When we include others in our experiences, we show them they are significant to us.

Every human being has a deep-seated urge to matter to someone else. Each one of us wants to have some kind of impact on another person, a family, an organization or a society. This extends to, and is very important in, everyday behavior in the workplace. Think for a moment about the opposite of feeling significant. Imagine that it did not matter to anyone whether nor not you showed up, did your work or said anything to anyone. The solution to this is fairly simple: acknowledge and include. People working together are happiest when they have the sense they are included in goal-setting, processes to reach goals, the state of the organization, how others are performing, and, in general, the health and welfare of the group itself. Leaders and team members can include others by asking their opinions, sharing information, spending time with them, showing interest and many other behaviors. Say what it means to have someone  doing what they are doing. Tell them how they contribute to the bigger picture. Include them in conversations, seek their ideas, ask them to sit and talk and give them a piece of the action when you make decisions that affect them. Attention, in and of itself, is one of the greatest gifts you can give. Inclusion is a behavior that leads to a feeling of significance. Exclusion, or ignore-ance, leads to a feeling of insignificance.