The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance -- Zach Mercurio, Hardcover

Your people have a fundamental need to be seen, heard, and valued.

More people than ever report feeling ignored and underappreciated at work--simply put, they don't feel like they matter to their leaders or their organizations. And these feelings have dire consequences. The hidden epidemic of insignificance is driving a mental health crisis, debilitating loneliness, and, for organizations, disengagement, turnover, and low performance.

The good news is that leaders can learn the skills to ensure everyone around them feels valued and knows how they add value at work. Through a captivating exploration of the emerging science of mattering and drawing from hands-on work with hundreds of diverse occupations and organizations, researcher and speaker Zach Mercurio reveals how experiencing mattering to others is a fundamental--yet often overlooked--requirement for thriving. He introduces a simple yet effective framework for making daily interactions with your people more meaningful:

1. Noticing: the practice of seeing and hearing others
2. Affirming: the practice of showing people how their unique gifts make a difference
3. Needing: the practice of showing people how they're relied on and indispensable

Filled with practical advice and helpful exercises, The Power of Mattering gives leaders at all levels the skills they need to revitalize their teams--and entire organizations--by showing people that they matter.

Author: Zach Mercurio
Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press
Published: 05/13/2025
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9798892790123

About the Author

Zach Mercurio is an author, researcher, and speaker specializing in purposeful leadership, mattering, meaningful work, and positive organizational psychology. Zach works with hundreds of organizations worldwide, including JPMorgan Chase, Delta Air Lines, Marriott International, and the Government of Canada, to forge purposeful leaders who enable mattering, motivation, well-being, and performance. Zach earned his PhD in organizational development and has conducted award-winning research on meaningful work. He also serves as one of author Simon Sinek's Optimist Instructors, teaching one of Simon's top-rated courses on creating mattering at work. Zach's previous book is The Invisible Leader.