In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew sits down with Zach Mercurio to explore the fundamental human need to matter.
As both a researcher and practitioner in organizational psychology, Mercurio shares profound insights into how the experience of mattering shapes workplace behavior, engagement, and well-being. Through compelling stories and research-backed observations, he explains how mattering isn't just about feeling valued, but about the essential human instinct to be significant to others.
The conversation delves into how recent global events like the pandemic have amplified people's search for meaning, leading to phenomena like the Great Resignation and Quiet Quitting.
Mercurio offers practical leadership strategies for creating cultures where people feel noticed, affirmed, and needed, while also examining the potential dark sides of mattering when taken to extremes.
Key Takeaways:
- Mattering is both a survival instinct and psychological need that requires systemic support through organizational culture, practices, and leadership behaviors
- Leaders need specific skills and practices to help others feel noticed, affirmed, and needed - intuition alone isn't enough
- The experience of anti-mattering often leads to either withdrawal behaviors or acts of desperation in the workplace
- Organizations need to move beyond relying on intuition and create concrete practices and systems that enable and ensure mattering behaviors
About Our Guest:
Dr. Zach Mercurio is a researcher, author, and thought leader in purposeful leadership and organizational psychology. As a Research and Teaching Fellow at Colorado State University's Center for Meaning and Purpose, his work focuses on how mattering and meaningful work drive human behavior and organizational success.
His research has been recognized by leading academic and professional organizations, and his forthcoming book "The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance" will be published by Harvard Business Review Press in 2025.
Beyond his academic work, Zach consults with global organizations to develop purposeful leaders and cultures where people experience significance. His unique position as both a researcher and practitioner allows him to bridge the gap between academic insights and practical application in organizational settings.
