Your Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of Work The Power of Mattering: What Happens When People Feel Truly Seen w/ Zach Mercurio
Well friends, we're getting deep today - and we mean DEEP.
Ever feel like you're just going through the motions at work? Like you could disappear tomorrow and nobody would really notice? Yeah, we've all been there. This episode might just change how you show up everywhere.
We sat down with Zach Mercurio, researcher and author of "The Power of Mattering," and honestly? This conversation hit us right in the feelings. Zach breaks down why 30% of people feel invisible at work (despite being in meetings ALL DAY), and more importantly - what we can actually do about it.
This episode is about more than workplace recognition. It’s about creating a culture where people feel they truly count. Whether you manage others, or just want to show up with more meaning, this conversation will change the way you work, lead, and connect. After all, being "seen" isn't a nice-to-have, it's everything.
Here's what we're diving into:
⏰ 3:45 The Mattering Crisis: Why we're lonelier than ever despite being more "connected" than ever (spoiler: it's not about having more people around you)
⏰ 12:20 Transactional vs. Transformational: How our emoji responses and hurried interactions are literally making us worse at being human
⏰ 18:35 The NASA Example: How they got 300,000 people (including janitors) to feel essential to putting a man on the moon
⏰ 25:10 The NAN Framework: Notice, Affirm, Need - three simple practices that separate great leaders from everyone else
⏰ 35:45 "Bosses Are Done Being Nice": Why the pendulum swing back to command-and-control is doomed to fail (and what to do instead)
⏰ 42:30 Going First: What to do when your boss operates transactionally (hint: someone has to make the first move)
🔥 REAL TALK YOU CAN USE TODAY:
- The one question to ask your team that will change everything: "When do you feel like you matter to me?"
- Why "hurry and care can't coexist" - and what this means for your leadership
- The notebook trick that transformed a distribution center (seriously, it's so simple)
- How to spot the difference between belonging, inclusion, and actually mattering
Join us as we explore why the "squishy stuff" isn't optional anymore - it's actually what drives everything else in organizations. Because work is hard enough without feeling invisible while you're doing it.
About Zach:
Zach Mercurio researcher, author, and speaker specializing in purposeful leadership, mattering, meaningful work, and positive organization
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.
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