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May 18, 2025 48 mins

What if could upgrade performance at work, build deep relationships at home and in the workplace, heal loneliness everywhere by communicating 3 simple things?

We're facing a crisis that's hiding in plain sight.

It's not just loneliness or disengagement - it's what researcher Zach Mercurio calls a "mattering deficit." Despite our hyper-connected world, people simply don't feel seen, heard, and valued in their everyday interactions.

The statistics are striking: one-third of people report persistent loneliness, 70% feel emotionally uninvested in their work, and half of students don't believe anyone would notice if they were absent. But Mercurio reveals that these aren't separate problems - they're symptoms of our collective failure to make each other feel significant.

Why now?

Since the early 2000s, digital communication has allowed us to bypass situations that once developed our human connection skills. We can respond to someone's bad news with a sad emoji rather than sitting with them, truly listening, and showing compassion.

Zach Mercurio introduces a powerful framework - Notice, Affirm, Need - that transforms how we interact.

Through compelling stories and research, Dr Mercurio demonstrates how small interactions can have profound impacts.

A supervisor who keeps notes about team members' lives, a facilities manager who shows his team photos of people enjoying their work, or simply telling someone "if it wasn't for you..." can transform an ordinary exchange into one that fosters significance.

Your next great act will happen in your next interaction. Don't overthink it. 

Instead of searching for the next big program or initiative, focus on optimizing how you notice, affirm, and need the people around you.

Join the mattering movement and discover how making others feel significant creates a virtuous cycle that enriches everyone's lives.  

_____________________

Dr Zach Mercurio: https://www.zachmercurio.com/  

Mattering Assessment for leaders and more book resources: https://www.zachmercurio.com/mattering/

"The Power of Mattering" book equips leaders to unleash the hidden superpowers in each individual by addressing the fundamental human need to feel significant: https://www.zachmercurio.com/the-power-of-mattering/  

Connect with Dr Zach Mercurio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachmercurio/ 

More about Dr Zach Mercurio:  

Dr Zach Mercurio is an author, researcher, and leadership
development facilitator
specializing in purposeful leadership,
mattering, and meaningful work. He advises leaders in
organizations worldwide on practices for building cultures that
promote well-being, motivation, and performance
.  

Zach holds a Ph.D. in organizational learning, performance, and
change
and serves as one of Simon Sinek’s Optimist Instructors,
teaching a top-rated course on creating mattering at work. His
new book is "The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a
Culture of Significance
." His previous book is "The Invisible
Leader: Transform Your Life, Work, and Organization with The
Power of Authentic Purpose
.”  

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