Hire Power with Kim Frost

Clarity isn't just a hiring tool—it's become the most foundational leadership competency for 2026. Leaders who don't develop it are the ones dealing with turnover, stalled searches, burnt-out teams, and constant frustration.In this episode, Kim breaks down why clarity matters more than ever, what happens when it's missing, and how to make it your competitive advantage. If you've ever wondered why your team isn't "stepping up," this episode will show you it's probably a clarity problem, not a people problem.In This Episode:Why clarity reduces friction and stops low-level organizational chaosThe end of "figure it out" leadership—and why it's destabilizing your teamHow vague expectations cost you time, talent, and performanceWhy clarity is respect (and what happens when it's missing)Making clarity your competitive advantage💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Leadership is being redefined right now—and if you're not paying attention, you're already behind.This isn't some recycled article about trends. These are the patterns Kim is seeing and hearing every single day from leaders who are winning and the ones who keep wondering why everything feels broken.Kim walks through 6 big shifts happening in leadership right now—clarity as a superpower, how AI is exposing weak leadership, why "it's our culture" isn't cutting it anymore, and why you can't hire your way out of broken systems.These shifts impact your hiring, your retention, your team performance, and ultimately your happiness as a leader.In this episode, Kim breaks down 6 critical shifts happening right now:Why clarity is becoming a core leadership skill (not just an HR exercise)How AI is raising the bar for human leadership—and exposing where it's missingWhy "it's our culture" isn't an answer anymoreThe expensive mistake leaders make when trying to solve leadership problems with hiringWhat separates leaders who are reacting from those building for the futureWhy managers are now the make-it-or-break-it layerThese shifts directly impact your hiring, retention, performance, and bottom line.💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

AI increases output—but development transforms identity. And right now, we're confusing the two.In this episode, Kim breaks down the uncomfortable truth: AI can make you faster, but speed isn't the same thing as maturity. And leadership? That requires maturity.Fresh off an interview with 425 Magazine on this exact topic, Kim tackles the question leaders are quietly asking behind closed doors: How are we supposed to actually learn when AI is everywhere?What You'll Hear:Why AI can diminish learning (even when it's helpful)The dangerous difference between output and developmentHow the pandemic taught us that more activity ≠ more depthIs AI becoming the "manufacturing line" for thinking?Why empathy, courage, and accountability can't be outsourcedThe human reps that build leadership muscle—and how AI makes them optionalA practical framework: Does this AI task add value, or just speed?How to design AI-enabled systems that still preserve human choice and growth💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

AI is already inside your hiring process whether you put it there intentionally or not. And while artificial intelligence promises speed, efficiency, and fairness, it also carries a quiet risk many leaders aren’t prepared for: automated bias at scale.In this episode of Hire Power, Kim Frost cuts through the noise of “AI is amazing” versus “AI is evil” and gets real about what responsible leadership actually looks like in the age of AI-powered hiring. This isn’t about rejecting technology—it’s about understanding where AI helps, where it harms, and why humans must stay firmly in the decision-making seat.Nearly 90% of companies now use some form of AI in hiring, from resume screening to job descriptions to candidate ranking. The danger isn’t that AI exists. The danger is when it’s embedded into your systems without visibility, values, or accountability.This episode challenges leaders to stop outsourcing judgment to software—and start owning the values behind their hiring decisions.In this episode:Why AI doesn’t create fairness, it applies whatever definition you give itHow bias doesn’t disappear with AI, it gets automatedThe hidden risk of AI tools operating without transparency or oversightWhy fairness is a leadership decision, not an HR checkboxHow over-reliance on AI erodes hiring managers’ judgment over timeThe difference between efficiency and equity in recruitingWhat happens when AI optimizes for sameness at scaleWhy culture built by software is a leadership failure—not innovation💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Are New Year’s resolutions actually helpful for leaders… or are they quietly holding you back?In this episode of Hire Power, Kim Frost challenges the idea of once-a-year goal setting and explains why real leadership isn’t about resolutions—it’s about courage, clarity, and consistent action. Dropping this conversation a few weeks into the new year is intentional, because statistically, this is when most resolutions fall apart.Kim shares why she doesn’t believe in January resets, how fear disguises itself as “strategy,” and a powerful story from a Peloton ride that perfectly captures how leaders often mistake discomfort for danger. (Spoiler: sometimes the “snake” is just a mouse.)This episode is a candid, reflective conversation for leaders who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or hesitant to move forward—not because they lack skill, but because fear is quietly running the show.In this episode:Why great leaders don’t rely on annual resolutionsThe difference between fear-based logic and real strategyHow fear disguises itself as “being prudent”Why unnamed fear grows—and named fear loses powerThe “snake vs. mouse” metaphor that every leader needsHow reacting vs. responding impacts trust and leadershipA simple daily approach to shrinking fear instead of avoiding itWhy courage isn’t loud—it’s quiet, steady, and decisive 💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Boomers. Gen X. Millennials. Gen Z. One team. What actually works and what absolutely doesn’t.For the first time in history, four generations are working side by side, and if you’re leading them, it can feel less like running a business and more like moderating a family reunion. In this episode, we break down why generational tension isn’t really a “generation problem” at all— nd what strong leaders do differently to create clarity, engagement, and performance across age groups.Drawing on data from Gallup, Deloitte, McKinsey, PwC, SHRM, and Microsoft, this episode unpacks the leadership myths that keep teams stuck—and the practical shifts that help leaders thrive.In this episode:Why generational conflict is usually a leadership clarity issue, not an age issueWhat each generation tends to value at work (without stereotyping or labeling)The biggest mistakes leaders make when managing across generationsWhy one-size-fits-all leadership, annual reviews, and unclear expectations backfireHow regular feedback, clear standards, and adaptive communication drive engagementPractical strategies to build cross-generational collaboration that actually works💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Chaos isn’t a phase, it’s the environment. Market shifts, AI disruption, layoffs, global instability… uncertainty is now part of everyday leadership. And in moments like these, leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about how you show up.In this episode, we look at what courageous leadership actually looks like when clarity is hard to find. Inspired by insights from Harvard Business Review and real-world leadership examples, this conversation focuses on leadership in practice—not theory—when things feel messy, loud, and unresolved.Because here’s the truth: your team doesn’t need perfection. They need clarity, consistency, and calm.In this episode:Why chaos reveals the leader—and why uncertainty puts leadership on full displayHow creating a strong internal narrative anchors leadership in turbulent timesThe balance between confidence and humilityWhy great leaders “act their way into clarity"The role of connection, support, and honest feedback in sustaining courageWhy emotional regulation is a strategic leadership skill, not a soft one💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

What a year.No one could have predicted the twists we saw in leadership, hiring, and the future of work—but here we are, closing out another unpredictable, enlightening, and wildly transformative year.After 25 years in executive search and talent strategy, I thought I had seen it all:the dot-com bust, the global financial crisis, a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, and the rewiring of how we work.Yet 2025 still managed to surprise me.In this episode, I’m wrapping up the year with candor, clarity, and zero sugarcoating:what really happened in the job market, how leaders changed, which trends matter for 2026, and the invisible thread that connected every episode of this podcast.And yes… I also talk about turning “that age,” my first year of podcasting, assumptions that blew up (in business and friendships), and why emotional intelligence is becoming the new currency of leadership.In this episode:Great leadership in 2026 will come down to clarity, courage, transparency, and emotional intelligence.Leaders who thrive will be the ones who can have difficult conversations and actually listen.The job market is shifting, but leaders with strong self-awareness and strong teams will weather the changes.Your culture, not compensation, will determine whether your high-pos stay or take the recruiter call.💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Leadership transparency is a buzzword. “I’m an open book. Ask me anything.”But here’s the truth: great leaders aren’t open books, they’re disciplined communicators.In today’s episode of Hire Power, we’re breaking down the nuance of transparency:When it builds trust, and when it quietly destroys it.Harvard Business Review has written about this extensively, yet most leaders still get it wrong. Transparency isn’t about saying everything. It’s about saying the right things, at the right time, in the right way. And yes — even seasoned leaders make mistakes here.You’ll learn the moments when transparency is non-negotiable, when it becomes dangerous, and why emotional intelligence is the leadership differentiator in an AI-driven world.If you lead people, even one person, this episode will make you a stronger, clearer, more grounded communicator.In this episode:Why transparency is misunderstood and why “being an open book” is not the mark of a great leaderThe three moments when transparency is essential, especially during change, uncertainty, and low moraleHow silence creates more fear than truth and why employees assume the worst when leaders say nothingA real story from the field about acknowledging a sensitive cultural moment and why it built more trust than staying quietThe rise of emotional intelligence in the AI era and why EQ is becoming a leader’s competitive advantage💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Most leaders say they want to hire people smarter than themselves… but when it comes to the reality of succession planning, many avoid it entirely. In today’s episode, Kim Frost breaks down the leadership responsibility almost no one talks about — but that the strongest leaders quietly master: planning for their own replacement.This conversation is bold, direct, and necessary. Because protecting your seat isn’t leadership. Protecting the future of the business is.Kim unpacks the data, the risks, and the mindset shifts every leader, board member, and CEO needs to hear — especially as CEO turnover accelerates and organizations continue to operate without any formal succession plan.If you care about leadership longevity, organizational stability, or building a legacy that outlasts you, this episode is non-negotiable. In this episode:Why most leaders avoid succession planning (and why that’s dangerous)The data every leader needs to know right nowHow to build true bench strengthThe uncomfortable hiring question every leader must ask💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Today we’re diving into one of the most overlooked, misunderstood, and high-ROI leadership practices: stay interviews. Not performance reviews, not hallway check-ins, not annual conversations—true, intentional, proactive dialogues designed to keep your best people before they start imagining a future without you.Here’s the reality:Most leaders don’t know what a stay interview is.Even fewer know how to actually run one.And almost none understand the massive impact they have on retention, connection, and culture.Great leaders?They do stay interviews consistently—and it’s one of the reasons their high performers stay.In this episode, we break down:- Why stay interviews matter now more than ever- Why your top performers (your HiPos) are actually the loneliest people on the team- What you should be asking—and what you should never ask- How stay interviews strengthen trust, reduce preventable turnover, and build real culture- Why waiting for an exit interview means you’re already too lateYou’ll also get a simple framework and four essential questions you can start using this week, plus a leadership challenge to put this episode into action immediately.Because retention isn’t reactive.💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Companies love to say they “hire for culture”… but most can’t define what their culture actually is. That’s why turnover stays high and hiring stays inconsistent.In this episode, Kim breaks down why culture fit is not a hiring strategy—and what to build instead: a clear, behavior-based employee brand.You’ll learn:• What “culture fit” really means (and why it’s unreliable)• Why gut-driven hiring leads to first-year turnover• The difference between employer brand vs. employee brand• Why interviewing for “vibe” creates chaos• The 5–7 word culture clarity test• How a fast-growing company cut turnover simply by defining their internal identityIf you want help defining your employee brand or building a culture interview scorecard, DM Kim. Her team specializes in clarity, alignment, and hiring systems that work.💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Most leaders love to say, “I’ll know it when I see it.” But here’s the truth: hiring off your gut alone is not leadership, it’s luck.In this episode of Hire Power,  Kim Frost breaks down the difference between instinctive hiring and intentional hiring. She shares why relying solely on gut feelings or vague phrases like “not a culture fit” can lead to bias, poor decisions, and costly mis-hires, and how the best leaders learn to balance intuition with structure.Kim pulls from her own corporate experience to show how instinct can both help and hurt your process. You’ll walk away knowing how to spot the difference between valid intuition and untested assumptions—and how to interview with clarity, consistency, and confidence.In this episode: Why “I hire off my gut” isn’t as intuitive as you thinkThe problem with using “culture fit” as feedbackHow first impressions can mislead even experienced leadersThe balance between instinct, structure, and evidence-based hiringWhy values-based interviewing is the key to better hires 💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

How do great leaders move people, not just manage them? In this episode of Hire Power, I sit down with storytelling expert Mario Juarez, founder of StoryCo to unpack why story is one of the most essential leadership tools most leaders underuse.We explore why your story isn’t just what you say about yourself, but what people experience with you.Drawing from nearly 30 years inside Microsoft and his work with executives, Mario shares how story has the power to transform cultures, align teams, and redirect entire organizations. He also gets real about what most leaders get wrong and what it really takes to tell stories that feel authentic, grounded, and emotionally resonant.Whether you run a small team or an entire company, this conversation will change how you think about the way you talk to and lead your people.In this episode:Why storytelling is a core leadership skillWhat your story really is (and isn’t)The biggest mistake leaders make with storytellingWhere to start if storytelling feels uncomfortableWhat Mario learned working with senior executives at Microsoft, including the time investment and practice it takes to make a talk look “effortless.”Human storytelling in an AI-driven worldMario’s six-word story method and how it forces clarity on what truly matters in your message.About Mario JuarezMario Juarez is the founder of StoryCo, where he helps leaders and organizations craft stories that move people to action. Before starting his firm, Mario spent nearly three decades at Microsoft in communications, marketing, PR, and executive communications. There, he developed his “Storytelling for Impact” framework and saw firsthand how story can reshape cultures, engage teams, and support major leadership transitions. Today, he teaches leaders how to use story as a strategic tool—not spin, but a way to connect, inspire, and lead with intention.Connect with Mario: https://mario-juarez.com 💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

After taking her first two-week vacation since 2018, Kim Frost is back, recharged, refocused, and reminded that real leadership requires rest.In this episode of Hire Power, Kim unpacks what truly happens when you step away from the grind and give your brain, your relationships, and your business room to breathe. From the science of detachment and creativity to the leadership benefits of unplugging, this episode is your reminder that rest isn’t indulgent, it’s strategic.In this episode:Why your best ideas come during the pause, not the push.The surprising link between time off and promotions.How detachment boosts creativity, problem-solving, and long-term perspective.What two weeks away revealed about love, leadership, and life beyond work.A leadership challenge to schedule your next real break... no excuses! Rest like a leader, and show others how it’s done.💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Let’s flip the script on what makes a powerful leader. It’s not always authority, strategy, or a polished presentation... it’s humor.In this episode of Hire Power, Kim Frost explores why humor is one of the most underrated yet most effective leadership tools. Drawing on insights from Harvard Business Review and her own experience coaching executives, Kim reveals how laughter isn’t just about fun, it’s a trust-building, retention-boosting strategy. In this episode:Why humor is a measurable leadership advantageThe five laugh languages and how to use themHow humor builds trust and lowers turnoverThe three humor boundaries every leader must knowReal-life stories of leaders using levity to build culture  Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkimLearn more: frostconnections.com

When was the last time you truly unplugged? For me, it’s been since 2008, and that changes this month.In this episode, I am sharing why I am taking a full month off, including her first two-week break in over a decade, and what it means for leadership.Here's the truth, if the person at the top never unplugs, the whole team learns that rest is weakness.In this episode:Why modeling balance mattersHow time away strengthens leadership.Why healthy cultures are built on actions, not slogans. Take this as your own nudge: breaks aren’t just allowed—they’re smart leadership.💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Most people groan when another meeting lands on their calendar, and honestly, for good reason. Too many meetings waste time, drain energy, and leave everyone wondering, what just happened? But here’s the truth: meetings can be one of the strongest signals of leadership strength—when they’re done right.In this episode, Kim Frost breaks down how effective leaders transform meetings from time-wasters into powerful tools for clarity, alignment, and action. She shares the pitfalls that make meetings unbearable (no agenda, no outcomes, lateness, endless talking) and the simple shifts that turn them into high-impact moments where people leave energized and informed.You’ll learn:Why meetings are a litmus test for leadership credibilityThe biggest mistakes leaders make (and how to avoid them)Simple time rules to instantly make meetings more productiveHow to create clear agendas, encourage the right voices, and assign next stepsWhy respect for time equals trust and stronger culture If 71% of meetings are unproductive, imagine the competitive advantage if yours are the exception. Meetings don’t have to suck—when you lead them well, they become one of your most powerful leadership tools.💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Are you leading communication, or letting it lead you?In this episode we are diving into one of the most overlooked leadership skills: communication protocols. With endless channels- email, text, Teams, Slack, DMs, WhatsApp, and more - it’s easy for leaders and teams to slip into chaos instead of clarity.I share real stories from my own career and from clients who’ve struggled with notification overload, unclear expectations, and constant interruptions. I also breaks down how setting clear rules for communication can improve productivity, reduce stress, and protect your team from burnout.You’ll learn:Why technology has made us worse communicators (and what to do about it)The simple framework leaders can use to set communication normsReal-world examples of quiet time, weekend email bans, and tool-specific rulesHow communication priorities should align with leadership priorities—not just individual preferencesThe takeaway? Effective communication isn’t about adding more tools. It’s about more discipline. Leaders set the tone, and when you establish clear protocols, you create focus, protect priorities, and build a healthier culture. 💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com

Hiring doesn’t end when the offer letter is signed, it begins with onboarding. In this episode of Hire Power, we break down why onboarding is not a “nice to have” but the launchpad for every new hire’s success.I share a story from my time in global consulting, where one small change in onboarding practices dropped turnover from double digits to single digits. And joining me is Laura Poepping of Plum Coaching and HR Consulting, who brings her expertise and practical best practices for building an onboarding experience that truly works.In this episode:Why onboarding is just as critical as recruiting in the hiring processThe hidden costs of weak or rushed onboarding (and how to avoid them)Simple steps every leader can take to make new hires feel valued from day oneThe ROI of investing in a structured, personalized onboarding processHow leaders—not just HR—set the tone for culture and retention  Whether you’re running a small business or leading a large team, this episode will change the way you think about onboarding—and show you how to turn it into a powerful tool for engagement, performance, and retention.Connect with Laura: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorapoepping/💬 Connect with Kim: linkedin.com/in/frostkim🌐 Learn more: frostconnections.com