{"id":1325,"date":"2025-08-12T09:26:28","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T13:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/?p=1325"},"modified":"2025-06-09T12:33:06","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T16:33:06","slug":"book-review-the-power-of-mattering-zach-mercurio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/leadership\/book-review-the-power-of-mattering-zach-mercurio\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: The Power of Mattering (Zach Mercurio)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"><strong>Book Review: <\/strong><em><strong>The Power of Mattering<\/strong><\/em><strong> by Zach Mercurio<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In <em>The Power of Mattering<\/em>, Zach Mercurio makes a compelling case for why cultivating a sense of mattering is not only a deeply human act, but a critical leadership skill\u2014especially in schools and educational institutions. Drawing from neuroscience, sociology, psychology, and wisdom traditions, Mercurio advances the notion that mattering\u2014&#8221;feeling significant to those around you&#8221;\u2014is foundational to wellbeing, performance, and sustained engagement in life and work. For school leaders, the book is both a mirror and a toolkit: it asks us to examine how we make others feel, and offers practical ways to make everyone feel seen, heard, and valued.<\/p>\n<p>Mercurio\u2019s central claim is that \u201cthe unending search for significance is the essential force animating human behaviour.\u201d As educational leaders, this insight gives us an immediate and actionable mandate: to help the people in our communities\u2014students, staff, parents\u2014feel like they matter. In doing so, we tap into a primal human need that, when fulfilled, enhances not only personal wellbeing but also institutional performance and cohesion.<\/p>\n<p>But let&#8217;s be clear, mattering isn&#8217;t about being right, nor is it about seeing your ideas taken on by leadership. It is the act of feeling listened to, acknowledged for your value, and feeling that your value is needed. It is not about getting your own way.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/files\/2025\/06\/Screen-Shot-2025-06-07-at-9.21.05-AM.png\" rel=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DJZuyIqul4_\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1328 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/files\/2025\/06\/Screen-Shot-2025-06-07-at-9.21.05-AM-300x293.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/files\/2025\/06\/Screen-Shot-2025-06-07-at-9.21.05-AM-300x293.png 300w, https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/files\/2025\/06\/Screen-Shot-2025-06-07-at-9.21.05-AM-768x751.png 768w, https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/files\/2025\/06\/Screen-Shot-2025-06-07-at-9.21.05-AM-620x606.png 620w, https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/files\/2025\/06\/Screen-Shot-2025-06-07-at-9.21.05-AM.png 992w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The book identifies three interrelated practices that constitute mattering: <em>Noticed<\/em>, <em>Affirmed<\/em>, and <em>Needed<\/em>\u2014a model Mercurio abbreviates as the N.A.N. framework. These are deceptively simple concepts that can transform the culture of a school when practiced with intention:<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><strong>Noticed<\/strong>: seeing and hearing others with presence and attentiveness.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Affirmed<\/strong>: reflecting back someone\u2019s unique value and contribution.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Needed<\/strong>: showing others how they are indispensable to a shared purpose.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Each domain is explored through research, personal stories, and case studies. For example, Mercurio recalls an employee saying, \u201cDon\u2019t give me a free sandwich or certificate, remember my name and say thank you.\u201d Post-pandemic, with the rise of \u201cdeath nudges\u201d and existential questioning, this insight lands with urgency. In an era of mass disengagement and burnout, it is often these small but intentional actions that define workplace satisfaction and team cohesion. I connect this back to &#8220;How to Navigate Life&#8221; by Dr. Belle Liang and Tim Klein and their concept of a purpose mindset: you can find your purpose by mattering at work.<\/p>\n<p>Importantly, <em>The Power of Mattering<\/em> distinguishes mattering from similar concepts<a href=\"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/files\/2025\/06\/images.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1329 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/files\/2025\/06\/images.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"286\" height=\"176\" \/><\/a> like belonging or self-esteem. Mattering is not simply being included\u2014it\u2019s being <em>essential<\/em>. As Mercurio writes, &#8220;Mattering is actionable.&#8221; It is not a vague feeling; it is a measurable, relational experience that leaders can cultivate.<\/p>\n<p>The book goes beyond theory, offering actionable tools and reflective practices. For instance:<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li><strong>The \u201cSo That\u2026\u201d Mindset<\/strong> encourages reframing everyday tasks in terms of their broader purpose: \u201cI\u2019m writing this staff memo <em>so that<\/em> my team is aligned and confident.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Laddering<\/strong> involves showing team members how their individual work supports the overarching mission. As one janitor at NASA famously said, \u201cI\u2019m helping put a man on the moon.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cognitive Job Crafting<\/strong> helps employees reshape their mental narrative around work by connecting tasks to real impact.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>One of the most powerful reframes Mercurio offers is:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\u201cWe cannot expect our voice to have significance with others before the voices of others are significant to us.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>This reverses the traditional model of top-down communication, calling on leaders to be emotionally and cognitively present. He warns against \u201cautomaticity\u201d\u2014our tendency to appear as though we\u2019re listening while actually operating on autopilot. The alternative, <em>articulated attention<\/em>, is a core competency of mattering-based leadership: choose what and <em>who<\/em> to pay attention to, and show it.<\/p>\n<p>The text is also richly supported by Indigenous wisdom, including the Navajo proverb: \u201cAct as if what you do makes a difference\u2014it does.\u201d This ethic threads through the book, elevating its message beyond organizational culture to a philosophy of life.<\/p>\n<p>For educators, Mercurio\u2019s work aligns closely with research by Carol Dweck and David Yeager on motivation and mindset. His synthesis of positive psychology, neuroscience, and cultural wisdom makes this book both academically grounded and applicable.<\/p>\n<p>Check out this great video on the Power of Mattering through interviews of some of the people that are featured in the book:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"lW5ltvJuhv\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zachmercurio.com\/the-power-of-mattering\/\">The Power of Mattering<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;The Power of Mattering&#8221; &#8212; Zach Mercurio\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zachmercurio.com\/the-power-of-mattering\/embed\/#?secret=1oT2KvY7V6#?secret=lW5ltvJuhv\" data-secret=\"lW5ltvJuhv\" width=\"581\" height=\"327\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>School leaders will find in <em>The Power of Mattering<\/em> both affirmation and provocation. While many of the strategies may appear as common sense\u2014greet people, listen actively, show appreciation\u2014Mercurio\u2019s contribution is to elevate these actions into a systematic, intentional leadership practice. Making others feel like they matter is not just a feel-good add-on to our work; it is the <em>work<\/em>. As Mercurio argues, \u201cCreating a culture of mattering is a foundational leadership competency.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While this book is focussed on business and not for profits, I would highly recommend this book for anyone in a leadership position within a school, or educational organization. It challenges us not only to lead more compassionately but to understand why doing so is essential for the flourishing of our people and our institutions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Book Review: The Power of Mattering by Zach Mercurio In The Power of Mattering, Zach Mercurio makes a compelling case for why cultivating a sense of mattering is not only a deeply human act, but a critical leadership skill\u2014especially in schools and educational institutions. Drawing from neuroscience, sociology, psychology, and wisdom traditions, Mercurio advances the&#8230;<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/leadership\/book-review-the-power-of-mattering-zach-mercurio\/\">Read more <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":1327,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[132,23,72],"tags":[49],"class_list":["post-1325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inclusion","category-leadership","category-wellness","tag-book-review"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1325"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1325\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1330,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1325\/revisions\/1330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/garthnichols\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}