Ken Coleman

If your day starts with your phone, you’re already reacting instead of leading. Most people don’t realize how much constant stimulation is lowering their focus, creativity, and drive. That’s why so many people feel stuck... but you don't have to stay there.

We have to push through the awkward to build relationships in every area of our lives.

Studies show that work best friends increase productivity and engagement at work. Building relationships with your team and employees is crucial for productivity and overall happiness in your job.

Sometimes a promotion can steal the thing you love the most. We often make the mistake of thinking that just because someone is really good at their job means they will also be really good at leading people. Not everyone is made for management.

In the wise words of my friend, Jade Warshaw, "Stop making yourself the exception." It's easy to come up with excuses and reasons why it's okay to stay stuck. But the people who really succeed recognize that it takes hard work and dedication to move forward.

When communicating to your team, what do you need to say and how do you need to say it?

It might seem strange that UCLA coach John Wooden started every season by teaching his players how to tie their shoes. But it wasn’t micromanagement. It was a system built on mastering the small details. When leaders get the fundamentals right, excellence becomes the culture.

A lot of what we learn in school never shows up in real life. What is something you think should be taught in school?

What if thinking outside the box isn't a good thing?

A difficult team member doesn’t always need a quick correction. They often need a real conversation. A good leader knows which one to do first.

You don’t grow by avoiding friction and uncomfortable conversations. You grow by advocating for yourself, having the conversation, and working toward a solution instead of trying to win every argument.

3 questions for risk management 1. What's the best thing that can happen? 2. What's the most likely thing to happen? 3. What's the worst thing that can happen?

"Your brain is not broken."

The one gift I wish I could give every professional is...

We all struggle with the fear of people's opinions, but it's how you choose to handle that struggle that matters. If you don't manage it well, it will lead to burnout in both your personal and professional life.

Asked Zac Bauermaster, school principal, his take on whether 5-year-old boys should be in school on my new episode of Front Row Seat.

When does wealth become evil?

Your attention is one of your most powerful leadership tools. Great leaders don’t just react to what’s loud or urgent. They’re intentional about focusing on what actually matters most.

If you want to grow, you have to get honest about change. When someone calmly brings something to your attention, don’t dismiss it. Ask yourself two questions: 1. What’s really at stake here? 2. How invested am I in protecting what matters most?

We accept discomfort when it builds our body, but resist it when it builds our character. Growth in your career and your life will require both. The question isn’t how to avoid pain, it’s how to use it.