What breakthrough workflow builds cohesive narrative color grading across shots?

[Jason37]

I've been editing my short film projects for a while, getting comfortable with basic correction, but I'm hitting a wall when it comes to creative color grading techniques that establish a cohesive visual tone. My attempts often look either too subtle to matter or wildly inconsistent from shot to shot within a scene. For other filmmakers and colorists, what was your breakthrough in developing a reliable workflow for narrative color grading? How do you approach building a base grade versus secondary adjustments, and what tools within DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro did you find most essential for matching shots and creating distinctive, yet believable, looks that support the story rather than distract from it?