The Captain Class: The Hidden Force that Creates the World's Greatest Teams

“Bracketed morality” refers to deviation from typical social and ethical norms in highly competitive environments—for instance, trash-talking an opponent. It is a practice of elite captains, though Walker stresses that departures from norms must be strategic to be effective; a captain who regularly loses their temper during games is likely not contributing to the team’s success. Embraced correctly, bracketed morality is a variation on the key takeaway to Embrace Strategic Dissent Over Artificial Harmony.

Deep acting is a kind of emotional performance in which one actually experiences the feelings one is projecting. Walker’s research demonstrates that this kind of authenticity can be a powerful tool, as it capitalizes on emotional contagion, which occurs more quickly than conscious thought. For leaders, deep acting is thus one way to Master Emotional Regulation Without Suppressing Intensity.

A glue guy is a team member who contributes not through overt individual excellence but rather through prioritization of team cohesion. While all of the leadership characteristics that Walker highlights contribute to making someone a “glue guy,” the role shares particular overlap with the “charismatic connector”: someone whose communication skills manifest in one-on-one talks with teammates, conflict mediation, etc.