Frederick Johnson IV

I don’t want to see another post about “leadership styles.”

Unpopular opinion: leadership styles aren’t practical.

You have leadership moves and mindsets.
You have leadership principles and philosophies.

But a style? Nah.

I think the problem with teaching leadership styles is that you box yourself into a type. It limits growth.

This isn’t karate. The best way to get better as a leader isn’t learning about a style.

It’s practicing effective leadership moves in certain moments that lead to the desired outcome.

The true test of leadership is what you do when opportunity presents itself. And by opportunity, I mean when 💩 hits the fan.

So instead of doing another “what’s your leadership style?” quiz, take my Discomfortable Leadership Quiz.

You’ll get results that tell you where you’re experiencing the most discomfort in your leadership—and how to break through it to lead with courage, confidence, and conviction.

Here’s the link:
forms.gle/auPyqZ2bg8sYjxmk6

#DiscomfortableLeadership

5 days ago | [YT] | 0

Frederick Johnson IV

I don’t want to see another post about “leadership styles.”

Unpopular opinion: leadership styles aren’t practical.

You have leadership moves and mindsets.
You have leadership principles and philosophies.

But a style? Nah.

I think the problem with teaching leadership styles is that you box yourself into a type. It limits growth.

This isn’t karate. The best way to get better as a leader isn’t learning about a style.

It’s practicing effective leadership moves in certain moments that lead to the desired outcome.

The true test of leadership is what you do when opportunity presents itself. And by opportunity, I mean when 💩 hits the fan.

So instead of doing another “what’s your leadership style?” quiz, take my Discomfortable Leadership Quiz.

You’ll get results that tell you where you’re experiencing the most discomfort in your leadership—and how to break through it to lead with courage, confidence, and conviction.

Here’s the link:
forms.gle/auPyqZ2bg8sYjxmk6

#DiscomfortableLeadership

5 days ago | [YT] | 0

Frederick Johnson IV

Leaders are born, not made.”

Might be the worst quote I’ve ever heard.

I used to say it—a long time ago—but not anymore.

Anyone who believes in “natural-born leaders” understands very little about leadership.

And honestly, it’s a slap in the face to real leaders.

Because leadership takes training, development, practice, commitment, and courage—daily.

You don’t inherit it.
You choose it. Daily.

There’s no finish line.

Today, I did something I’ve never done as a speaker:
I practiced my keynote in front of others.

I got great feedback—thank you to my wife, Monecia; my sisters, Sasha and Amonie; and my longtime supporter and friend, Andrea.

And I’m doing it again Wednesday
(let me know if you want the Zoom link).

So the next time you see someone you think is a great leader, remember this:
they’ve had a lot of reps.

They’re not just built like that.

Get your reps up.

#DiscomfortableLeadership

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

Frederick Johnson IV

In 2026, I’m choosing transparency.

Not polished posts.
Just clarity.

Here’s what that looks like for me:

• Openly sharing how many people complete my leadership quiz—not to brag, but to learn in public (but it is a dope quiz, you should take it).
• Transparency about my goal to build an deep email list this year, why I’m building it, and how it will be used to serve student leaders and professionals.
• Not shying away from the fact that I want to be booked and busy. I want to speak, train, and develop leaders— training and development is what transformed me as a leader.
• Providing extreme value, even when there’s no immediate return. My free stuff will be better than others paid stuff. Hold me to it.

No more hiding the ball.

If I want to impact leaders, students, and organizations, then honesty about the process matters just as much as the results.

I think part of the reason I’m not getting booked as much as I want yet is because I’m still sharpening my positioning and visibility, still building trust with decision makers (working on it and getting better).

If you’ve hired speakers, led programs, or built something similar—I want your feedback. Be blunt. I can take it.

Transparency isn’t weakness.
It’s accountability.

🥂Here’s to building in public in 2026

#DiscomfortableLeadership

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

Frederick Johnson IV

Man, what a year! Learned so much and wanted to share. Some are leadership lessons. Some are life lessons. But here’s what I got for you:

Faster isn’t better. Better is better.

Comparison is the thief of joy, peace, progress, and anything that benefits you.

Know, like, and trust are simple to build. But building trust takes a long time.

Say the thing. Waiting to say the thing doesn’t make the situation better.

Be present. Be appreciative for what you do have.

When you obey God, victory is the only outcome.

Part of mindfulness is figuring out what you’re doing to limit your own potential.

Discomfort is a signal, not a barrier or a road block.

Less is, in fact, more.

Demand more. Of yourself. Of others. If someone has a problem with it, it says more about them than you.

Spend way more time focusing on your wins. You’ll win more and faster that way.

👇🏾What’s a lesson you learned in 2025?

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

Frederick Johnson IV

When I developed the Discomfortable Leadership Quiz, the goal wasn’t to label leaders—it was to give insight into the area of leadership that’s holding them back from becoming the leader they’re called and meant to be.

So far, 8 leaders have completed the quiz.

I reached out to each of them for honest feedback.

🙏🏾 Grateful for this thoughtful reflection from Dr. Eric Streeter.

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

Frederick Johnson IV

I got a speeding ticket on Thursday.

(It was a school zone. I was going a little too fast.)

You already know where I’m going…

Leadership lessons:

• Stay focused on the destination. Where you’re trying to go should dictate how you move. Goals shape behavior.

• Slow down to move forward. Speed isn’t the metric. Readiness is. Getting there prepared matters more than getting there fast.

• Receive correction with gratitude. When someone checks you or gives constructive feedback, own it. Growth accelerates when humility shows up.

• Practice transparency. Be honest about your wins, challenges, and progress with those you’re accountable to. (Yes—I told my wife.) Transparency speeds up growth and strengthens trust.

That’s all.

Go lead.

Take my leadership quiz (link below).

🔗 lnkd.in/et_F767G

#DiscomfortableLeadership

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

Frederick Johnson IV

If you’re waiting for the “right” opportunity, you might be waiting longer than you think.

A lot of leaders use waiting as a reason not to act.

We tell ourselves we’re being smart or patient.
But most of the time, we’re really waiting for:
• perfect timing
• more confidence
• a guaranteed result

Here’s the truth: leadership almost never happens in perfect conditions.

That thing you’re waiting on might be:
• applying for a promotion
• having a hard conversation with a teammate
• going back to grad school
• putting your name in for an opportunity you don’t feel ready for

Waiting often feels safe—but it can slow your growth.

Here are 3 simple ways to take action, even when it feels uncomfortable:

1. Take action before you feel confident.
Confidence usually shows up after you start, not before. One small step today is better than waiting for the perfect moment.

2. Stop waiting to feel “ready.”
You don’t need to know everything to begin. If you know enough to try, that’s enough to move forward.

3. Ask yourself what you’re avoiding.
Are you afraid of failing? Being told no? Looking unprepared? Once you name the fear, it loses some of its power.

Leadership isn’t about being comfortable.
It’s about moving forward even when things feel unsure.

What’s one thing you’ve been waiting on that you know it’s time to act on?

#DiscomfortableLeadership

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

Frederick Johnson IV

“It’s no big deal.”

I’m guilty of saying this to my wife—when we’re running late, when I forget something, or when I think she’s overthinking or stressing.

And to be fair, 99.9% of the time, whatever happened isn’t catastrophic.

But here’s what I miss when I say “it’s no big deal”: an opportunity for empathy and growth.

If you’re married, you’ve probably heard the phrase “Happy wife, happy life.”
What I’m learning is this: if it’s a big deal to her, it has to be a big deal to me.
That means it deserves my attention and my priority.

When I treat it that way, it communicates care, empathy, and understanding.

The same lesson applies to leadership.

Good leaders sweat the small stuff.

Why?

Because it matters.
• Showing up a minute late to a meeting
• Showing up early
• Hitting (or missing) a deadline
• A comment that didn’t quite land

The thing you’re tempted to overlook—don’t.

When you address the “small” things, the ripple effect is felt by everyone you lead.

🤏🏾What’s something that seems insignificant that you’ll sweat this week?

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Frederick Johnson IV

Last month, I experienced something I never had as a teacher.

Before leaving with a group of juniors and seniors from Walter L. Cohen High School, I started our college trip with some simple “housekeeping” and a defining message.

Housekeeping items:
-Taking roll
-Pass out breakfast
- No number 2’s on the bus (maybe the most important 🤣)

And then the defining message: This trip wasn’t about visiting a college campus.

It was about learning how to separate yourself from everyone else applying to the Louisiana Educate Program.

I said:

“Most 17-year-olds see a trip like this as a chance to relax, miss class, and have fun.
Not you. You’re focused on graduating from college. That means your choices today look different.”

I asked every student to come up with two questions for college leaders and students we’d meet.

Some aimed for three.

By the time we arrived, every student was ready.

They had questions.
They engaged.
They rose to the standard.

When you’re clear about the standard with kids, they rise to meet it. Even when it’s uncomfortable.

Adults need the same thing.

➡️ Name the bar clearly.
➡️ Model what it looks like to hit it.
➡️ Hold people accountable.
➡️ Affirm when they meet it.

It’s a simple process — but it takes work.

Because setting standards and asking people to rise to them is uncomfortable.

You’ll feel like you’re telling people what to do, or how to do their job.

But if you’re the leader, that’s your role.

And even if you’re not the formal boss, you still lead when you raise the bar for others.

Leadership is about being better together.

This week, start by naming your own bar.

Loop someone in as your accountability partner and chase it.

Next week, do the same for someone else.

1 month ago | [YT] | 0