The Glue

Anywhere I have ever worked, whether that be a big company like Uber or super small startup or even school club or basketball team, there…

The GlueAnywhere I have ever worked, whether that be a big company like Uber or super small startup or even school club or basketball team, there…


Anywhere I have ever worked, whether that be a big company like Uber or super small startup or even school club or basketball team, there is always one person who holds the team together. This person is “the glue.”

This person does not have to look a certain way. They do not have to have a certain type of background. They are not from a certain field or industry.

The common characteristics among this type of person, across activities and professions, is that they are consistent and reliable. They are the individual that holds the team together. And they are the person who never gets all the credit.

They work hard.

They help people just because they are nice, not because they are incentivized to.

They set up the whole team and know how everything works.

They are the point person that everyone asks for help on random things.

They are often quiet — and only ask questions when they cannot figure the answer out on their own.

The glue is super important to the fabric of any team or company — yet we so undervalue people like this in society. Why? Because it is hard to appreciate the glue when they have always been there for you.

We do not walk into a building and say, “wow, I really appreciate the concrete holding up the building.”

Why?

Because it was there when we got there.

The same thing is said for the effect of the “Glue” person on us.

They have always been there. They are very consistent and only take days off when they have to.

They work not for credit but rather because they love it. It can pose a challenge to get to know the glue — but trust me, they are the people who the ship depends on to stay afloat. Without them, the rest of the team is screwed.


Originally published at gonen.blog.

By jordangonen on July 31, 2017.

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Exported from Medium on February 17, 2018.