Hosts: Ed Schaefer and Andy Siegmund
Episode: 14
Runtime: Approximately 1 hour, 3 minutes
Release Date: September 23, 2025
Website: leadershipexploredpod.com
Episode Description:
In this episode of Leadership Explored, Ed Schaefer and Andy Siegmund shift the spotlight from the stars to the real game-changers: the glue people. These under-recognized teammates don’t always get the credit, but their steady, behind-the-scenes contributions are often the difference between chaos and cohesion.
Drawing insights from sports (hello, Wayne Gretzky’s assists!) and workplace psychology, this episode explores:
Why 10x results are rarely about heroics—and more about enabling others
How glue people stabilize teams, reduce friction, and quietly make others better
What happens when organizations overlook or burn out their most collaborative contributors
How to spot, support, and design for glue behavior in your teams
The difference between glue people and glue work—and why that distinction matters
Whether you're a team leader, individual contributor, or organizational architect, this episode will help you recognize the assists that make real leadership and performance possible.
🔍 Episode Highlights:
⏳ [00:00] – Intro: From 10x myths to team assists—why this conversation matters
⏳ [01:24] – The quiet MVPs: Who are glue people, and what makes them essential?
⏳ [03:33] – Research-backed insights: NBA, NHL, and why assists win games
⏳ [07:58] – Star-heavy teams underperform—collaboration beats individual brilliance
⏳ [09:53] – Beyond heroics: Team players who make others better
⏳ [13:26] – Traits of glue people: Steady, emotionally grounded, and unselfishly competent
⏳ [17:03] – Glue ≠ Martyrdom—why healthy boundaries matter
⏳ [21:11] – Visibility bias, attribution errors, and why we miss the real contributors
⏳ [29:19] – The cost of ignoring glue people: burnout, sluggishness, and cultural erosion
⏳ [34:30] – What breaks when a glue person leaves (or takes PTO)
⏳ [37:28] – Personal stories: Ed’s burnout, Andy’s connector role
⏳ [42:51] – How to find the glue: behaviors, archetypes, and network patterns
⏳ [46:32] – How to value glue work: talk about it, measure it, protect it
⏳ [50:52] – Spot bonuses, recognition cards, and peer kudos: what works (and what doesn’t)
⏳ [54:09] – From firefighting to architecture: designing teams for shared glue
⏳ [58:06] – Balancing action, thought, and connection in team design
⏳ [1:00:56] – Final thoughts, takeaways, and your leadership challenge for the week
💡 Weekly Challenge:
Name an Assist: In your next team meeting, call out a contribution that helped others succeed. Make the invisible visible.
Be the Glue (Just a Little): Add one small system or note that improves clarity or flow for others.
Spot the Unseen: Quietly ask your team who helped them the most this week—and look for the unsung names that emerge.
📣 Join the Conversation:
Who’s the glue person on your team?
Have you been in that role before?
How can leaders better reward, recognize, and protect these contributors?
We want to hear your thoughts, stories, and takeaways. Email us at leadershipexplored@gmail.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.
🔁 Stay in the loop:
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Visit leadershipexploredpod.com for detailed show notes and bonus resources.
