Bernadette Griffith

I just asked a question in a Deaf/HOH group about feeling unseen, and the response was overwhelming. Many shared that they feel lonely, invisible, or shut out. I began to realize this stems beyond hearing loss. I’ve seen people shut down at every level in every job I’ve worked. For employees with invisible barriers, including hearing fatigue, silence is often misinterpreted as disengagement. Many other reasons could surface, but if no one asks, we lose effort and talent.

It’s sobering that we need mandated climate surveys to tell us whether people feel seen and heard at work. Surveys are useful tools for a lot of reasons, but they shouldn’t be the only time someone gets to speak into whether they feel valued. When did we become so efficient (or distracted) that we stopped being relational?

The loneliness epidemic is not abstract. It shows up in those with hearing loss. It is felt when ageism or other bias is present. It settles in talented people who stop contributing, because they’ve concluded their opinions don’t matter to anyone.

We all know employees aren’t loyal to organizations. We stay at jobs for the people. What are we doing to ensure those around us feel known?

Leaders don’t simply manage performance.
They shape whether someone feels invisible or indispensable. That’s where growth and talent are discovered. What many don’t realize is this: you don’t have to hold the highest title in the room to make someone feel heard. You can start by simply listening.

Take it from someone who once lost that ability: you don’t know the power you hold until you lose the easiest way you knew how to connect to others.

Hearing is a privilege.
Listening is a choice.

So, how are you?

And who will you truly listen to this week?