Teamwork Issues: Invisibility Syndrome

It may be a behavior that’s been reinforced by survival of the fittest – when staff members acknowledge only those at their organizational level and above. They may only “see” others that they believe capable of advancing their interests, or of causing them harm. But for the support part of the team – secretaries, clerks, housekeeping – it equates to being invisible. Many of the people who suffer from Invisibility Syndrome are genuinely not aware of their behavior. In some organizations, it is recognized and condoned. Treating others in your organization as if they don’t matter is not conducive to building strong, diverse teams.

What would you do to eliminate Invisibility Syndrome in your organization?