The Power of Mattering at Work artwork

The Power of Mattering at Work

Harvard Business Review

July 24, 2026

The Power of Mattering at Work 30 Apr 2025 --- When people know they matter, they thrive—and so do companies. Three small leadership habits can make all the difference. Read the full article by Zach Mercurio here: https://s.hbr.org/4jZMNnq Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.
Speakers: Zach Mercurio, Ryan Reynolds
**SPEAKER_1** (0:00)
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**SPEAKER_2** (0:31)
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**Zach Mercurio** (0:56)
Right now, the data speaks for itself.
30% of people feel invisible at work. 65% feel underappreciated. And 8 out of every 10 people say they feel lonely at work. We've called it many things. Disengagement, burnout, even quiet quitting. But what we're really seeing is an epidemic of insignificance. I'm Zach Mercurio, and I study how people find meaning at work, especially in times of crisis. Decades of psychological research finds that people do not disengage because they're lazy. They disengage because they don't feel that they matter. And mattering is not soft. It's also not the same as belonging or inclusion. Belonging is feeling welcomed and accepted in a group. Inclusion is feeling that you can take an active role in that group. But mattering is feeling significant to the people around you. Leaders who create cultures of mattering have more motivated, resilient, and inspired teams.
And it all starts with three daily practices. The first is to notice people. Pay deep attention and ask meaningful questions.
Second, affirm them. Make sure you show people how their unique gifts make a unique difference.
And third, show them how they're needed. Show them how they and their tasks are indispensable to something bigger. To learn more about how to bring these skills to your team, read the full article at hpr.org.

**Ryan Reynolds** (2:21)
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**SPEAKER_5** (2:43)
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