From Belonging to Mattering

Welcome to Love Mondays More: the weekly LinkedIn newsletter that delves deeper into the ideas and concepts driving my Love Mondays email newsletter series.

Why ‘Love Mondays’? Mondays are often the low part of the week, earning the title of “worst day of the week” by the Guinness World Records. So I aim to provide a 4-minute caffeine hit of content to fire up the other 10,076 minutes of your week and stave off the Monday malaise. Don’t just live Mondays, love Mondays!

In recent times, the importance of prioritising employee wellbeing has become more pronounced than ever before. Leaders and businesses have finally hit the refresh button, redirecting their attention to cultivating workplace cultures that acknowledge the very human side of their employees – and about time, don't you think?

But according to a recent Deloitte Well-Being Survey, things aren't quite adding up. While most of the employees (64%) surveyed reported that their health either remained the same or took a nosedive in the past year, 3 out of 4 executives believe their workforce’s health improved. And the Gallup State of the Global Workplace: 2023 Report found that only 24% of employees strongly agree that their organisation cares about their overall wellbeing.

So what’s happening here? Is it a case of band-aid solutions - a perk here, and a program there as the ‘fix’?

The study also found that 68% of workers surveyed confessed that they didn’t tap into the full potential of the wellbeing initiatives their employees provided. So while bosses’ reflections on improved workforce wellbeing might be informed by their perception of an increased offering, it hasn’t translated into greater take-up. The reason? These programs were often "too time-consuming, baffling, or just plain cumbersome."

So, what’s the missing piece of this wellbeing puzzle??

The missing piece of the wellbeing puzzle

Last year the U.S. Surgeon General released an impactful framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being. As The Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy (MD) explains, the goal of this framework is to help “...build workplaces that are engines of wellbeing, showing workers that they matter, that their work matters, and that they have the workplace resources and support necessary to flourish.”

What's captivating and deserving of deeper consideration is that one word - 'matter.'

The report shines a spotlight on 'Mattering at Work' as one of the top 5 priorities for enhancing mental health in the workplace. While there's been commendable effort in the realm of belonging, a cornerstone of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, we've hit a turning point. It's time to elevate the game beyond just belonging – we yearn not just to belong but to matter.

“There’s nothing more powerful than a human being who believes that they matter.”?- Zach Mercurio Ph.D. Organisation and Leadership Development Research, author of The Invisible Leader.

So, what sets belonging apart from mattering? While belonging is the sense of being part of a group or community, mattering takes it a step further.?

Psychologists describe mattering as a two-way street. First, it's about feeling valuable, recognising your worth, and understanding that your unique skills, thoughts, and contributions matter. But it's also about being valued by others. It's the fuzzy feeling of knowing that your presence is not just noticed, but genuinely appreciated and celebrated by those around you.?

Studies show that feeling seen and significant to others has a profound influence on our mental and physical health, as well as our emotional wellbeing and accomplishments. Likewise, the impact of feeling unimportant, or "Anti-Mattering," can be extremely damaging, holding us back from reaching our full potential, personally and professionally.

Leading expert in the fields of purpose, meaningful work, and leadership development Dr. Zach Mercurio, Ph.D. believes that prioritising an individual's need for significance is a core practice for rejuvenating work and revitalising our organisations and society.

Here are three practical ways to make this happen:?

1. Allow People to Feel Seen and Heard: Make eye contact, ask questions with a intent to hear an answer (not to reply yourself) and try and move off talking about the weather or asking the practically auto-pilot ‘how are you?’, which almost always triggers a beige response. Try asking more meaningful questions.
2. Celebrate Strengths: Core to mattering is the recognition that your contribution matters. By taking a moment to show people how their traits and strengths make a difference you help them understand their significance.
3. Name the Need: We all love to know we’re needed- whether it’s by an individual, our team or our organisation. By letting others know we need them it reminds them they’re part of something bigger than themselves.?

Harness the power of 'mattering' to unlock the boundless potential within your team with these strategies:

1. Be more inclusive: Invite employees to share their thoughts and ideas. Encourage them to be part of decision-making processes, making them feel their input matters.?
2. Be more illuminating: Provide your employees with clear and inspiring insights into how their efforts directly shape the organisation's achievements and contribute to the broader goals.
3. Be more empowering: Delegate meaningful tasks that align with each team member’s unique skills and strengths, and let them know how their skills will contribute to the task’s success.
4. Be more interested: Ask questions that reflect your sincere curiosity about their work, aspirations and challenges.

P.S. Ready to supercharge your mindset and wellbeing at work?

My Peak Mindset and Mindfulness Challenge is starting this Wednesday 1st November, and it's not too late to embark on this transformational journey. Join me and an amazing group of like-minded individuals as we kick off this life-changing adventure.

Here's what you'll get:

• Daily 15-minute sessions to boost your mindset and wellbeing.
• My unwavering support and guidance every step of the way.
• The chance to join a community of driven individuals committed to personal growth and positive change.

This program is an investment in yourself, or your team, and it's already proven to empower leaders. In fact, 97% of past Epic Challenge participants experienced remarkable shifts in confidence and momentum for positive change.

Now's your chance to be part of this transformative journey. This Wednesday at 12 noon is our first live kick-off call and I’d love to see you there. Join me and let's finish 2023 stronger than ever.