Ken Coleman is Focusing on the Next Generation of Leaders in New Podcast with Ramsey Solutions

He’s a master in the art of “peopling,” helped develop thousands into successful “suits,” and has one goal for you: “Get better. Move up. Lead well.” Ken Coleman has a new podcast with Ramsey Solutions, Front Row Seat, which pulls back the curtain, letting listeners ask some of your most pressing questions to top leaders.

“I want to remove that velvet rope and let people behind the scene and hang out with me,” Coleman said. “Because I’m blessed to sit and talk with some crazy talented and successful people.”

Working in media wasn’t always on the radar for Ken Coleman. But the idea of caring for people certainly was. He worked in politics and then in corporate leadership before taking the plunge with Dave Ramsey as co-host of The Ramsey Show at Ramsey Solutions.

“This idea of caring for people, and ‘what should you do with your life?’ There was just always a strong emphasis on that,” he said. “I always saw work through the lens of creation, not provision or contribution, not provision.”

The son of a pastor is a big believer in “connecting your heart to your work.” Inspired by his father’s hard work and dedication to their small parish, Coleman took the idea of caring for people, developed it outside of religious beliefs, and turned it into helping people “show [their] uniqueness and touch people in a unique way,” Coleman said. “That shaped my love of leaders because leaders have such a pivotal role in the workplace. And just this being in the workspace doing work for good.”

The Front Row Seat podcast from Ramsey Solutions is for emerging leaders in any field, looking to become better at taking charge and guiding their team. “This show is not a show for people who are just meandering through life. If you just are okay with average and just kind of you’re okay with life happening to you, you’re not going to enjoy this show,” Coleman quipped. 

“If you’re a person who wants to happen to life, and you got some hunger and you want to make your unique contribution. This is for people who want to live a life they can reminisce on, not live a life that they regret.”

The podcast focuses on three specific areas — getting better as a person, moving up in the office, and leading. “We do it in those three specific areas. All of the guests and the conversations that I create with the guest are designed to help you get better as a person. Because when I get better personally, I bring a better version of me to the office. The better version of me in the office sets me up to actually advance [and one day be a leader].”

Ken Coleman noted if your home life is a “dumpster fire,” that’s coming to work with you, too. You can’t lead when your home is in shambles. 

The three-time best-selling author claims his show style for Ramsey Solutions isn’t unique, but it is a format most haven’t seen in a while. “The show math is, Inside the Actors Studio, meets Masters Class, meets MTV Unplugged. From live audiences to Zoom interviews, Ken Coleman believes the show is about the consumer.

“I’m doing [this] not to use the audience as props, [but] because they actually are getting to learn alongside me and ask questions. They also represent a much larger audience, and I want to really promote the power of a question. Not just me asking it.”

While it’s important to always be improving yourself, Coleman made clear that not everyone can be a leader. Your ability to work hard and listen to every one of his podcasts does not mean you will be a great leader. You need to have talent. He gave two examples.

“My favorite sport growing up was basketball. I loved the game of basketball. I was decent, I could work harder than any other high schooler in America. And I could have logged more hours in the gym and I would have gotten better,” Coleman said. “The hard work would have made me better. But no amount of hard work would have made me a Division I basketball player for the simple reason: I didn’t have the talent.”

His second example, “I cannot become a Grammy, award-winning songwriter. No matter how hard I try to write songs. Why? Because I don’t have the tools. You cannot build a house without tools, right? Leadership is the same way. Leadership is a skill, just like singing is a skill, and playing a sport is a skill.”

Before the start of this podcast, Ken Coleman spoke with two of our country’s former leaders, Presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush. Regardless of how you think of them politically, the ability to lead the American public, even for just one term, is an accomplishment. “I don’t care what somebody’s political status is, if you’re a former President of the United States you’re going to get respect from me. I was in a sense of awe in this way.”

“I’d done research, and found that (George W. Bush) had started becoming known for giving people nicknames as early as his college days at Yale,” Coleman continued. “I thought it was a fun question, so I teed him up on it, and I said, ‘Was that something that just came to you naturally, or was it intentional as a way of kind of connecting with people?’” 

Without missing a beat President Bush said, ‘Well slick,’ “And the crowd just started laughing, and he did his little George W. shoulder shake. But really, really such a gentleman and so was President Carter.”

Three of the most important attributes Ken Coleman sees in leaders are self-awareness, desire to lead, and someone who is always learning and growing. “We all have blind spots, but the leadership blind spots create so much tension and dysfunction in the office,” he said. “So I want to see a leader who’s self-aware.”

The second is the desire to lead. “A lot of people want the position for the esteem, and they want the paycheck, but they don’t actually want to lead people. In other words, you have to serve people. Your number one job as a leader is to help everybody else on your team win at their job. If you don’t have that mindset, you’re not gonna be a good leader.”

Lastly? “A good leader is someone who’s always learning and growing. They want to continue to set the pace, as it relates to getting better personally and professionally.”

For those looking to follow in the footsteps of the Ramsey Solutions host in leadership, media, or even politics, he suggests, “Make sure you have the talent. You’ve got to have that core skill set. Do you have the talent of discernment — the ability to read people? Do you love people? In this business, in my opinion, to be successful and not just successful, but to sustain it [you need to love people].”

This even means putting people before yourself. Showing up when you don’t feel good and no one else being the wise. Ken Coleman also wants you to ask a question to attain your own personal goals.

“What’s the desired result? If I use what I do best, that’s the talent piece to do work I love,” said Coleman. “That’s the passion I’ve just been talking about to create a result that matters deeply to me. That’s the key, the last piece of advice. What is the result that you want?”

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