290. The Power of Mattering in Leadership: How Being Valued Fuels Impact with Zach Mercurio

What if the key to motivation and well-being isn’t finding your purpose, but first believing you’re worthy of having one? Zach Mercurio returns to The Leadership Project with a powerful insight: “It is almost impossible for anything to matter to someone who doesn’t first believe that they matter.” He explains why many self-help books and engagement programs fall short — because they overlook the human need to matter and feel significant to others.

In his new book The Power of Mattering, Zach reveals how feeling seen, valued, and needed drives our sense of purpose. When we feel we matter, we gain the confidence to add value — creating a cycle where feeling valued leads to contributing more. Yet in today’s rushed, digital world, our ability to connect deeply has faded. As Zach says, “Hurry and care cannot coexist.”

The solution lies in three simple habits: noticing others, affirming their impact, and needing them. These small acts cost nothing but can transform how people experience their worth. Zach challenges leaders to ask, “When you feel that you matter to me, what am I doing?” — and to do more of it. Because when people feel they matter, they do things that matter.

🌐 Connect with Zach:
• Website: https://www.zachmercurio.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachmercurio/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachmercurio/

📚 You can purchase Zach's books on Amazon:
• The Power of Mattering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8XMWCLJ/
• The Invisible Leader: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1599328518/

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