Be The Glue

Neither a high performer nor a junior, what middling engineers can do to be a subtle tech team asset.

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Despite spending 8 seasons on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, it’s likely you’ve never heard of Phil Hartman.

Hartman was renowned for his impressions, portraying celebrities and politicians before contemporary SNL impressionists like Jimmy Fallon and Bill Hader.

But even though he was an Emmy-winning performer, Hartman was known by one name (which is even included in his Wikipedia): Glue.

Hartman earned the nickname because even if he wasn’t cast in a lead role in the prime time sketches, his contributions, no matter how subtle, would shape the end product and help keep everything from falling apart.

In other words, on a team of stars he was the ultimate utility player.

Engineering teams may not be releasing products to large audiences like the SNL cast does, but similarly clear dynamics exist. Within the team hierarchy there is a defined lead or manager. Juniors or interns are the next easiest to define, given their subordinate titles. Less easy to quantify, but easy to spot: The highest performer, which is often a more senior teammate.

But what if you don’t feel like you fit any of these molds?