Coming Soon: Assists and Glue People

The Teammates Who Make Everything Work

Sep 16, 2025

Leadership Explored | Episode 14 Preview
📅 Available Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Hi friends,

Our next episode of Leadership Explored drops Tuesday, September 23—and it’s one we’ve been excited to share for a while.

We’re calling it:

Assists and Glue People – The Teammates Who Make Everything Work

This one’s about the real MVPs on a team—the ones who don’t always get the credit, but whose presence is felt every day.
The ones who keep things moving.
The ones who create clarity, lower friction, and quietly make everyone around them better.
The ones we only notice when they’re gone.

We call them glue people.

👀 What to Expect in Episode 14

This episode is a deep dive into the world of behind-the-scenes leadership—the kind that isn’t flashy or loud, but absolutely essential.

Here’s a preview of what we’ll cover:

Why 10x results come from assists, not heroics
How glue people help teams win without chasing credit
What breaks when they’re burned out, overlooked, or leave
The difference between glue work and being a glue person
How to recognize, support, and design for these contributors in your org
Why the best teams aren’t full of stars—they’re balanced by design

We also explore sports research (yes, really!) from the NBA and NHL to show how assists are the most reliable predictors of long-term team success.

And of course, we get personal.

Ed shares a tough story about burning out in a glue role—and what happened when none of that work was recognized. Andy reflects on what it looks like to build balanced teams, and how glue people show up in ways you might not expect.

🔖 Mark Your Calendar:

🎙️ Episode 14 – Assists and Glue People
📆 Releases: Tuesday, September 23, 2025
🌐 www.LeadershipExploredPod.com

Subscribe now to be the first to listen when it drops—and consider sharing this preview with a colleague, team lead, or that quiet teammate who’s always connecting the dots.

💡 A Thought to Sit With

“If your team can’t move forward when you’re out for a few days—you might be the glue. And that might not be sustainable.”

We’ll explore what that means, and what leaders can do to make sure glue isn’t just valued—it’s shared.

More soon.
Until then, lead with purpose.

– Ed & Andy
Leadership Explored Podcast
✉️ leadershipexplored@gmail.com

✅ Want the episode delivered to your inbox?
Hit subscribe and we’ll make sure you never miss an episode.

Leadership Explored