Invisible People- Not on my time

I have always been taught to treat people how I wanted to be treated as a little girl. As an adult, I was taught to treat better than you want to be treated. The latter is what I have shared with my employees and school staff for years. I do realize that sometimes people are shy, withdrawn, or introverted. However, there is nothing wrong with saying “Hello.” How often have you experienced walking down the hallway to be faced with someone you do not know, either looking down at their phone as if they are distracted or looking straight ahead as if you are invisible?

How many of you have worked with people for years and never uttered one word (No judgment)?

In an educational setting, it is my opinion that this is not acceptable. As a leader, you must set the tone and model the belief that there are no “invisible” people. Everyone likes to be acknowledged. Remember, you cannot control others’ responses. You are responsible for your actions. As a leader, I remind my teams to always say Good Morning or a simple hello before starting with the business for the day.

You may never know what someone has going on in his/her life. Your greeting or gesture could significantly impact his/her day.

While attending numerous school safety training sessions, I learned that simply saying hello and providing people (students as well) with eye contact and acknowledging them verbally could change the trajectory of a poor decision that was about to be made.

Teachers and administrators have shared with me over the years that people treat them as if they are invisible daily in their schools. Some people (students and adults) wake up in the morning and drive to work, not to have anyone ever acknowledge them with a “Good Morning.” Guess what? It costs you nothing to say hello/speak to people! Try it today.

As a leader, I teach administrators/teachers and students to speak to everyone they come into contact with. I remember working with a teacher that was shocked that I knew the names of the janitorial staff that cleaned our hallways. I made it a point to always speak to them and went out of my way to learn their name. People are human. People are not their jobs. I taught my students to call people by their names and not, for example, “the cleaning lady or the janitor.” Doing this is the right thing to do and the most respectful thing to do. People matter! Let’s start creating this climate and culture in our buildings and offices. It is never too late. Start today. Make it a challenge not to allow anyone in your setting to walk by you without you greeting them (especially in our schools). You can do it!

Email me at drkorriewhite@gmail.com for more information if you would like help with addressing the Invisible people syndrome.