The Connection Key: Unlock Wellbeing and Performance with Human Interaction

“Connection is the foundation of great leadership — and it is quietly disappearing. Lee Colan and Julie Davis-Colan show exactly what to do about it, with thirty years of research distilled into simple, immediate actions anyone can take. The Connection Key delivers what most leadership books don’t: a clear, practical path to becoming the kind of leader people actually want to follow.”
— Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach and New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There 

The Connection Key is the perfect guidebook for today’s leader who is navigating the challenges with disconnected teams. It is equally valuable for anyone trying to build a richer personal life through more meaningful human connections. I highly recommend it!”
— Frank Dulcich, President & CEO, Pacific Seafood

“In a brilliantly simple way, Lee Colan and Julie Davis-Colan offer a process to develop positive, deeper connections with people in your life. They have given you a special gift – the gift of awareness and action. It will open your eyes, change your perspective, and empower you to build and enjoy more fulfilling  relationships.”
— David Cottrell, Author of perennial best-selling Monday Morning Leadership

“Lee and Julie have been far more than coaches to me. Over time, they have become like family. In three years working together, Lee and Julie pushed me beyond my comfort zone, helped me make a major change I never imagined, and challenged me to build a life that feels meaningful, not just successful. Their belief in human connection isn’t something they just teach — it’s something they live. 

The Connection Key equips and empowers the reader to realize the success and fulfillment that are not meant to be achieved alone. More importantly, it is a practical guide for building meaningful connections in real life.” 
— Veronica Schnitzius, President, Chief Manufacturing and Sourcing Officer, RH

“In a world that keeps making connection optional, Lee and Julie make it actionable. Every leader knows that connection matters; this book makes it concrete, with science-backed actions simple enough to start today and repeat every day.”
— Jen Fisher, Best-selling Author & Founder, The Wellbeing Team 

“As a breast cancer surgeon, I have seen firsthand that human connection can be as transformative as any treatment—providing hope, resilience, and strength during life’s most challenging moments. The Connection Key delivers a thoughtful, science-backed guide to building meaningful relationships that help us live better, work better, and thrive together. This book is a timely and inspiring reminder that connection is not simply a benefit of life—it is one of its greatest necessities.”
— Dr. Allison DiPasquale, Breast Surgical Oncologist, Chief of Breast Oncology, Medical City Dallas 

“The Connection Key is a powerful, practical guide for anyone who wants to lead and live with greater impact! The authors deliver a simple, research-backed framework— Reach Out, Seek Understanding, Make Memories, and Check In—that makes building meaningful connections both accessible and actionable. 

This book is energizing, insightful, and immediately useful! It creates a compelling case that small, intentional acts of connection drive wellbeing, strengthen relationships, and elevate performance. If you want to make a real difference, in your work and in your life, start here!”
— Rachel Davis Mersey, Executive Vice President and Provost, SMU 

“Lee and Julie continue to publish their actionable tools and provide coaching and guidance to leaders at all levels of an organization. The Connection Key is yet another reference tool for managers to understand the human side of our teams and seek to develop the leadership practices to advance your organization. Add this book to your reference arsenal!”
— Brian Sinkiewicz, CEO, Crestview Aerospace  

“In my experience working with clients, I’ve seen that the toughest challenges are rarely solved by analysis alone—they’re solved through strong, intentional human connection. The Connection Key brings this to life with a clear, practical, and science-based approach. It offers simple actions that deliver real impact in real life. It’s a timely, actionable guide for anyone looking to strengthen relationships, improve outcomes, and build a more connected, fulfilling life.”
— Christopher R. Chastain, Senior Partner, Big 4 Public Accounting Firm

“Most of us understand the value of human connection; the challenge is making it a daily practice. The Connection Key turns that truth into practical action, offering simple, research-based ways to build stronger relationships, improve wellbeing, and perform at our best. Lee Colan and Julie Davis-Colan have crafted a timely and practical guide for anyone seeking to live and lead with greater impact.”
— Jesse Jantzen, President & CEO, Lifespace Communities

“The Connection Key highlights one of the most overlooked drivers of individual and organizational success — meaningful human connection. In today’s highly digital and fast-paced world, the ability to build trust, strengthen relationships, and foster genuine collaboration is more important than ever. 

The authors have provided practical, science-based insights that can help leaders, teams, and individuals improve wellbeing, engagement, and performance both at work and at home. This book serves as a powerful reminder that sustainable success is built not only through technology and processes, but through people and authentic human interactions.”
— Walter Pinto, COO, Pattern Energy 

“The Connection Key unveils one of the most powerful competitive advantages in business today: truly connected team members. Meaningful engagement across an organization is impossible without authentic connection. Lee and Julie provide practical, impactful strategies to help teams build deeper relationships at every level. 

When your team feels genuinely connected, engagement rises, and that sparks productivity, collaboration, innovation and performance. Every organization has a team, but connected teams create a level of culture and competitive advantage that sets great businesses apart.”
— Jason D. Lippert, CEO, LCI Industries

“The Connection Key is a must read for leaders today who are committed to human connection as a strategic advantage. The authors show how small, intentional behaviors drive better wellbeing, stronger relationships, and higher performance. What sticks most with me is being more intentional about small moments that are easy to overlook. Reaching out first, asking one more question to really understand someone, slowing down to create shared experiences, and following up so people feel seen and remembered.  

The real impact isn’t in big initiatives; it’s in consistently choosing these small, human interactions. This book makes that both simple and actionable. I strongly recommend this book to any leader who wants a practical, no-nonsense way to strengthen culture and drive performance through more meaningful human connection.”
— Amy Messersmith, Human Capital Executive & Chief People Officer, Caravel Autism Health 

“The Colans take their work very seriously, and this is a serious topic. In The Connection Key they cut through the clutter in their usual relatable and practical style. This book delivers simple actions we can take to connect with colleagues, family, and friends (old and new ones alike) to make a positive difference in our lives and in the lives of others. Their approach is not only useful, but it is also necessary in today’s world!”
— Denis Simon, Senior Executive Vice President, Challenger, Gray & Christmas 

“Whatever business you’re in, you are in the people business. Lee and Julie understand connection because they practice it! I have seen him add tremendous value in roundtable settings I have hosted, and I have also seen him bring together impressive people for thoughtful, high-quality conversations of his own. He brings substance, warmth, and thoughtful leadership to every room he enters.  

The Connection Key is an insightful, practical reminder that meaningful human connection still drives trust, wellbeing, and performance – especially in a world increasingly shaped by technology and artificial intelligence.”
— Dr. James Beckett, Founder, Beckett Media 

We were created for relationships. First with our Maker and then with our family, friends, fellow workers, and those whose lives we touch. Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, Julie and Lee Colan, in their book, The Connection Key, have developed a simple but effective plan to help us develop and maintain relationships. In this age of social media nothing is more important than interpersonal relationships based on gratitude, respect, forgiveness, and simple acts of kindness.
— Robert Murchison, Partner, Murchison Capital Partners, L.P. 

“The Connection Key delivers timely and practical tools to build meaningful human connections that create a competitive advantage in business and in life. Lee and Jule combine research, real-world experience, and actionable insights into an impactful framework. In a world driven by technology and convenience, this book challenges us to be more intentional about how we engage with others. Organizations, Leaders, teams, and families will all benefit from the lessons shared in these pages.”
— Robert Covington, Founder & Managing Partner, Braemont Capital 

“I have had the privilege of working with Lee and Julie and witness firsthand the impact of their leadership principles. Their consultation and coaching through the concepts presented in Health Leadership were instrumental in my growth as a leader and in the development of our senior leadership team. More importantly, as we introduced these principles throughout our management and supervisory ranks, we experienced a meaningful cultural transformation across our organization. 

The Connection Key captures what Lee and Julie do best—taking powerful research and turning it into practical actions that people can apply immediately. This is more than a book about relationships; it is a guide for creating stronger teams, healthier organizations, and more fulfilling lives. I highly recommend it to leaders at every level.”
— T.J. Burk, CEO of a Psychiatric Hospital

“Human connection is such a simple concept yet embracing it consistently is becoming a lost art. Lee and Julie continue to share thoughtful, well-framed research-based tools to incorporate human connection into our personal and professional lives and into our leadership practices. 

“Leading in increasingly fast-paced and technology-driven times requires a grounded approach that contributes daily to positive culture AND yields strong results. The authors’ practical and powerful actions outlined in The Connection Key is a gift to time-starved leaders looking to lead the right way in today’s transactional world.”
— Scott Thresher, CEO, Plumbing Products Group, LLC