Brett Hellman

Brett Hellman

Brett Hellman is the CEO of Matter, dedicated to crafting a product that makes work more joyful and meaningful. He’s passionate about designing tools that help teams feel recognized, valued, and engaged.
Productivity
What is Decisiveness and Why is It Important?
Decisiveness means coming to a firm conclusion quickly and effectively. As simple as that definition is, there is immense power in decision-making.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
Jun 12, 2026
2 Min Read
Productivity
How to Identify Intrinsic Motivation and Why It Matters
Intrinsic motivation comes in various forms, but you know you’re intrinsically motivated in any situation if it genuinely brings you happiness. That feeling should not be hindered or influenced my tangible materials or money.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
May 13, 2026
5 Min Read
Productivity
Why Goal Setting Is Important and How to do It
Melanie Perkins believes in setting goals so big they frighten you. Goals so enormous that you can’t always articulate them, can’t always see the path ahead, and you’re unsure whether it’s actually achievable.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
May 20, 2026
4 Min Read
Leadership
How Decisive Leadership Saved General Motors from Catastrophe
How Mary Barra’s decisive leadership saved General Motors from bankruptcy when an ignition switch failure caused 124 fatalities and 274 injuries.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
May 21, 2026
5 Min Read
Productivity
What is Deliberate Listening and How to Conquer It
Listening helps you actually hear what others are saying. Reporter Ronnie Polaneczsky has some tips on how to be a more deliberate listener.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
May 20, 2026
5 Min Read
Matter Updates
Introducing #FeedbackFriday
Many of us know giving feedback is important. But how many of us actually find time in between meetings and day-to-day work to give feedback to our teams?
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
Jun 12, 2026
4 Min Read
Matter Updates
#FeedbackFriday Challenge (Win a Free Pair of AirPods Pro)
​Last week, we shared how our team at Matter started incorporating a new weekly tradition that carves out dedicated time to share feedback every week. We call it: Feedback Friday.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
Feb 2, 2020
2 Min Read
Productivity
Survive Difficult Conversations at Work and Live to Tell the Tale
It’s easier to shy away from conflict. Because there’s a fear of rejection from our peers and managers. However, conflict isn’t necessarily a bad thing and can lead to better work.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
May 12, 2026
4 Min Read
Matter Updates
New Feature: Kudos
Now with kudos, you can celebrate, praise, and recognize your peers in style, both individual and team wins.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
Jun 1, 2026
3 Min Read
Productivity
Soft Skills Examples: How These 4 Leaders Built An Empire With Them
Soft skills are a combination of social, emotional, character, and personality skills that enable people to navigate the workplace, accomplish their goals, and be good leaders.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
May 12, 2026
3 Min Read
Matter Updates
New: Custom Surveys Help You Gather Feedback on Specific Skills
Since our launch, we've heard the growing need for more customization when it came to gathering feedback. Now with Custom Surveys, you'll be able to gather feedback on specific skills based on the peers you're asking and your interactions with them.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
Nov 18, 2019
4 Min Read
Productivity
What Are Intrapersonal Skills and Why Are They Important?
Intrapersonal skills are part of the intangible “soft skills” that you can learn to cultivate and bring to the table everywhere you go.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
May 28, 2026
4 Min Read
Productivity
What Are Soft Skills and Why Are They Important?
You don't have to graduate from a top university to acquire soft skills. Intangible soft skills like listening and empathy help facilitate relationships with others, get buy-in on ideas, and move projects forward with less friction.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
May 28, 2026
4 Min Read
Employee Feedback
Negative Feedback 101
Throughout your career, feedback is necessary to highlight your hits and redirect your misses. Nobody wants to be criticized at work. However, when you receive and handle negative feedback with an open...
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
Jun 12, 2026
5 Min Read
Employee Feedback
Constructive Feedback: What It Is and Why It's Important
Why is effective, constructive feedback so hard to give and get? Honestly, it’s not easy to tell someone where they went wrong. It’s also not exactly easy to gather critical feedback without feeling like you’re being judged or put down.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
Jun 12, 2026
6 Min Read
Employee Feedback
Why Feedback Is Important For Your Career
Feedback is an essential tool for developing and honing soft and professionals skills. Praise is shared publicly and constructive criticism offered privately.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
Jun 12, 2026
4 Min Read
Performance Management
Asking The Right Questions: 360-Degree Performance Review
According to Gartner, 59% of employees believe that traditional performance reviews have “little to no impact” on their performance. Done well, 360-degree feedback can fix this issue and give you the kind of feedback that can identify blind spots for career growth.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
May 12, 2026
4 Min Read
Matter Updates
Welcoming Matthew to Matter!
I’m excited to announce that Matthew Eernisse has joined Matter as our Chief Technology Officer. Matthew is an engineering veteran who previously held senior leadership roles at Zenefits, Microsoft, and Yammer.
Brett Hellman
Brett Hellman
Jul 25, 2019
2 Min Read