Microinequities: Can Office Snubs Cause You Stress?

By: Kathy Gillen, CPBA

Foodservice and medical executives know that by increasing morale, productivity also improves. One way to accomplish this is to help your team understand each other, and learn not to take things personally. Following is an example of how a leader's actions have unintended consequences.

Lori dashed down the hall, grumbling to herself that she was late to her meeting. As she flew by, she didn’t pay attention to her two, nearby employees. Feeling unprepared, and worried about the presentation she was going to make to the senior executive team, she had no idea that by ignoring her employees, she was also setting herself, and her project, up for failure.

Ignoring or not acknowledging people is considered one of many “microinequities”, a term coined in 1973 by MIT ombudsman, Mary Rowe. Office snubs, negative messages, subtle put-downs, dismissive gestures and sarcastic tones cause people to feel unvalued and sap motivation. This lack of respect is deadly, and is a frequent cause of poor teamwork.