Episode #59: How to Harness Meaning, Mattering and Purpose for a Flourishing Work Life, with Dr. Zach Mercurio

Zach Mercurio, Ph.D., is a researcher, author, and speaker specializing in purposeful leadership, mattering, meaningful work, and positive organizational psychology. As author of The Invisible Leader: Transform Your Life, Work, and Organization with the Power of Authentic Purpose, Zach has inspired individuals and organizations to discover and leverage their unique purpose to drive engagement and success. He is also a leading expert on workplace culture, helping leaders cultivate environments where people feel valued and motivated. His research on meaningful work has received awards from the Association for Talent Development, the Academy of Management, and the Academy of Human Resource Development. 

 

With a Ph.D. in Organizational Learning, Performance, and Change, Zach’s work research and practical insights have been featured in major outlets like Forbes, Psychology Today, and Harvard Business Review. He works with hundreds of organizations worldwide to forge purposeful leaders who enable mattering, motivation, well-being, and performance. 

 

Zach’s next book is The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance (Harvard Business Review Press, 2025), which reveals how experiencing mattering to others is a fundamental, yet often overlooked, requirement for thriving. Zach’s mission is to help people and organizations realize their potential by unlocking the power of purpose and meaning in their work.

 

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Links:

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• Forthcoming book: The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance (Harvard Business Review Press 2025)
• Most recent book: The Invisible Leader: Transform Your Life, Work, and Organization with the Power of Authentic Purpose (Advantage, 2017)
• “How to Create Mattering at Work,” Medium, November 2022.

Timestamps:

[00:03:06] Importance of mattering to others.

[00:11:44] Mattering and self-actualization.

[00:15:01] Community and individual well-being.

[00:21:25] The power of mattering.

[00:22:29] An anti-mattering epidemic.

[00:26:30] Resilience in toxic environments.

[00:35:01] Feeling irreplaceable in the workplace.

[00:38:03] Value of recognizing individuals.

[00:44:34] Moments of mattering in work.

[00:49:17] Mitigating burnout through social support.

[00:56:05] Reskilling to combat loneliness.

[00:59:05] Helping others flourish through connection.