Hire Power with Kim Frost

One of the biggest myths I hear from small business owners is: “We’re too small to attract top talent.” The truth? You’re never too small for a great hire... in fact, it matters even more at your stage of growth.

In this episode of Hire Power, I’m breaking down why small companies actually have an edge when it comes to leadership hires—and why waiting until you’re “big enough” could cost you everything.

 In this episode: 

• Why flexibility, visibility, and direct impact make small businesses attractive to top leaders
• The hidden risks of believing large corporations offer more security
• The true cost of a bad hire (up to 2.5x salary for leadership roles!)
• How one great leader can transform a small company with growth, culture, and engagement
• Why investing in the right recruiting partner isn’t an expense—it’s an ROI multiplier

 💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Is chasing the biggest paycheck really the best career move? In this episode of Hire Power, we’re diving into one of the biggest traps professionals fall into: focusing on compensation before culture.

From toxic leaders to unrealistic job expectations, money can’t fix a poor environment, and the data proves it. In fact, employees are 10x more likely to quit over culture than pay. So why do so many smart professionals still fall for the lure of the “golden handcuffs”?

 In this episode:

• Why culture, growth, and challenge matter more than compensation for long-term success
• How overpaying employers use “golden handcuffs” to keep you stuck—and why it backfires
• The hard truth about how unrealistic salaries can stall your career and close future doors
• What top leaders do differently to prioritize impact and environment over titles and paychecks

💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

In this episode of Hire Power, Kim Frost tackles one of her biggest hiring pet peeves: professionals who judge an opportunity by its title alone.

Drawing from decades of executive search experience, Kim breaks down why titles are often meaningless outside of your current company and how they can vary wildly in scope, responsibility, and impact. She shares a powerful real-life example of a candidate who looked beyond the job title, seized a high-growth opportunity, and retired a multimillionaire.

You’ll learn why focusing on the actual responsibilities, leadership potential, and long-term growth of a role will get you further than chasing a “VP” or “Director” label—and how being open-minded in your career can lead to life-changing opportunities.

In this episode:

• Why titles rarely reflect the true scope or influence of a role
• The career-killing mistake of dismissing an opportunity too soon
• How passive candidates often find the best opportunities
• A real story of one leader who looked past the title and built a legacy
• Why great leaders focus on impact, not labels

If you’ve ever been tempted to pass on a role because it “didn’t sound senior enough,” this episode will change the way you look at career opportunities.

💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Hiring the right people is only the beginning. The real magic happens when you use behavioral tools to build trust, develop leaders, and create a culture where everyone can thrive. Insights are power, and behavioral tools are a perfect way to find insights!

In this episode of Hire Power, Kim Frost sits down with Rachel, a communications and employee development leader, to explore what it really looks like to implement a behavioral assessment tool across an entire organization, from the executive suite to the production floor.

Rachel shares:

• The hiring pain points that led her team to seek out a better tool
• Why choosing the right assessment takes time, research, and real-world testing
• How her company uses the Culture Index to shape hiring, retention, succession planning, and team development
• The importance of having an internal champion to drive adoption and training
• How behavioral tools can become a common language for collaboration and performance

Whether you’re a CEO, HR leader, or manager looking to strengthen your team, this conversation will challenge you to think beyond the interview and invest in tools that shape your company’s future.

💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

What does your candidate experience really say about your company culture? Kim Frost dives deep into a topic that’s often treated as an afterthought: the interview process. Spoiler alert, it’s not just a way to vet candidates; it’s your first leadership moment.

Kim shares real-world stories and practical tips on how small gestures can leave a lasting impression, how Gen Z candidates are reading between the lines, and why the interview is a two-way street. From creating a welcoming environment to giving honest feedback, this episode is your wake-up call to rethink the hiring experience from the ground up.

You’ll Learn:

• Why the candidate experience is a direct reflection of your leadership and culture
• How small details — like putting a name on a door — build trust and loyalty
• The red flags candidates notice during interviews (and what drives them away)
• What a true two-way interview looks and feels like
• Why transparency, feedback, and follow-through matter more than ever

Connect with me on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/frostkim/

Learn more at:  https://www.frostconnections.com

Giving feedback is one thing, but receiving it? That’s where real leadership starts.In this episode Kim Frost explores what it means to truly lead with humility and intention.

Following last week’s conversation with her client, Robert, on giving tough feedback, Kim flips the script and shares why receiving honest feedback is one of the most important (and overlooked) skills a leader can build.

If you have not listened to last week's episode, please be sure to do that!

 You’ll learn:

• Why receiving feedback is so hard—and how your ego might be in the way
• The 3 reactions that shut down honesty in your team
• What great leaders do differently to encourage feedback
• A powerful story from Kim’s client Jason on turning tough feedback into real culture change

💬 Connect with Kim on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more at: frostconnections.com

What happens when no one on your team is willing to give tough feedback—except you?

In this episode of Hire Power, host Kim Frost dives into leadership styles that emerge during uncomfortable conversations. Through a powerful real-life story from her client Robert, Kim explores what it truly means to lead with courage, clarity, and respect.

You'll learn:

• The 3 leadership styles when it comes to feedback: the Avoider, the Bulldozer, and the Coach
• Why avoiding tough conversations does more damage than speaking up
• How Robert gave long-overdue feedback to a 20-year employee—and what happened next
• How delivery, empathy, and timing define your impact as a leader

If you're dealing with a technically strong team member who’s culturally off, this episode will help you find the clarity—and courage—to address it.

💬 Connect with Kim on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more at: frostconnections.com

Still hiring based on resumes and gut instinct? You’re missing a huge opportunity.

In this episode, Kim Frost shares how modern assessment tools help companies make smarter hires, reduce turnover, and build teams that thrive. From improving communication to onboarding and retention, these tools are becoming essential—not just for execs, but across entire organizations.

You’ll learn:

• Why top companies use assessments company-wide
• How one client used them to transform their culture
• What to say when employees feel threatened by the process
• The long-term value beyond the hire

If you're serious about hiring with intention and building a cohesive team, this episode is a must-listen.

Don’t forget to subscribe—an upcoming episode features a company that’s doing this right.

💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Let’s get real—giving feedback is hard. But avoiding it? That’s not leadership.

In this episode, Kim Frost shares why feedback—clear, direct, and honest—is one of the most underrated skills in leadership today. Whether you’re managing seasoned professionals or new Gen Z hires, knowing how to deliver constructive feedback is what separates supportive leaders from avoidant ones.

Kim breaks down why the compliment sandwich doesn’t work, how to stay grounded in tough conversations, and what it actually looks like to give feedback that lands and drives growth.

You’ll learn:

• Why sugarcoating dilutes your message and damages trust
• How to give direct feedback without being harsh or cold
• The difference between addressing behavior vs. judging character
• What to say when emotions rise—and when to pause the meeting
• Why follow-up matters more than you think

Bottom line: If you’re dancing around the truth, you’re not being kind—you’re just avoiding discomfort. And that’s not leadership.

💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Let’s call it out: ego kills great hires—quietly, subtly, and often without leaders even realizing it.

In this episode, Kim Frost pulls back the curtain on how ego shows up in the hiring process, from irrelevant “gotcha” interview questions to dismissing high-potential candidates just because they didn’t flatter you. If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll know the right candidate when I see them,”—this one’s for you.

Kim shares stories from the field, including one manager whose curveball beach math question nearly tanked their team—and another hire that almost didn’t happen because the candidate wasn’t “excited” enough (read: didn’t stroke someone’s ego).

 In this episode:

• How ego subtly shows up in hiring decisions
• The difference between thoughtful standards vs. personal validation
• Why calm, quiet candidates can be your team’s greatest asset
• What hiring managers really mean when they say, “They didn’t wow me”
• Why strong leaders don’t hire for comfort—they hire for capability

Key reminder: If your interviews are built to make you feel good, you’re not hiring—you’re auditioning for fans. And top talent? They’ll see right through it.

💬 Connect with Kim on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/frostkim

🌐 Learn more at: frostconnections.com