305: Anti-Mattering Is a Thing (And Leaders Like You Can Help End It) with Zach Mercurio

In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin sits down with Dr. Zach Mercurio—researcher, author, and leading voice on meaningful work—to unpack a quiet crisis in today’s workplaces: anti-mattering. If you’ve ever felt invisible at work or noticed your team going through the motions, this episode will give you the language and tools to change that.

Instead of brushing past the small moments, Dr. Mercurio shows how everyday interactions shape whether people feel seen, valued, and significant. With research-backed insights and practical strategies, you’ll learn how to build psychological safety, boost employee engagement, and create a culture where everyone knows they matter.

Inside This Episode:

• What Is Anti-Mattering? Spot the subtle (and sometimes toxic) signals that leave employees feeling invisible.
• The Primal Need to Matter: Why being seen, heard, and valued drives everything from morale to performance.
• Psychological Safety in Practice: How leaders can create environments that invite risk-taking and authentic expression.
• The Power of Micro-Moments: Small, intentional acts that turn disengagement into dedication.
• Skills for Real Connection: The authentic leadership traits that make significance stick.

Who This Episode Is For:

• Leaders and managers who want to foster real connection, not just compliance.
• Teams struggling with disengagement, low morale, or quiet quitting.
• Anyone curious about how to build a workplace culture where people want to show up and contribute.

Tune in to learn how to make mattering a leadership habit. And if you know someone who’s ready to shift their culture from invisible to invaluable, share this episode with them.

Feeling awkward, overthinking your small talk, or wondering if you should’ve just stayed home? Grab our free Networking Without Feeling Weird toolkit. It’s your two-part confidence boost for before and during the event, packed with simple, human strategies that help you walk in clear, grounded, and ready to connect. Download it now and turn “Ugh, networking…” into “That was actually… fun?”

 

No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)

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Connect with Dr. Zach Mercurio

• Zach’s LinkedIn
• Zach’s website
• Zach’s book, The Invisible Leader
• Zach’s book, The Power of Mattering

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it!

• Erin’s website
• Erin’s Instagram
• Erin’s