The Leadership Test—Will You Kiss the Frog or Squash It?

Every leader eventually faces a defining moment: a new, energetic team member walks in—raw, bold, maybe even a little loud. You feel it in your gut. This one has potential. But the question isn't about their readiness. It’s about your response. Will you kiss the frog—nurture the greatness hidden beneath the rough edges—or squash it because it challenges your comfort?

Sadly, many leaders squash.

Why? Because brilliance often feels like a threat to the insecure. Instead of recognizing a rising star, leaders sometimes see a competitor. They fear being outshined, replaced, or exposed. This fear gets masked as critique, micromanagement, or subtle sabotage. And when it happens—not just from the owner, but from the inner circle, the leadership team—it poisons the culture and kills retention.

Here’s a truth that might sting: Pride will kill a deal faster than poor performance ever will.

What if your next A-player walks away not because they lacked talent, but because someone on your team couldn’t handle their shine? It happens more than you think. Talented people don’t quit jobs—they quit toxic leadership. And often, they were “frog squashed” before they even had a real shot.

As a business owner, you must take ownership of the culture your leadership team creates. If you tolerate squashers—people who reject potential out of their own unresolved wounds or insecurities—you’ll never build a team that thrives.

Great leadership starts with you. It’s not about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about seeing value in others before it's polished. It’s about creating space where people can rise—even if they rise higher than you.

The test isn’t just about how you treat the polished and professional. The real test is how you respond to the rough, raw, and real.

Because the truth is: someone else will frog kiss them if you don’t. And you’ll lose the very people who could’ve built the future with you.

Leadership isn’t about control—it’s about cultivation. If you want to build a legacy, not just a business, stop squashing brilliance because it threatens your ego. Instead, choose to lead with vision and humility.

Call greatness out before it’s fully formed. Speak life into what others overlook. And remember, your legacy won’t be defined by what you built alone—but by who you empowered along the way.

Call to Action:

Download the From Insecurity to Impact journal to gain clarity, focus, and purpose in your next move.
Download the worksheet here

Buy my book BOSS UP Don’t BURN OUT and take the full journey from burnout to breakthrough.
Buy the book here

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