The Secret to Great Leadership? #BeTheGlue
When we think about great leaders, we often focus on the big, flashy qualities.
The visionaries.
The disruptors.
The charismatic speakers who can rally a crowd.
But I think there is a real secret to great leadership: it’s not just about inspiring people with bold ideas, but it’s about holding them together when everything around them is shifting or falling apart.
Great leaders aren’t just strategists or motivators: they’re the glue.
They build trust, foster resilience, and create a sense of connection that keeps teams moving forward, even when the path ahead is unclear.
So, if you want to be the kind of leader who doesn’t just drive change, but actually leads people through it, let’s talk about how to #BeTheGlue.
The Problem: Leadership Can’t Just Be About Vision Anymore
Vision alone isn’t enough to keep a team together.
You can have the best strategy in the world, but if your team doesn’t trust you, they won’t follow you.
You can push for innovation, but if people feel disconnected, they won’t buy in.
You can have the title of “leader,” but if you don’t create stability, people will look elsewhere for it.
The modern workplace is fast-moving and unpredictable. Employees are navigating constant change, hybrid work, job uncertainty, and burnout. If you’re only focused on where you’re going, and not on how to keep people connected on the way there, your teams will fall flat.
I deeply believe that leadership isn’t just about driving results, it’s about building a culture where people feel like they belong, even in times of transition. ESPECIALLY in times of transition!
What It Means to #BeTheGlue as a Leader
Being the glue in leadership isn’t about micromanaging or trying to solve everyone’s problems.
To #BeTheGlue as a leader means:
✅ Building Trust: Being transparent, honest, and showing up consistently. When people trust you, they’ll weather uncertainty with you.
✅ Fostering Resilience: Helping your team adapt, pivot, and stay focused, even when plans shift.
✅ Creating Psychological Safety: Making sure people feel safe to speak up, take risks, and share concerns without fear.
✅ Keeping People Aligned: Ensuring that, even in transition, everyone understands the why behind the change and their role in it.
This isn’t about being “nice” or keeping things comfortable. It’s about leading in a way that makes people feel like they can trust the process, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Why #BeTheGlue Leadership is the Future
The old model of leadership - command and control, top-down directives, and ego-driven decision-making - doesn’t work anymore. It hasn’t worked for YEARS!
Today’s best leaders are the ones who create connection and stability while guiding their teams through uncertainty. And guess what? This isn’t just a “soft skill.”
📊 70% of an employee’s engagement is directly tied to their manager.
📊 High-trust teams are 50% more productive and experience 74% less stress.
📊 Retention skyrockets when employees feel their leader is invested in them.
The best teams aren’t built on charisma alone, but they are built on connection, clarity, and trust.
And the leaders who prioritize this don't just get results, they build teams that actually want to stay.
How to #BeTheGlue: Practical Leadership Moves That Make a Difference
Want to be the kind of leader who keeps teams together, even through change? Here’s how to start:
1. Be Transparent - Even When It’s Uncomfortable
Nothing fractures a team faster than uncertainty and secrecy. People don’t need perfect answers, they need honest communication.
🔥 Try This: Instead of waiting until you have every detail ironed out, communicate early and often. If a big change is coming, bring your team into the conversation rather than dropping it on them last minute.
2. Create Stability in Chaos
Your team is looking to you for a sense of control. If everything is uncertain, the best thing you can do is create consistency wherever possible.
🔥 Try This: Keep routines steady; like regular one-on-ones or weekly check-ins, especially during high-change periods. Even small consistencies build trust.
3. Prioritize People, Not Just Productivity
Your team isn’t a machine. If they’re stressed, overworked, or disconnected, performance will suffer no matter how clear your strategy is.
🔥 Try This: Instead of only checking in on deliverables, ask:
“What’s your biggest challenge right now?”, “How can I better support you this week?”, “What’s something we can adjust to make your workload more manageable?”, “What are some obstacles that I can help remove?”...
4. Make Sure Every Voice is Heard
The strongest teams aren’t just aligned on strategy, they’re aligned in trust. And trust comes from people knowing their perspectives matter.
🔥 Try This: In meetings, don’t just let the loudest voices dominate. Ask for input from those who haven’t spoken yet. Follow up one-on-one with quieter team members. Make sure everyone knows their voice counts.
5. Celebrate the Wins - Even the Small Ones
When teams are in high-pressure environments, it’s easy to move from one project to the next without recognizing progress.
🔥 Try This: Instead of only celebrating big wins, acknowledge small moments of progress. Call out effort, adaptability, and teamwork, not just results.
#BeTheGlue Leadership Changes Everything
When you choose to #betheglue, you’re not just leading a team, you’re building something bigger. A culture. A community. A workplace where people trust each other, stay engaged, and actually want to show up and do their best work.
The best leaders aren’t just visionaries, they’re the ones who:
Keep teams aligned and connected.
Build trust and stability in uncertainty.
Lead with clarity, consistency, and care.
That’s what great leadership looks like in 2025 and beyond.
Your Call to Action: Lead Differently. Lead Better.
If you’re ready to step up as the kind of leader who doesn’t just direct, but truly connects, here’s your challenge:
🔥 Communicate before you have all the answers.
🔥 Check in on people, not just their work.
🔥 Create stability in small ways, even in big changes.
🔥 Celebrate progress—even when things aren’t perfect.
How will you #BeTheGlue today?
