Episode Details

What happens when you realize you matter? In this episode, Kevin talks with Zach Mercurio about the often-overlooked human need to feel important and how leaders at all levels can foster this through everyday interactions. Zach explains how his early research with custodial staff showed that small, intentional moments—like being seen, acknowledged, and validated—are the building blocks of meaning at work. These "moments of mattering," he says, aren't about big gestures but about real human connection. Kevin and Zach also explore the link between mattering and trust, the challenge of staying focused in today's distracted world, and how leaders can create cultures where everyone feels valued and essential.

Listen For

00:00 Introduction 00:35 How to Join the Podcast Live 01:14 About Zach Mercurio 02:15 Welcome Zach 02:55 Why Mattering Matters 04:17 Defining Moments of Mattering 05:03 Discovering the Concept of Mattering 06:14 Leadership Happens in Moments 07:04 Human Interaction vs Symbols of Value 08:09 Why Engagement Programs Fall Short 09:06 The Three-Part Framework of Mattering 10:14 Noticing vs Knowing 11:15 Appreciation vs Affirmation 12:33 Feeling Needed at Work 13:03 The Power of If It Wasn't for You 15:30 Turning Good Intentions into Practice 16:15 Mindset Skillset Habitset 17:19 Translating Ideas into Real-World Action 18:18 The Myth of Being Too Busy 20:11 Relearning the Skills of Connection 21:13 Tech and the Loss of Human Interaction 22:00 Not Soft Skills Essential Skills 22:20 The Best Question a Leader Can Ask 23:00 You Don't Need Permission to Lead This Way 25:02 You Always Have Interactional Power 26:06 Culture is Non-directional 27:06 Trust Begins with Care 28:00 The Human Advantage in the Age of AI 29:08 Belonging vs Inclusion vs Mattering 30:36 Where to Start Building Mattering 31:33 What Zach Does for Fun 31:58 What Zach is Reading 33:00 Final Thoughts and How to Connect 35:12 Your Call to Action 36:10 Wrap-Up

Zach's Story: Zach Mercurio is the author of The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance. He is a researcher, leadership development facilitator, and speaker specializing in purposeful leadership, mattering, and meaningful work. Zach advises leaders in organizations worldwide on practices for building cultures that promote well-being, motivation, and performance. He holds a Ph.D. in organizational learning, performance, and change from Colorado State University, where he serves as a senior fellow at the Center for Meaning and Purpose and as an instructor in the Organizational Learning, Performance, and Change program.

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Book Recommendations

• The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance by Zach Mercurio
• Ways of Being by James Bridle
• Southern Reach Trilogy 3 Books Collection Set By Jeff VanderMeer (Annihilation, Authority, Acceptance) by Jeff VanderMeer

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