Glue Players: The Gifts That Keep Giving

The holiday season is the perfect time to recognize people who have given generously all year long.

Behavioral scientist Jon Levy calls these individuals “glue players.”

They are the team members who bind teams through compassion, trust, and collaboration — often beyond formal authority or attention.

Who Are Glue Players?

  • They’re not defined by title or authority

  • They’re positive influencers at all levels

  • They have exceptional emotional intelligence

  • They have a knack for helping things move forward — with insight and timing

I First Saw This in Sports

Even on the field, “gluers” had a role beyond their position.
They felt what the team needed — comic relief, a serious word, mediation, support.
They were ego-soothers and unsung supporters.

Organizations Need Glue Players Too

Thriving workplaces, like great teams, rely on these connectors.
But too often, they go unnoticed.

Why?
We measure and reward visible wins — OKRs, outcomes, quantifiable results.
But we can undervalue the interpersonal work that happens behind the scenes.

This creates imbalance:

People may compete more than collaborate
Morale suffers when supporters feel forgotten.
The “how” gets overshadowed by the “what”

The Good News: People Do Notice

We just have to be intentional about recognition.

Forward-thinking companies are already doing this through:
Peer-nominated awards
Questions like:

“Who helped you succeed this quarter?”
“Which colleague strengthened the team, and how?”

This completes the picture of why great results happen.

A Call to Leaders:

Acknowledge glue behaviors.
Show that how we work matters as much as what we achieve.
Great process leads to great results.

Reflect for a Moment:

  • Who are the glue players in your world?

  • What are you doing to recognize them?

Wishing you meaningful celebrations and a connected new year.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all — especially the glue players.

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now,
— Lorne

Garrett’s View: Hiring someone who can match the skillsets to achieve OKRs, KPIs, and quantifiable results is crucial. Perhaps the tougher find is the people whose presence can motivate teams through tough deadlines, keep up the energy through proposal pivots, deliver memorable experiences for customers/clients, or even brighten up a dreary Monday. That’s the glue you don’t just find in the ink of degrees and resumes. 

- Garrett 

AI Response: Research underscores the immense value of glue players: a study by Google’s Project Aristotle found psychological safety—a climate often fostered by such individuals—was the top factor in successful teams, while Gallup notes managers account for 70% of variance in team engagement, a role glue players often fulfill informally. Moreover, companies with high employee connectivity see productivity boosts of up to 25%, and recognizing these behind-the-scenes contributors can reduce turnover risk by up to 50%, proving that intentional appreciation of these collaborative behaviors is crucial for sustained organizational health and performance.
















































































































































































































































































































































 

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