Why ‘mattering’ in the workplace doesn’t really matter

The new buzzword 'mattering' in management is about making employees feel important, but it risks being patronizing and counterproductive to boost productivity and performance.

March 17, 2023 . 8:50 AM

1 min read

The new buzzword in management, 'mattering', is about making employees feel important to others in the workplace.
It is seen as a technique to boost productivity and performance, but it risks being patronizing and counterproductive.
There is no shortcut or technique to make someone feel valued; they need to be shown over time that they are.
The belief that one's work and contributions are important to others can only be earned through doing valuable work.
Artificial 'mattering' treatment risks having the opposite effect, making employees feel like they don't matter at all.