Your people seem distracted. Disengaged. Guarded.

You fear burnout, quiet quitting, irrelevance, missed targets, fragile trust, shrinking margins, entitlement, lost innovation, emotional exhaustion, and the silent question in every mind:

“Do I even matter here?”

In this deeply human conversation with Zach Mercurio, you discover why your need to matter is not soft. It is survival.

And when you understand this, your leadership transforms.

For you as a hiring manager.
For you as a change driven professional.
For you as a future focused leader connecting profit with purpose.

This episode is not about tactics.

It is about stories. Real moments. Small interactions that reduced attrition, rebuilt trust, reignited energy, and connected performance with belonging.
You will feel the tension between fear and possibility.

And you will leave with clarity, confidence, hope, courage, connection, gratitude, purpose, creativity, resilience, trust, joy, and a renewed belief in your influence.

Because your leadership is not defined by titles or metrics.

It is defined by how people feel after interacting with you.

If you want your organization to thrive in the future of work, start here.

Chapters
00:00 Intro
03:16 Understanding Belonging, Inclusion, and Mattering 🧩
05:26 The Psychology of Value and Performance 🧠
08:20 Entitlement vs. Mattering in the Workplace ⚖️
11:44 The Instinct to Matter and Psychological Safety 🔐
14:37 Real-World Impact of Mattering on Organizations 📊
18:42 The Connection Between Mattering and Profit 💰
22:19 Hygiene vs. Motivation in Employee Satisfaction 🌱
23:49 Measuring Mattering in Daily Interactions 📏
26:29 The Importance of Noticing and Feedback 👀
29:36 Crafting Meaningful Conversations 💬
36:34 Leadership Through Interaction and Trust 🤝
38:37 The Importance of Positive Feedback 🌟
42:16 Constructive Criticism and Its Impact 🛠️
45:54 Mattering: Misconceptions and Realities 🔍
48:57 Exciting Projects and Leadership Insights 🚀
52:01 Surprising Insights on Mattering 💡
56:40 Essential Skills for Future Leaders 🧭
01:02:18 The Power of Interaction and Connection 🔗
01:11:10 Final Thoughts on Mattering and Leadership 🌍
01:11:15 Understanding Memory Retention 🧠
01:11:35 The Importance of Sharing Insights 📢

📲 Connect with us on LinkedIn:

Zach Mercurio, Ph.D.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachmercurio/

Omar Al Mamlouk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-al-mamlouk

🌍 Follow the CORE Impact Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms, where each week I speak with change-makers about inner leadership, mental health and well-being, conscious communication, inclusive leadership, and the future of work.

Because transformation doesn’t start at the surface.
It starts at the CORE.