HR Leaders Stop Hiring “Superstars” - They Might Be Office Vampires 🧛♂️
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Oct 31, 2025 Jon Levy, a behavioral scientist and host of Influencers, dives into the dynamics of high-performing teams. He highlights the importance of 'glue players' over lone superstar hires. Levy discusses how psychological safety and intentional connection are crucial in a hybrid work environment. He warns against 'energy vampires' that drain morale and emphasizes rituals that foster team culture. The conversation sheds light on aligning personal goals with company missions and how to create a vibrant workplace, even from a distance.
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Office Presence Alone Doesn't Create Culture
- Culture doesn't automatically appear when people return to the office; strangers won't bond by mere proximity.
- Jon Levy argues organizations must connect employees before office days to create reunions instead of ghost towns.
Secret Dinners That Spark Deep Bonds
- Jon Levy ran secret dinners where guests couldn't share jobs and met Nobel laureates, astronauts, and artists anonymously.
- The dinners proved rapid, deep bonding and led to media attention and corporate interest.
Glue Players Multiply Team Performance
- Some employees act as multipliers who significantly boost teammates' performance.
- Levy shows research where low-scoring 'glue' players increased team output by about 1.6×.
