Janelle E. Wells, Ph.D., and Doreen MacAulay, Ph.D.
Our (In)visible Work
Behind every effortless summer memory is someone quietly juggling calendars, coordinating group texts, and managing emotional dynamics. The labor of planning, coordinating, and tending to everyone else’s experience often goes unnoticed. And it rarely shows up in the vacation photos. Sometimes even a simple thank you is missed.
In a season associated with rest and relaxation, someone still has to make it all happen. Whether it’s planning a trip, onboarding the summer intern, or coordinating kids’ erratic summer schedules, the invisible work of summer is real and heavy.
It’s time we name it. Acknowledge it. And, when possible, share it.
When Perception Masks Reality
Perception is a process. And every individual gives meaning to their environment based on their own organization and interpretation. Management scholars Robbins and Coulter (2025) reveal perception is shaped by three key components:
- The Perceiver: The perceiver brings their own beliefs and assumptions (“He loves doing this!).
- The Target: The target is the person or task being perceived: “She’s the one who always organizes.”
- The Context: This is the setting or circumstance in which the perception takes place (“It always works out somehow”). The context in which the situation is being perceived varies based on time pressures, cultural expectations, resource availability, or family norms.
As scholars note in the Journal of Management Research and Analysis, these perceptions often turn into judgments. People make assumptions based on what they see, which may be a fraction of what’s really happening.
A Real-World Example: A Family Event
Imagine this: You have confirmed the date, secured the location, navigated the relational dynamics over text, ordered the food that meets everyone’s dietary restrictions, set up the decorations, and queued the playlist. When people ask what they can do, you suggest something easy, maybe make that “famous lemon cake” they are known for. Then, when the compliments come in and you respond with “It wasn’t much,” they believe you. Because from the outside, it looks effortless.
But if someone has never hosted, coordinated, or led an event, they don’t see the hours of invisible labor behind it. So, let’s revisit that triad shaping our perceptions:
Perceiver: Family and friends, eager to relax and enjoy.
Target: You, appearing calm and collected.
Context: A lighthearted afternoon gathering, not the behind-the-scenes effort.
With no visible stress, no to-do list in hand, and no mention of the coordination involved, the perception is that the family event was easily thrown together and simply happened.
