Why #BeTheGlue Matters More Than Ever in Disconnected Workplaces
Work has changed.
Teams are spread across time zones.
Meetings happen on screens.
Conversations get reduced to messages, emojis, and bullet points.
On paper, we are more connected than ever.
In reality, many workplaces feel more fragmented, more isolated, and more emotionally distant than they did before.
And in the middle of all that disconnection, someone always ends up holding things together.
That someone is usually [drum roll please] … HR.
A people leader.
A culture carrier.
A glue person.
That is why #BeTheGlue is not just a nice idea. It is becoming one of the most important roles in modern workplaces.
Disconnection Is the New Workplace Risk
Most organizations talk about engagement, retention, and culture. But what they are really struggling with is disconnection.
People feel unseen.
Misunderstandings happen more easily.
Trust erodes faster.
Burnout shows up quietly and spreads quickly.
When people do not feel connected, they stop caring.
When they stop caring, performance drops.
When performance drops, everyone feels it.
Disconnection is not a soft issue. It is a business risk.
What It Really Means to Be the Glue
Being the glue is NOT about being nice all the time.
It is NOT about fixing everything.
It is NOT about carrying everyone else’s emotions without support.
Being the glue means:
Creating space for honest conversations
Helping people feel safe enough to speak up
Translating between leaders and employees
Bringing clarity when things feel chaotic
Holding people together when pressure pulls them apart
It is emotional leadership. It is relational leadership. It is mental fitness.
And in disconnected workplaces, it is the difference between teams that fracture and teams that stay whole.
Why This Work Is SOOO Invisible
Glue work rarely shows up on org charts or performance reviews.
No one writes down:
The moment you stayed late to calm someone who was falling apart
The way you mediated a conflict before it became a lawsuit
The trust you built, so a team could keep going
But people feel it.
They remember who made them feel safe.
They remember who listened.
They remember who held steady when things got hard.
That is culture. And culture is built in these tiny moments.
Disconnected Workplaces Need Human Anchors
In a world of automation, AI, and endless tools, the most powerful thing we bring to work is still being human.
We need people who can:
Read the room
Sense when something is off
Ask the question no one else is asking
Hold space for real emotion
That is what glue does.
And HR professionals are often carrying this load without being named, rewarded, or supported for it.
How to Be the Glue Without Burning Out
Some HR ask me if being the glue means sacrificing themselves.
NO, my friend! It means:
Choosing connection, not control
Setting boundaries so you can keep showing up
Finding people who support you, too
Letting yourself be human while you lead
You do not have to hold everything alone.
Glue works best when it sticks to other glue.
Why #BeTheGlue Is a Movement, Not a Job
I started #BeTheGlue because I saw how many HR professionals were quietly doing the hardest emotional work in their organizations with very little recognition.
You are not just policy enforcers.
You are not just process managers.
You are the ones holding people and systems together in a time of constant change.
That matters.
More than ever.
I see you.
