Assists & Glue People

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 [e-mail] or connect with us on LinkedIn.

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