Welcome to Volume 4, Issue 5 of The Root.

In order to support our growth, we require a strong network of roots.  They anchor us and serve as a conduit for nutrients to help us develop and deliver on our goals.

This summer has been busy as I pursue studies in Industrial/Organizational Psychology while continuing to build my business.  To say early 2025 was a bit of a struggle for many, might be an understatement.

It’s why I think this topic of “Mattering” is so important to reflect on and talk about.

Thank you for trusting me with your time.  I hope you realize that you matter.

Check us out at www.aspiretogrow.co 

Off the Shelf – My Book PickThe Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance – by Zach Mercurio

A fellow coach has an amazing newsletter for fellow coaches, and earlier this year, her newsletter theme was Mattering.  She quoted this book, The Power of Mattering by Zach Mercurio. I hadn’t thought about it much, but Mercurio reminds us that mattering is different than belonging.

Mattering involves being needed, heard, seen and valued.  When we know we matter, we are more energized, engaged, have a high sense of self-worth. <Mind-blown> Consider a time you did not feel valued, seen or needed.  Whether it was in a work setting, a team, a circle of peers – it is typically something we don’t forget. It’s such an awful feeling.

In fact, it ties in really closely with the feeling of loneliness so many Americans (and others) are feeling right now. (Our topic from August 2023: The Root, Volume 2, Issue 8: The Importance of Connection).

Mattering at Work

More than ever with the new generations joining the workforce, people are seeking meaning in their work.  And good for them – I’m so excited they have the courage to ask for what many of us did not.   

“Mattering” is defined by researchers as feeling significant to those around you. In the workplace, this can mean peers, supervisors, teammates, employees.

 Meaning includes feeling:

• Dignified
• Respected and
• Included

When people are thought of as do-ers and not included, this “out-group” feeling can lead to greater sense of burnout and less well being. 

Those are not only awful things for your employees and culture – but they don’t add to a great bottom line either. 

Mercurio mentions these stats for current employees:

• 58% feel lonely
• 50% feel forgotten
• 30% feel invisible

What Can You Do as a Leader or Peer?

He suggests that even small interactions can make a difference (and these work with our family members and anyone). 

• Noticing
  • The practice of seeing and hearing others
• Affirming
  • The practice of showing people the difference they make, their unique qualities, how they contribute
• Needing
  • The act of showing people they and their work are valued and necessary for your work and/or life.

They feel essential. 

Key takeaways 

Quality over Quantity

Although we can be in meetings or interactions every hour of the day, we can still feel lonely or disconnected.  It’s really about the quality of the interactions.

• Are we making personal connections
• Are we responding to what they value about their own talents and strengths?
• How are our 1:1s or conversations unique to them as an individual?
• Are we recognizing their achievements and small wins?

It’s Different than Belonging

Belonging involves feeling welcomed or accepted. It tends to have “group” focus. 

But mattering is an acceptance and value of the individual and their strengths, gifts and uniqueness. 

Mattering Builds Resilience

Recall our newsletter/blog topic on positive emotional attractors (PEA) from earlier this year,  (The Root: Volume 4, Issue 3: Leading with Compassion).

Focusing on strengths builds PEA, which is energizing and impacts overall well-being.  It helps us recover from stressful bursts of work (see figure above from Mercurio’s The Power of Mattering). 

Negative emotional attractors (NEA), such as feeling like one does not “matter” can lead to stress, fight or flight survival mechanisms and burnout.  

Read On – My Article Pick

The Power of Mattering at Work: Improving everyday interactions can promote employee retention, engagement, growth and well-being – Zach Mercurio

In this HBR article,  Mercurio summarizes many of the key points from his book.

Mattering in any sense (in this article, work related) can help people thrive. They feel worthy and capable – increasing their self-image and their self-efficacy. The only upside isn’t resilience and well-being (which, honestly, is SO important), but research shows that mattering contributes the bottom line in productivity, customer satisfaction and profitability.   

People who feel worthy – show it in their work and their daily interactions. 

How Reframing Can Help

It can be as easy as reframing questions to your employees or peers when you connect (recall, it’s the focus on Quality of interactions vs. Quantity)

• “What’s on your mind today?” 
• “What’s keeping you up at night about this?”
• “What was your takeaway from that meeting?”
• “What part of [this project] is most challenging right now?”

Mattering Self-Assessment

Within the article, Mercurio includes a self-assessment to see how you are doing helping others to feel as though they matter.   Just being more observant and having active listening during your conversations will allow you to see opportunities to show others they matter.  And most likely, you will have an uptake in your PEA as an added bonus. I’d love to know your key takeaways!  

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Previous Newsletters

If you are interested in any of the issues of past Root newsletters, please find them in the blog section above (or by selecting this button below).

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Thank you

Thank you for reading. Here’s hoping your summer is filled with memories and people who matter most to you

Sincerely, Kathleen