166: Zach Mercurio: The Power of Mattering at Work and in Life

Overview

Knowing that our work matters is a fundamental human need. But so many organizations and leaders struggle to help people feel that their work is worthy of the effort they put in.

This disconnect contributes to, and maybe even drives, burnout. If we feel like our work doesn’t matter, what’s the point of doing it?

My guest today invites us to explore the fundamental role of work in our lives. Mattering is the ultimate energizer, not in an extractive way, but because it honors a fundamental human need. In this crisis moment when more and more people feel negatively about work, mattering is an essential antidote to apathy and disconnection.

Listen below or on your favorite podcast player.

More About Our Guest

Zach Mercurio is a researcher, leadership development facilitator, and speaker specializing in purposeful leadership, mattering, and meaningful work. He is the author of The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance. Zach advises leaders in organizations worldwide on practices for building cultures that promote well-being, motivation, and performance. He holds a Ph.D. in organizational learning, performance, and change from Colorado State University, where he serves as a senior fellow at the Center for Meaning and Purpose and as an instructor in the Organizational Learning, Performance, and Change program.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• The critical difference between meaning and mattering at work

• Why today’s workplace crisis isn’t disengagement—it’s a mattering deficit

• The three leadership practices that foster mattering: Noticing, Affirming, and Needing

• Simple, everyday questions leaders can ask to help people feel recognized and cared for

• How AI may actually make human relational skills more critical than ever

• Zach’s practical advice for making your next interaction your next great leadership act

Learn more about Zach Mercurio:

• Website

• Connect On LinkedIn

• Instagram: @zachmercurio

• X: @zachmercurio

• The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance

• Mattering Resources

Resources Mentioned

• The Power of Mattering at Work (Zach’s HBR article)

• 165. Bree Groff on Making Work Fun

• Émile Durkheim

• Working: People Talk about What They Do All Day and How They Feel about What They Do, Studs Terkel

• Ruth Yeoman

• David L. Blustein

• Gloria Mark

• Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family, Bob Chapman, Raj Sisodia

• HBDI (Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument)® Assessment

Thanks for Listening!

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