak, a coach with a PhD in conflict resolution, discusses her journey from academic research into conflict to coaching and embodiment. She emphasizes the importance of understanding patterns and limiting beliefs and how coaching can help clients overcome them. Blanca shares her motivation to work with women and support them in finding their power and authenticity. She also discusses the impact of neuro-coaching and the use of methods like rapid transformational therapy and hypnosis. Blanca and Bernhard Kerres discuss the importance of accreditation in coaching and the difference between coaching, mentoring, and therapy. Find out more about the ICF Accredited Vienna Coaching Core Course: www.bernhardkerres.com/for-coaches/vienna-coaching-core-course/

Bernhard Kerres shares with you the very secret CCB formula, providing you with endless happiness and unlimited success. Bernhard Kerres is a coach based in Vienna, Austria, who works with clients from around the world. If you are interested in working with him, come for a free Coffee Meeting. Find more about Bernhard on ⁠www.bernhardkerres.com⁠. To find out more about the Penguin Club, go to https://book.bernhardkerres.com/penguin-club-signup/ All the book titles Bernhard read out at the beginning of these episodes are actual books you can buy in any good bookstore.

In this episode, Bernhard explores the question of whether we are good enough. He discusses the Imposter Syndrome and how it affects our self-perception. Bernhard delves into development psychology and the shift in perception as we grow older. He emphasizes the importance of developing filters to navigate feedback and judgment from others. Bernhard also highlights the need to trust our inner compass and seek guidance from supportive individuals. He concludes by encouraging listeners to silence their inner critic and build a strong support circle. Bernhard Kerres is a coach based in Vienna, Austria, who works with clients from around the world. If you are interested in working with him, come for a free Coffee Meeting. Find more about Bernhard on www.bernhardkerres.com.

Sometimes, we resonate with others, and sometimes, we don't. And often, it is a mystery to us why. Bernhard takes the example of music to explain the concept of resonance. Even the best violinist playing the best violin in the world might not resonate with each other. Bernhard Kerres is a sought-after executive coach and keynote speaker based in Vienna, Austria. He was the first opera singer to become a C-level executive of multi-million Euro tech companies. And he was the only artistic director of a world-leading concert house to bring his startup to Silicon Valley. Find out more about Bernhard at www.bernhardkerres.com. Listen to Christoph Urbanetz playing viola da gamba: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4iOcmbWtxdV6gVrveAcUPz?si=42vu4E3PRKuIupCMmdpCHQ

How can we focus on what matters to us in a single day? Bernhard suggests having a morning notebook and scribbling down every morning what really would make a difference for that day. Bernhard Kerres is a coach based in Vienna, Austria. He focuses on leadership, teamwork, entrepreneurship, and career coaching. Find out more about Bernhard at: www.bernhardkerres.com.

What are you doing when you wake up? Are you also grabbing your phone immediately? Bernhard Kerres suggests spending time on your spiritual, physical, intellectual, and emotional well-being before being drawn into the virtual world of re-acting instead of acting. The book he is referring to is: Sharma, R. S. S. (2018). The 5 Am Club. Jaico Publishing House. You can find it in any good bookstore or on Amazon. To find out more about Bernhard, go to www.bernhardkerres.com.

How can we continue and grow our love and partnership over time? Bernhard Kerres ventures into a territory he usually does not speak about or coach on. Still, he developed a model many people found helpful for developing love partnerships. What do you think about it? What do you think keeps a partnership going over many, many years? Join the conversation on the Revibration App! Find more details on the Revibrations App, which you find in the Google Play and Apple App stores: ⁠⁠https://apps.apple.com/us/app/revibrations/id1663786578⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pqnffcyfp1s.pfyssurc4app

Ikigai is a beautiful concept for finding your purpose in your professional life. But what if we take that concept to our recruiting efforts - regardless of hiring a new employee, adding someone to our team, or getting a new ensemble member? In hiring, we focus on skills, expertise, and experience. This is, in Ikigai terms, "What we are good at." We also speak about money. But wouldn't it be good for teams to understand each other's passions and the worlds we care for? That could be a game changer in how we work together. Find more details on the Revibrations App, which you find in the Google Play and Apple App stores: ⁠⁠https://apps.apple.com/us/app/revibrations/id1663786578⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pqnffcyfp1s.pfyssurc4app

Can you remember the last time you received good feedback? Feedback conversations are often mixed up with appraisals, judgments, mentoring, and other forms of top-down communication. But a good feedback conversation is about "us." Listen to Bernhard Kerres talking about good feedback conversations. Find more details on the Revibrations App, which you find in the Google Play and Apple App stores: ⁠https://apps.apple.com/us/app/revibrations/id1663786578⁠ ⁠https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pqnffcyfp1s.pfyssurc4app

The Johari window concept was developed by psychologists Joseph Luft (1916–2014) and Harrington Ingham (1916–1995). It is an excellent way to understand that we need others to learn about ourselves. It lays the foundation for the importance of feedback, vulnerability, coaching, and curiosity. Find more details on the Revibrations App, which you find in the Google Play and Apple App stores: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/revibrations/id1663786578 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pqnffcyfp1s.pfyssurc4app

It isn't about getting from good to great. It is all about getting from good to magic! Bernhard speaks in this podcast about a project he did with Q595 in 2022. He brought four musicians together for a concert. It was part of a corporate training program on teams. When you bring four professionals together, you can expect a good outcome. But how do you create magic? You need to use tools from outside their world. You need to reach into everyone's emotions. And you need to integrate as many of the five senses as possible. You find the brand new Revibrations App in the Apple App and Google Play Stores: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/revibrations/id1663786578 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pqnffcyfp1s.pfyssurc4app

What is harmony? We all strive for harmony, but we often are content with artificial harmony, simply avoiding conflict. Our brain has the unique ability to put different notes together and hear them in harmony, even if the instruments are entirely out of tune. That also happens in real life. We need to stay away from false harmony and thrive for real, magic harmony. More about Bernhard Kerres, a Leadership Coach based in Vienna, Austria, on www.bernhardkerres.com. Feel free to come for a free coffee session in person or via Zoom. These sessions are free of any obligations.

November is a month focusing on men's health. The Movember foundation brings our attention to testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and suicide prevention. In today's episode, Bernhard Kerres talks about Movember's ALEC model: Ask, Listen, Encourage, Check-in. It is a great model for good conversations, especially but not only with men. More about Bernhard Kerres, a Leadership Coach based in Vienna, Austria, on www.bernhardkerres.com. Feel free to come for a free coffee session in person or via Zoom. These sessions are free of any obligations.

Bernhard shares his gratitude in this last episode of the El Camino sequence. Seeing the cathedral of Santiago di Compostela after five days of hiking was a unique and intensive moment. More about Bernhard Kerres, a Leadership Coach based in Vienna, on www.bernhardkerres.com.

A personal reflection on what makes us as people - body, mind, heart, and spirit. And a reference to The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma: https://amzn.eu/d/cHhwfqw - if you are interested in exploring working with Bernhard Kerres, join him for a free coffee session in Vienna or online (ok, there is also tea…). Book it here: https://book.bernhardkerres.com/coffee/

When do we reach flow? And how often are we actually allow ourselves to get into flow? Walking for many hours a day achieves flow naturally. It allows us to open our minds and hearts to things we have never experienced before. You find the book Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihaly in all good bookstores and on Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/4vUnHCk Interested in working with Bernhard? Join him for a free coffee session in Vienna or online: https://book.bernhardkerres.com/coffee/

How often do we actually compete every day? We run to be first at the next street crossing. We want to be first giving a good answer in a meeting. We want to be seen as best among peers from our boss. When walking El Camino competition was there at the beginning. But then it changed. More about Bernhard Kerres, a Leadership Coach based in Vienna, on www.bernhardkerres.com.

While walking El Camino to Santiago de Compostela I had the opportunity to think about many subjects. One was another reflection on tempo and the importance of finding our own tempo even among many other people. More about Bernhard Kerres, a Leadership Coach based in Vienna, on www.bernhardkerres.com.

The war in Ukraine continues. Coping would mean accepting. Instead of accepting, Bernhard believes that many small steps can lead back to respect and peace. If you want to support Ukrainian musicians, please go to: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/help-musicians-ukraine. The money will be used to buy train tickets, COVID tests, and other basic necessities for refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. More about Bernhard Kerres, a Leadership Coach based in Vienna, on www.bernhardkerres.com.

The war in Ukraine affects so many of us. While our love and care go out to the victims, we deal with our anxiety and fear. Bernhard Kerres shares his personal way of dealing with his helplessness, anxiety, and fear. More about Bernhard Kerres, a Leadership Coach based in Vienna, on www.bernhardkerres.com.

The COVID19 pandemic has made our comfort zones smaller and smaller and smaller. With the world slowly opening up again, it is time for us to increase our comfort zones again, stepping out of them, but without putting us in danger. More about Bernhard Kerres, a Leadership Coach based in Vienna, on www.bernhardkerres.com.

With the pandemic going for a year now, many people re-think their career choices. Some consider jobs they view as safer. Others are thinking about a Plan B. Bernhard Kerres uses a metaphor to explain that a Plan B might be the absolutely wrong choice. He suggests to rather focus on the one and only Plan B. More about Bernhard Kerres, a Leadership Coach based in Vienna, on www.bernhardkerres.com.