
The Hidden Cost of Protecting High Performers
From The Leadership Hustle by Revela Group
February 24, 2026 · 16 min · Season 1 · Episode 76
About this episode
This episode discusses the hidden costs of protecting high performers in the workplace and the impact on team dynamics.
When does "high performance" become a liability? In this episode of The Leadership Hustle , Andrea Fredrickson and Michelle Hill tackle a workplace blind spot that affects nearly every executive team: the protected high performer. These individuals may deliver results or have influential connections, but their behavior, if unchecked, can slowly corrode team trust, culture, and retention. Discover why leaders protect certain people, how bias clouds accountability, and what it's really costing your company to look the other way. If you're protecting someone you think you can't afford to lose, this episode might make you rethink everything. For more resources on developing leadership skills visit us at Revela . Where we've helped hundreds of executives lead productive teams and thriving organizations. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative .
People in this episode
Hosts: Andrea Fredrickson, Michelle Hill
Topics covered
- high performance
- workplace culture
- team trust
- leadership accountability
- employee retention
Keywords
- high performers
- workplace blind spot
- team trust
- leadership
- employee behavior
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Revela Group, Two Brothers Creative
More episodes of The Leadership Hustle
- Your Team Is Giving You Feedback and You're Missing It · June 2, 2026 · 20 min
- How Leaders Cause Culture Drift Without Realizing It · May 19, 2026 · 19 min
- Company Values vs. Culture: What Actually Drives Behavior · May 5, 2026 · 17 min
- Succession Planning vs. Replacement Planning: What Leaders Miss · April 21, 2026 · 16 min
- Stop Saving Your Team: Why Leaders Slow Performance · April 7, 2026 · 18 min
- When Your Leadership Counterpart Leaves: What's Missing · March 24, 2026 · 15 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Leadership Hustle podcast page.