KindCo Workshop

Humanizing the Workplace: Why Mattering Drives Retention

Employees don't leave companies — they leave when they no longer feel like they matter. This workshop explores what it means to feel seen, heard, and valued at work.

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The Problem

What happens when people don't feel like they matter

Mattering — the feeling that your presence and contributions make a difference — is the invisible force beneath engagement, performance, and retention.

When mattering is absent
  • People disengage quietly and incrementally
  • Talent exits — often without warning
  • Teams self-censor their best ideas
  • Recognition efforts fall flat
  • Burnout rises even among high performers
  • Culture becomes a liability, not an asset
When mattering is present
  • People bring their full selves to work
  • Retention strengthens — naturally
  • Teams contribute with confidence and trust
  • Recognition lands with real meaning
  • Loyalty deepens over time
  • Culture becomes a competitive advantage
A disengaged employee leaving the office.

"If people don't feel like they matter, nothing else compensates."

Core insight from the KindCo Mattering Workshop

Workshop Outcomes

What your team will walk away with

This isn't a lecture. It's an interactive experience designed to shift the way people show up for each other — immediately and sustainably.

A shared language for mattering

A clear, concrete understanding of what it means to feel seen, heard, needed, and valued — and how to talk about it at work.

Belonging, recognition & appreciation — distinguished

Learn why each concept contributes differently to mattering, and why appreciation alone isn't enough to make people feel valued.

Awareness of invisible behaviours

Identify everyday habits that unintentionally make people feel invisible — and the small shifts that make them feel significant.

Practical strategies you can use immediately

Tools and approaches to strengthen mattering in professional and organizational settings — not theory, but applied practice.

A personal action plan

Leave with one or two specific behaviours to implement right away and a personal approach to helping others feel seen, heard, and valued.

Mattering reflection worksheet

A take-home tool to keep building connection and mattering within your team long after the workshop ends.

The Framework

Three practices that strengthen mattering

The workshop explores how three interconnected practices — belonging, recognition, and appreciation — each contribute differently to whether people feel like they matter.

01

Belonging

"Can I be myself and be heard here?"

Psychological safety and inclusion are prerequisites for mattering. Belonging shapes whether people feel safe to speak up, contribute, and trust those around them.

02

Recognition

"Does what I do make a difference?"

Recognition makes contribution and impact visible — but it's not about praise alone. Effort and impact matter more than outcomes, and recognition has limits most leaders don't realize.

03

Appreciation

"Am I valued even when I'm not performing?"

Appreciation separates worth from productivity. It sustains mattering over time and plays a meaningful role in burnout prevention and long-term loyalty.

Who Should Attend

Is this workshop right for your team?

This workshop meets people where they are — whether your team is thriving or navigating difficulty — and gives everyone the tools to show up better for each other.

Leaders who want to deepen connection and reduce turnover Managers, directors, and executives at any level

HR and people teams focused on engagement and culture Those responsible for retention and workplace experience

Managers navigating hybrid or remote environments Teams where connection and visibility are harder to maintain

Teams experiencing transition, growth, or burnout Organizations navigating change who want to retain their people

Organizations with high-performing people who feel unseen Where results are strong but quiet disengagement is growing

CPAs and professionals seeking meaningful PD hours 3.0 hours of CPD credit — Professional Skills, Communication & Leadership

Schedule Your Workshop

Workshop Format

Three formats to fit your team

Available in person or virtually. Each format delivers 3.0 hours of professional development and qualifies for CPD credit.

In-Person

Half-Day Session

Facilitated on-site at your location

Duration 3.0 hours of PD
Structure 1 × half-day session
Best for Team off-sites and in-person gatherings

Ideal for immersive, shared learning where group dynamics and body language can be fully engaged.

Virtual

Live Online Session

Zoom with breakout rooms & digital tools

Duration 3.0 hours of PD
Structure 1 × 3-hour live session
Best for Distributed and hybrid teams

High engagement using breakout rooms, digital tools, and real-time collaboration — wherever your team is located.

CPA PD

PD Session

Eligible for CPD credit

Duration 3.0 hours of PD
Competency Professional Skills (primary) · Communication & Leadership (secondary)
Certificate Issued on full attendance & active participation

Optional post-session learning check and email tips available to reinforce key concepts.

Group Size

Best suited for intact teams — leadership, project, newly formed, hybrid, or teams in transition

Scheduling

Reach out to discuss availability, group size, and the right format for your team's needs

Your Facilitator

Nikki Hedstrom
Certified

Trust at Work® Certified Practitioner

Nikki Hedstrom

Facilitator & Trust-Building Advocate

With over 15 years of experience in people engagement, Nikki helps organizations build trust and connection through meaningful, interactive experiences. She specializes in professional communication, leadership effectiveness, and trust-based decision-making.

As a sought-after speaker and facilitator, Nikki has worked with organizations across Canada including ATB Financial, LUSH, the University of Alberta, and GBCO Chartered Professional Accountants. She brings a thoughtful, warm, and actionable approach to every session.

Nikki is a Trust at Work® Certified Practitioner, trained by trust expert Charles Feltman, and brings that same rigorous, human-centred lens to her work on mattering and workplace belonging.

15+ Years Experience Trust at Work® Certified Professional Communication Leadership Effectiveness
Workshop Inspiration

Inspired by the work of Zach Mercurio — researcher, author, and expert on purposeful leadership and the psychology of mattering. This workshop draws on his research into why feeling significant to others is a core human need that shapes engagement, well-being, and retention.

KindCo has worked with
ATB Financial LUSH University of Alberta GBCO ICON Creative Studio
Let's Work Together

Ready to help your people feel like they matter?

Mattering isn't a perk. It's the foundation of a workplace people want to stay in. Let's talk about bringing this workshop to your team.

Request Pricing & Availability
Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is "mattering" and why does it matter at work?

Mattering is the feeling that your presence and contributions make a difference to others. It goes beyond recognition — it's about whether people feel seen, heard, needed, and valued as whole human beings. Research shows that when people don't feel like they matter, engagement drops, turnover rises, and even high performers begin to disengage.

How is this different from a recognition or engagement training?

Most recognition programs focus on praising outcomes. This workshop goes deeper — exploring why recognition alone often falls short, and introducing the distinct roles that belonging, recognition, and appreciation each play. The goal isn't to add more programs; it's to change the way people show up for each other every day.

Is this workshop eligible for CPD hours?

Yes. The workshop provides 3.0 hours of professional development and qualifies for CPD credit under Professional Skills (primary), with secondary competencies in Communication and Leadership. Certificates of completion are issued based on full attendance and active participation. Please let us know your governing body and we can confirm eligibility for your specific requirements.

What does the learning experience look like?

The workshop is highly interactive and includes facilitated instruction, case-based discussion, small group activities, and guided individual reflection. Participants leave with a mattering reflection worksheet and, optionally, access to a post-session learning check and email tips to reinforce the concepts over time.

Is there a self-assessment available?

Yes. An optional pre-workshop self-assessment is available on mobile and desktop to help participants reflect on how their current behaviours are impacting mattering in their relationships before the session begins.

How many participants can attend?

The workshop is designed for intimate, impactful group learning. Please reach out to discuss group size and format recommendations for your specific team or event.

Get in Touch

Inquire about pricing and availability

We'd love to bring this workshop to your team. Fill out the form below and Nikki will be in touch shortly.