Ed Schaefer
@agileideation.bsky.social
Executive leadership coach. Leadership, culture, strategy, systems, change, and mental fitness.
Every team has a “glue person.”
They’re the ones who smooth handoffs, connect people, create clarity, and elevate others.
They rarely ask for attention—yet everything starts to break when they’re gone.
🧵 Let’s talk about why we overlook them—and why we can’t afford to anymore.
They’re the ones who smooth handoffs, connect people, create clarity, and elevate others.
They rarely ask for attention—yet everything starts to break when they’re gone.
🧵 Let’s talk about why we overlook them—and why we can’t afford to anymore.
October 1, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Every team has a “glue person.”
They’re the ones who smooth handoffs, connect people, create clarity, and elevate others.
They rarely ask for attention—yet everything starts to break when they’re gone.
🧵 Let’s talk about why we overlook them—and why we can’t afford to anymore.
They’re the ones who smooth handoffs, connect people, create clarity, and elevate others.
They rarely ask for attention—yet everything starts to break when they’re gone.
🧵 Let’s talk about why we overlook them—and why we can’t afford to anymore.
Leadership isn’t just about managing tasks—it’s about cultivating a mindset that prepares teams for anything. Today, we talk about moving from “Be Prepared” to “We Are Ready.” It’s about creating a culture that thrives in uncertainty. What does readiness mean to you?
September 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Leadership isn’t just about managing tasks—it’s about cultivating a mindset that prepares teams for anything. Today, we talk about moving from “Be Prepared” to “We Are Ready.” It’s about creating a culture that thrives in uncertainty. What does readiness mean to you?
As leaders, we often talk about "being prepared," but what does that really mean in practice? It's not just about planning for crises, it's about creating a culture of readiness that helps teams adapt to anything. Preparedness is a habit, not a one-time event. #LeadershipDevelopment #Preparedness
September 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM
As leaders, we often talk about "being prepared," but what does that really mean in practice? It's not just about planning for crises, it's about creating a culture of readiness that helps teams adapt to anything. Preparedness is a habit, not a one-time event. #LeadershipDevelopment #Preparedness
Leadership isn’t just about what we do—it’s about how we grow. Every challenge is an opportunity to refine our mindset, build resilience, and strengthen our leadership. Reflection is key to continuous growth. What’s the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned this year?
September 28, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Leadership isn’t just about what we do—it’s about how we grow. Every challenge is an opportunity to refine our mindset, build resilience, and strengthen our leadership. Reflection is key to continuous growth. What’s the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned this year?
Who gets the credit on your team?
The person who scores the goal—or the one who made the assist possible?
In leadership, we often celebrate visibility. But real performance? It’s driven by something else entirely. 🧵
The person who scores the goal—or the one who made the assist possible?
In leadership, we often celebrate visibility. But real performance? It’s driven by something else entirely. 🧵
September 28, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Who gets the credit on your team?
The person who scores the goal—or the one who made the assist possible?
In leadership, we often celebrate visibility. But real performance? It’s driven by something else entirely. 🧵
The person who scores the goal—or the one who made the assist possible?
In leadership, we often celebrate visibility. But real performance? It’s driven by something else entirely. 🧵
In a crisis, the hardest part isn’t always the event itself. It’s the overload.
Too much information. Too many opinions.
Not enough clarity.
So what do prepared leaders do?
They get good at filtering. They tune into the signal.📡
Too much information. Too many opinions.
Not enough clarity.
So what do prepared leaders do?
They get good at filtering. They tune into the signal.📡
September 28, 2025 at 4:19 PM
In a crisis, the hardest part isn’t always the event itself. It’s the overload.
Too much information. Too many opinions.
Not enough clarity.
So what do prepared leaders do?
They get good at filtering. They tune into the signal.📡
Too much information. Too many opinions.
Not enough clarity.
So what do prepared leaders do?
They get good at filtering. They tune into the signal.📡
True leadership isn't just about making decisions—it's about creating space for others to contribute and thrive. In a world that demands constant action, effective leaders know when to pause and allow reflection. #Leadership #EffectiveLeadership #MentalFitness
September 28, 2025 at 1:29 PM
True leadership isn't just about making decisions—it's about creating space for others to contribute and thrive. In a world that demands constant action, effective leaders know when to pause and allow reflection. #Leadership #EffectiveLeadership #MentalFitness
Effective leadership starts with self-awareness. To lead others, we must first lead ourselves. The most successful leaders take time for reflection, understanding their strengths and blind spots. How often do you pause to reflect on your own leadership?
September 27, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Effective leadership starts with self-awareness. To lead others, we must first lead ourselves. The most successful leaders take time for reflection, understanding their strengths and blind spots. How often do you pause to reflect on your own leadership?
Leadership isn’t just about taking charge—it’s about knowing when to step back. ⏸️ Strategic pauses allow leaders to regain clarity and make decisions rooted in insight, not reaction. How often do you give yourself space before making a move? #Leadership #StrategicPause
September 27, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Leadership isn’t just about taking charge—it’s about knowing when to step back. ⏸️ Strategic pauses allow leaders to regain clarity and make decisions rooted in insight, not reaction. How often do you give yourself space before making a move? #Leadership #StrategicPause
🌿 Kindness: The Unsung Leadership Superpower
September 27, 2025 at 1:29 PM
🌿 Kindness: The Unsung Leadership Superpower
Not all leadership is loud.
Some of the most impactful people on a team are quietly connecting dots, reducing friction, and elevating others.
They don’t demand attention—but without them, everything slows down.
We call them glue people. 🧵
Some of the most impactful people on a team are quietly connecting dots, reducing friction, and elevating others.
They don’t demand attention—but without them, everything slows down.
We call them glue people. 🧵
September 26, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Not all leadership is loud.
Some of the most impactful people on a team are quietly connecting dots, reducing friction, and elevating others.
They don’t demand attention—but without them, everything slows down.
We call them glue people. 🧵
Some of the most impactful people on a team are quietly connecting dots, reducing friction, and elevating others.
They don’t demand attention—but without them, everything slows down.
We call them glue people. 🧵
In leadership, the true measure of resilience isn't in how we handle the status quo—it’s in how we adapt to the unexpected. 🌪️
Building flexibility into your leadership strategy isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a necessity in today’s unpredictable world. #LeadershipResilience
Building flexibility into your leadership strategy isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a necessity in today’s unpredictable world. #LeadershipResilience
September 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM
In leadership, the true measure of resilience isn't in how we handle the status quo—it’s in how we adapt to the unexpected. 🌪️
Building flexibility into your leadership strategy isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a necessity in today’s unpredictable world. #LeadershipResilience
Building flexibility into your leadership strategy isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a necessity in today’s unpredictable world. #LeadershipResilience
Great leadership doesn’t mean having all the answers—it comes from knowing how to ask the right questions. In a rapidly changing world, the ability to diagnose the situation correctly is just as important as making the right decision. What’s one question you ask yourself before making a big call?
September 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Great leadership doesn’t mean having all the answers—it comes from knowing how to ask the right questions. In a rapidly changing world, the ability to diagnose the situation correctly is just as important as making the right decision. What’s one question you ask yourself before making a big call?
When the unexpected hits—your plan breaks, your team looks to you, and the clock starts ticking—what happens next says everything about your leadership.
There’s one mindset I return to again and again when working with leaders in pressure:
CALM.
There’s one mindset I return to again and again when working with leaders in pressure:
CALM.
September 24, 2025 at 2:00 PM
When the unexpected hits—your plan breaks, your team looks to you, and the clock starts ticking—what happens next says everything about your leadership.
There’s one mindset I return to again and again when working with leaders in pressure:
CALM.
There’s one mindset I return to again and again when working with leaders in pressure:
CALM.
Some teams collapse when one person takes PTO.
Not because they lost the manager.
Not because they lost the “top performer.”
But because they lost the glue person—the one holding everything together.
Not because they lost the manager.
Not because they lost the “top performer.”
But because they lost the glue person—the one holding everything together.
September 23, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Some teams collapse when one person takes PTO.
Not because they lost the manager.
Not because they lost the “top performer.”
But because they lost the glue person—the one holding everything together.
Not because they lost the manager.
Not because they lost the “top performer.”
But because they lost the glue person—the one holding everything together.
Most leadership breakdowns don’t happen because people made a bad plan.
They happen because no one paused to ask:
"Is this still the right plan?"
Let’s talk about Decision Gates—a simple tool that helps leaders build agility before a crisis hits. 🧵
They happen because no one paused to ask:
"Is this still the right plan?"
Let’s talk about Decision Gates—a simple tool that helps leaders build agility before a crisis hits. 🧵
September 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Most leadership breakdowns don’t happen because people made a bad plan.
They happen because no one paused to ask:
"Is this still the right plan?"
Let’s talk about Decision Gates—a simple tool that helps leaders build agility before a crisis hits. 🧵
They happen because no one paused to ask:
"Is this still the right plan?"
Let’s talk about Decision Gates—a simple tool that helps leaders build agility before a crisis hits. 🧵
In uncertainty, most people freeze.
But the best leaders? They move.
Not recklessly. Not impulsively.
Just enough to shift the team out of stasis and into momentum.
🧭 It’s called The First Move. And it’s underrated. #Leadership #PreparedLeader
But the best leaders? They move.
Not recklessly. Not impulsively.
Just enough to shift the team out of stasis and into momentum.
🧭 It’s called The First Move. And it’s underrated. #Leadership #PreparedLeader
September 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
In uncertainty, most people freeze.
But the best leaders? They move.
Not recklessly. Not impulsively.
Just enough to shift the team out of stasis and into momentum.
🧭 It’s called The First Move. And it’s underrated. #Leadership #PreparedLeader
But the best leaders? They move.
Not recklessly. Not impulsively.
Just enough to shift the team out of stasis and into momentum.
🧭 It’s called The First Move. And it’s underrated. #Leadership #PreparedLeader
Ambition drives innovation, but what happens when it starts driving you?
One of the biggest leadership blind spots is confusing constant striving with actual progress. Let’s talk about how to lead with both ambition and contentment. 🧵
One of the biggest leadership blind spots is confusing constant striving with actual progress. Let’s talk about how to lead with both ambition and contentment. 🧵
September 21, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Ambition drives innovation, but what happens when it starts driving you?
One of the biggest leadership blind spots is confusing constant striving with actual progress. Let’s talk about how to lead with both ambition and contentment. 🧵
One of the biggest leadership blind spots is confusing constant striving with actual progress. Let’s talk about how to lead with both ambition and contentment. 🧵
Many leaders say they want teams who "learn fast" and "bounce back from failure."
But few build the habits that actually make that happen.
Here’s one of the most underused tools I recommend to every leader I work with: the After-Action Review (AAR).
#Leadership
But few build the habits that actually make that happen.
Here’s one of the most underused tools I recommend to every leader I work with: the After-Action Review (AAR).
#Leadership
September 21, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Many leaders say they want teams who "learn fast" and "bounce back from failure."
But few build the habits that actually make that happen.
Here’s one of the most underused tools I recommend to every leader I work with: the After-Action Review (AAR).
#Leadership
But few build the habits that actually make that happen.
Here’s one of the most underused tools I recommend to every leader I work with: the After-Action Review (AAR).
#Leadership
Always on. Always reachable. Always drained.
Let’s talk about the hidden cost of constant connectivity—especially for leaders.
🧵 A short thread on digital boundaries, leadership, and why logging off is a strategic move.
Let’s talk about the hidden cost of constant connectivity—especially for leaders.
🧵 A short thread on digital boundaries, leadership, and why logging off is a strategic move.
September 21, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Always on. Always reachable. Always drained.
Let’s talk about the hidden cost of constant connectivity—especially for leaders.
🧵 A short thread on digital boundaries, leadership, and why logging off is a strategic move.
Let’s talk about the hidden cost of constant connectivity—especially for leaders.
🧵 A short thread on digital boundaries, leadership, and why logging off is a strategic move.
Leadership isn't just built Monday through Friday.
Some of the strongest momentum comes from what you do with your weekends.
Not grinding. Not overworking.
But reflecting, refining, and getting intentional.
🧵Let’s talk about the art of reflective leadership…
Some of the strongest momentum comes from what you do with your weekends.
Not grinding. Not overworking.
But reflecting, refining, and getting intentional.
🧵Let’s talk about the art of reflective leadership…
September 20, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Leadership isn't just built Monday through Friday.
Some of the strongest momentum comes from what you do with your weekends.
Not grinding. Not overworking.
But reflecting, refining, and getting intentional.
🧵Let’s talk about the art of reflective leadership…
Some of the strongest momentum comes from what you do with your weekends.
Not grinding. Not overworking.
But reflecting, refining, and getting intentional.
🧵Let’s talk about the art of reflective leadership…
Most leaders don’t fail because they lack resources.
They fail because they don’t see the ones they already have.
Let’s talk about Resource Mapping—a quiet leadership superpower. 🧭
They fail because they don’t see the ones they already have.
Let’s talk about Resource Mapping—a quiet leadership superpower. 🧭
September 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Most leaders don’t fail because they lack resources.
They fail because they don’t see the ones they already have.
Let’s talk about Resource Mapping—a quiet leadership superpower. 🧭
They fail because they don’t see the ones they already have.
Let’s talk about Resource Mapping—a quiet leadership superpower. 🧭
In leadership circles, we often talk about resilience, regulation, and recovery. But there's one powerful, science-backed tool that gets far less attention than it deserves: humor.
Let’s talk about why laughter belongs in your leadership toolkit. 🧵
Let’s talk about why laughter belongs in your leadership toolkit. 🧵
September 20, 2025 at 1:29 PM
In leadership circles, we often talk about resilience, regulation, and recovery. But there's one powerful, science-backed tool that gets far less attention than it deserves: humor.
Let’s talk about why laughter belongs in your leadership toolkit. 🧵
Let’s talk about why laughter belongs in your leadership toolkit. 🧵
Some of the most important people on your team might never show up in your dashboards.
They’re not always loud.
They don’t ask for credit.
But when they’re gone—you feel it.
Let’s talk about the glue people. 🧵
They’re not always loud.
They don’t ask for credit.
But when they’re gone—you feel it.
Let’s talk about the glue people. 🧵
September 19, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Some of the most important people on your team might never show up in your dashboards.
They’re not always loud.
They don’t ask for credit.
But when they’re gone—you feel it.
Let’s talk about the glue people. 🧵
They’re not always loud.
They don’t ask for credit.
But when they’re gone—you feel it.
Let’s talk about the glue people. 🧵
Most leaders don’t lose trust because of the crisis.
They lose it in the gap between silence and clarity.
That’s why I believe every leader should have a communication go-bag—and no, it’s not just for PR teams.
They lose it in the gap between silence and clarity.
That’s why I believe every leader should have a communication go-bag—and no, it’s not just for PR teams.
September 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Most leaders don’t lose trust because of the crisis.
They lose it in the gap between silence and clarity.
That’s why I believe every leader should have a communication go-bag—and no, it’s not just for PR teams.
They lose it in the gap between silence and clarity.
That’s why I believe every leader should have a communication go-bag—and no, it’s not just for PR teams.