In a Harvard Business Review article titled “The Power of Mattering at Work,” the authors make a distinction between belonging and mattering. The authors contend that we may desire to belong to a group, but we have a more fundamental need to matter.
They define belonging as feeling welcomed and accepted in a group, while mattering is feeling significant to the group’s individual members.
These researchers contend that our declining employee engagement, growing mental health crisis and the quiet quitting movement are all possible signs of a growing mattering deficit.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Paul says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
As leaders we can improve our employee engagement when we help our teammates feel that their work is significant.
