Mind Spark #12 - You Made Me Feel Like I Matter

Reflections on feedback from an intern.

“ You made me feel like I matter."

As a leader for many years, I have received a lot of feedback from my team members and colleagues, such as “Thank you for your support.”  “I have learned a lot from you.” “I appreciate your guidance and leadership.”All these comments are sincere but rarely stirring.

At my last employer, a summer intern worked on my team. She did a fantastic job; everyone on the team enjoyed working with her. During her last day, she gave a talk and presented an exit seminar on her work with us. I can’t recall the specifics of her work or how she thanked us, but she shared one feedback: “Thank you for making me feel like I matter.”

I fell silent, and this hit home.

She didn’t praise what my team and I had taught her or applaud the team’s efficiency, professionalism, or vision. She felt seen and acknowledged as someone whose presence had value.

I realized that what she cares about most isn’t how big the task is or how many skills they pick up and learned through the internship. It’s the silent questions she carried, shaped by how we treated her:

 “Did anyone listen to what I said?”

“Was my suggestion considered?”

“Did what I contributed, even the small things, mean anything to them?”

As leaders, we often focus on driving timelines, evaluating data, and making decisions. But in the midst of that, with a simple nod or a “What do you think?”, we may unintentionally define how a young person views their potential.

Since then, I’ve been paying closer attention when interacting with team members, especially new or young ones. As leaders, we should always slow down, look into their eyes, and hear their voices and thoughts.

Their feedback is more than a reflection of our leadership. It’s a quiet echo of our humanity.

#Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #PeopleFirst #WorkplaceCulture

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