Notes for reflection this week revolve around an interesting, new word – “Anti-Mattering”.

These are selected notes from the author (Zach Mercurio) of a new book, “The Power Of Mattering.”
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“Feeling insignificant has a name. Psychologists call it “anti-mattering”.
It can be one of the most insidious forces in an organization.

According to the author, 5 major experiences that lead to anti-mattering – the feelings of being unseen, unheard, unvalued, forgotten or dispensable.

1. Unseen – Feelings of being unseen often arise from unintentional, yet insidious, acts of social ignorance: forgetting someone’s name or how to pronounce it, not making eye contact, not asking for a colleague’s unique perspective, not acknowledging someone’s past experiences, not seeking to learn about someone’s personal life, not checking in with a coworker you know is struggling or not telling someone you missed them when they were gone.

2. Unheard – There are several ways we make each other feel unheard: dismissing someone’s ideas, not responding, not asking for their opinion, not following up on feedback, telling someone they need more experience before weighing in, not giving them adequate time to express themselves or not demonstrating curiosity or interest.

3. Unvalued – People feel unvalued when they feel unimportant and when they can’t see how they’re helpful or useful.

4. Forgotten – Regularly sensing that you’re not seen, heard or valued can lead to feeling forgotten. People feel forgotten when others don’t remember their names, don’t ask for their opinions, don’t notice they are gone, don’t acknowledge their efforts or contributions to a team and don’t express that they are missed when they’re absent.

5. Dispensable – Feeling needed is essential for feeling that we matter. Yet, too often, our organizations make people feel replaceable or like disposable resources.  When people feel irreplaceable, they act irreplaceable. They show up and commit.”

Who might feel/be unseen, unheard or unvalued in your team, organisation?

Most leaders would have room for improvement in this area.



Sources:
* ConantLeadership Newsletter; Amy Federman; May 31, 2025
* Five Sources Of Insignificance At Work-And How to Combat Them; Zach Mercurio; Chief Executive; May 15, 2025
* Zach Mercurio; The Power Of Mattering