Mattering Matters: Leaders Edition
We’ve spent the last few weeks exploring a shift that feels more like a quiet rebellion than a corporate strategy. Today, we’re bringing it all home. Because while it’s one thing to believe in your own value, it’s quite another to lead a team in a way that makes them feel indispensable. As leaders, we often think that "belonging" is the goal. We want our teams to feel like they fit in. But there is a deeper, more primal human need than just belonging: it’s the need to matter. Zach Mercurio, a researcher who has spent years studying the power of mattering, suggests that mattering is composed of two parts: feeling valued and feeling like you add value.
The first practice is perhaps the most overlooked because it requires the one thing we feel we have the least of: attention. Noticing is about truly seeing and hearing your people. It’s the difference between a generic "How are you?" in the hallway and a genuine "I noticed you were a bit quiet in the meeting today; is everything okay?" When we do this we send a powerful signal: I see you. You are not invisible here.
Once we’ve noticed someone, we have the opportunity to affirm them. Affirmation is about showing people how their unique gifts have a direct impact. When we affirm our team members, we are helping them realize their worth. This is a core theme in all of my works.
This third practice is often the hardest for leaders, especially those of us who like to have all the answers-Needing. Needing is the practice of showing your team that they are relied on and indispensable: not just appreciated. There is a profound difference between being "helpful" and being "needed." If you are helpful, you’re an asset. If you are needed, you are essential.
Being a human-centric leader in a world that demands compliance is exhausting. It takes courage to choose empathy over a spreadsheet. It takes energy to notice, affirm, and need people when you’re already stretched thin. But here is the secret: when you create a culture of mattering, you start to matter more, too.
If you’re feeling burnt out by the traditional corporate structure, remember that you have the power to change the climate of your own team. You don't need permission from HR to see your people as human beings. You are doing work that matters. Every time you choose to lead with your heart instead of just your head, you are making the workplace a little more human.
Stay human, stay courageous, and remember: you’re worth it!
Your Career Coach,
Ha-Keem
Want to dive deeper into these concepts? Check out my books, “They’re Worth It!,” "You're Worth It," and "Realizing You're Worth It," for more insights on human-centric leadership and career development. And if you’re ready to receive these weekly nudges directly in your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter here.
