Invisible Friction: The Quiet Cost of Human Disconnection

You can’t really see it, but you definitely feel it.

That silent tension. The moments when things that need to be said….go unsaid.

Or those times when someone:

Makes assumptions without seeking to understand
Jumps to conclusions instead of reserving judgment
Fails to check in with you after a hard week
Delivers tough news without acknowledging its impact

Not to be dramatic, BUT in exchange for speed, efficiency, and growth, I think we’ve entered an era of distraction, distrust, and human disconnection 😏

Somewhere along the way, we’ve forgotten how to truly see and hear each other as people.

And for my data people, here are some numbers for context:

Just 19% of employees strongly agree they trust their organization’s leadership (Gallup, 2024)
56% feel disconnected at work (Ingenuity Design, 2024)
Only 1 in 3 Americans say most people can be trusted (Pew Research, 2024)

But that’s not the real problem.

The real problem is what this disconnection creates.

I call it Invisible Friction™

The quiet cost of human disconnection.

It’s the unseen force that builds between people when we stop relating to each other as people and start reducing each other to roles.

It's eroding trust, slowing teams down and just making work feel a lot harder than it should.

I'm curious what this term/idea of Invisible Friction™ brings up for you.

Where do you see it?
Is it present on your team?
What might be quietly causing it in your workplace?

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Chris Rollins is an inspirational leadership keynote speaker and creator of the Ripple Effect Mindset™. Inspiring leaders to act with intention in a world craving trust and connection. Specializing in leadership, teamwork, and creating inclusive, human-centered workplaces. Start a ripple that drives lasting impact today.