Beyond Belonging: Helping people feel that they matter

Mattering is the often overlooked, yet essential, pillar of a thriving workplace culture. While safety and belonging provide the foundation, feeling like we matter is the spark that drives engagement, innovation, and a sense of fulfilment. When employees feel like they genuinely matter to their colleagues, their leaders, and they have an impact on the company vision they are more likely to be motivated, productive, and committed. 

This goes beyond job titles and salaries. It’s about recognising every individual's contribution, making sure their voices are heard, and helping them feel valued. Research has consistently shown that employees who feel they and the work they do matter experience higher job satisfaction, lower stress levels, and a stronger sense of purpose.  

Research shows that increasing recognition from quarterly to monthly boosts the likelihood of engagement and productivity by 40% and job commitment by 25%

In today’s evolving workplace, where flexible and remote work have reshaped traditional structures, ensuring that employees feel valued is more important than ever. The challenge for organisations is to foster this across different working environments, balancing flexibility with meaningful connection. 

For leaders to prioritise this, it requires intention in their communication, recognition, and feedback.

As companies adapt to remote, hybrid, and in office work models, ensuring employees feel valued requires fresh approaches. While being in the office naturally brings a sense of importance through presence and engagement, proximity bias, the tendency to favor those physically present, can unintentionally sideline remote workers, leading to feelings of isolation or invisibility.

To address this, organisations must intentionally integrate ways to help people feel that they matter into their flexible work policies, holding regular meaningful check-ins, hosting purposeful in-person gatherings, and using technology to enable inclusivity. 

When employees feel like they matter, they bring their best selves to work. They are more engaged, take greater initiative, and contribute to a culture that embodies being a great place to work. Companies that prioritise and encourage this are more likely to retain top talent, drive innovation, and achieve sustainable success. 

Research indicates that companies with highly engaged employees are 21% more profitable and 17% more productive than those with disengaged staff

By embracing the concept of “mattering” as a core cultural value, organisations can bridge the gap between flexibility and connection, making sure that every employee regardless of where they work feels seen, heard, and valued. 

Creating a workplace where people matter isn’t just about engagement it’s about building an environment where individuals can be themselves, feel that they belong, and know they have an impact on others and the organisation. This is the kind of environment where both individuals and teams truly thrive.

How can you show someone they truly matter today?