Holding It All Together: How to #BeTheGlue in Times of Crisis

Let’s talk about the part of #leadership that rarely makes it into job descriptions: Being the glue when everything around you feels like it’s falling apart.

The steady one.
The strong one.
The one people turn to with their panic, their confusion, their uncertainty.

Whether you’re leading a team, supporting your family, or running a business, there comes a moment, or several moments, where you’re the one keeping it together when everything else is breaking apart.

It’s the invisible labor of leadership. And it’s heavy.

But here’s what I’ve learned through life, work, and every chaotic, messy middle in between:

Being the glue doesn’t mean being perfect, it means being present. It means choosing to stand steady when the ground shifts.

Let’s talk about what that REALLY looks like.

The Myth of Holding It Together

There’s a myth that “being the glue” means being unshakeable.
But if you’ve ever lived through a crisis - personal, professional, or both at the same time - you know better.

Being the glue isn’t about never falling apart.
It’s about learning how to bend without breaking.

It’s about:

• Answering the call even when your voice is shaking.

• Making space for others’ emotions while trying to process your own.

• Taking one step forward, even if you’re still figuring out where to plant your feet.
  

What It Really Means to #BeTheGlue During Crisis

When a crisis hits, people don’t just need strategy, but they need stability. 

And they look to YOU for it.

Whether you’re the HR pro managing layoffs, the team lead keeping morale afloat, or the parent navigating life changes at home, being the glue is emotional leadership. And it’s powerful!

Here’s what that looks like in action:

 1. Stay Grounded So Others Can Lean In

When the storm hits, your job isn’t to control it, it’s to anchor yourself.
Because when you’re grounded, you become a safe place for others to land.

🔥 Try This: Create your own personal grounding ritual; whether that’s 5 minutes of silence before every meeting, a daily walk, or journaling out the noise. You can’t stabilize others if you’re spinning out.

 2. Communicate Honestly and Often

Silence during a crisis creates confusion.
And polished corporate-speak doesn’t calm anyone’s nerves.

People don’t need perfection, but they need honesty, direction, and clarity.

🔥 Try This: Use transparent language. Say what you know. Say what you don’t know. And repeat key messages often. You can’t over-communicate when emotions are high.

 3. Show Humanity Without Losing Credibility

You can be a leader and still say, “This is hard.”
You can be the glue and still admit you’re tired.
That kind of vulnerability? It builds trust, not weakness.

🔥 Try This: Share your own coping strategies. Model resilience by being real. When people see your humanity, they’ll be more willing to share theirs - and that’s where connection starts.

 4. Protect the Energy That Powers the Glue

You are not a robot. You cannot pour from an empty cup.
And especially in times of crisis, you need to be vigilant about protecting your capacity.

🔥 Try This: Say no to non-essentials.  Delegate, even when it feels uncomfortable. Take 10-minute breaks like your sanity depends on it… because it does.

 5. Keep One Eye on the Now, One on the Future

Crisis has a way of pulling us into survival mode.
But part of being the glue is helping people see beyond the chaos, not just where we are, but where we’re going.

🔥 Try This: Anchor your team (or your family) with micro-visions: “Here’s what we’re focused on this week,” or “Here’s what success looks like at this moment.”  Hope is a form of leadership. Share it generously.

When You’re the Glue, You’re the Legacy

Here’s what most people won’t see:
They won’t see the emotional labor.
They won’t know how hard you worked behind the scenes.
They won’t understand the energy it took to show up strong while managing your own storm.

But they will remember how you made them feel:
✔️ Safe
✔️ Steady
✔️ Seen

And that? That’s the kind of leadership that sticks.

Your Call to Action: Honor the Glue

If you’re the one holding it all together right now… I see you.
And if you’re not? Go thank the person who is.

✅ Send a note to a colleague who showed up when no one else did.
✅ Take 15 minutes to do something that refills your cup.
✅ Ask yourself: What would it look like to stay steady this week, without having to carry it all?

Because being the glue doesn’t mean being indestructible.
It means choosing connection over control.
Presence over perfection.
Resilience over rigidity.

Keep going. You’re holding more than you know… and you’re doing it well. 💪 #BeTheGlue