avoiding eye contact at work

I don’t know about you, but I have been fortunate enough to have a pretty colorful career so far. And by colorful…I mean just that, colorful!
Ever since I was a fresh out-of-college Staff in Public Accounting, I’ve experienced what I call the “avoiding eye”. The “avoiding eye” syndrome affects many people in the corporate space, mostly males in management position, who have the uncanny ability to speak to you while entirely avoiding looking at you. How that is even possible is beyond me, and for all its uncanny character, this is one of the most consistently displayed behavior I and many a corporate sister, have experienced in the corporate world.
From the manager who will blatantly answer your question while looking at the staff reporting to you, to the colleagues who will address your request while furtively catching glimpses of your right shoulder, the “avoiding eye” is so prevalent in the corporate space, especially as directed to corporate sisters, it’s not even funny (although it can definitely be at times).
As a corporate sister and an under-represented minority at work, I have felt the disrespectful sting of it time and time again. While it infuriated me as a young, ambitious staff years ago, today it fuels my ambitions and prompts me to share mine and others’ stories.

Have you ever experienced the “avoiding eye” at work? How have you dealt with/responded to it?

Please share your stories (we need to share our stories)…

The Corporate Sister

The Corporate Sister