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The 5 languages of appreciation in the workplace - Book Review

The 5 languages of appreciation in the workplace: Empowering organizations by encouraging people

Chapman, G., & White, P. (2019). Northfield Publishing.

You appreciate your employees, right? But do they feel appreciated by you? 

The 5 languages of appreciation in the workplace is written by the author of The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman, and Paul White, a psychologist, author, speaker and consultant. Together they have adapted the 5 love languages model into 5 appreciation languages to help empower organisations and their people. 

In 2009 Chapman and White started researching how the 5 love languages might apply to the workplace, looking at work-based relationships and focusing on appreciation. The concept of appreciation is key to creating positive workplace environments, by understanding how each employee can feel appreciated. Appreciation in the workplace communicates a sense of value for the work someone has completed or the characteristics they show, therefore increasing employee engagement. 

Anyone can make a difference in the workplace regardless of their position, but do we know how to? The book describes how we can identify our own and others’ appreciation language, how to demonstrate authentic appreciation and make the appreciation we express personal to the individual.

The languages of appreciation are Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Acts of Service, Tangible Gifts and Physical Touch. The book breaks down each of these  languages and has real-life work scenarios to illustrate each one, plus tips on  personalising each. The examples are a fantastic way to see how these can play out in the workplace, and also help recognise when the intention was there but it did not hit the mark. 

As someone who is aware of the concept of the 5 love languages, I was intrigued to see how these translated into appreciation languages, particularly for the workplace context. I found the concepts fascinating as they were professionally written and easily digestible. The examples with each appreciation language of how to make it personal to an employee or team member really opened my eyes to how we can easily misinterpret an employee's needs, or even our own.

There is a good focus on leadership, which is helpful for leaders or managers to reflect on if we are communicating and appreciating in the best way for our employees. The book discusses the miscommunication between managers and employees when it comes to appreciation. There are some useful tips on how to communicate in the same language and to help create deeper understanding of one another. Motivation by appreciation is a strong theme through the book. Knowing what makes your employees tick and understanding how to appreciate them in a way that will not seem tokenistic, but really hits the mark, can be challenging. This is a useful guide for having these conversations effectively. 

Other key points explored in this guide include the difference between appreciation and recognition, how to find your blind spot with your least valued language and how appreciation works in different settings. In this latest edition there is also a chapter on remote workers and virtual teams. 

This book is highly applicable, as communicating appreciation to your employees is a powerful tool for increasing employee engagement and creating a positive work environment. Meaningful conversations that makes us feel appreciated creates higher engagement and instils a sense of value in us as leaders, managers and employees.

Reviewed by Lucy Boomer, People & Organisational Development Manager, Mental Health Foundation

Rāhina / Monday

Take Notice | Me Aro Tonu

A fresh week, blank slate and a new beginning. Let's start the week by setting purpose and intention, today is the day to take stock – how have you been feeling recently, are there any events or stresses that you need to sit with and unpack? 

Developing the ability to be fully present and conscious without being overly reactive or overwhelmed is no easy feat, it takes practice to achieve the delicate balance of awareness. When we take notice or practice mindfulness, we’re creating space for ourselves—space to think, space to breathe, space between ourselves and our reactions.  

Use today as a reminder to pay more attention to the present moment, to our thoughts and feelings, and to the world around us. At the end of the week, you can reflect on how you felt at the start of the week, and how putting each of the Five Ways into practice has helped to boost your mental health.

A few ideas to help you take notice:

Rātū / Tuesday

Give | Tukua

Today is all about kindness. When we give selflessly to others, whether through our time, resources, or support, we create a positive ripple effect that extends beyond the people we engage with. Carrying out acts of kindness boosts our happiness, life satisfaction, and overall wellbeing. When we help others, it gives us purpose and a sense of belonging – it’s a win/win!  

Think about how you might be able to brighten the day of someone you care about, or even a complete stranger. A small gesture might mean the world to someone else, and you’ll get a bit of a boost, too!

A few ideas to help you give:

Rāapa / Wednesday

Be Active | Me Kori Tonu 

We're nearly over the midweek hump and are inching closer to the weekend. Today is the perfect opportunity to give yourself a refreshing boost by engaging in some physical activity. Wi tēnei rangi to get the blood flowing through your tinana/body?   

Physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins, the "feel-good" hormones, which can uplift your mood and increase feelings of happiness. It reduces stress and anxiety levels, promotes relaxation and enhances overall mental resilience. It can even sharpen our thinking and boost our creativity. 

Being active doesn’t always mean high-intensity cardio workouts, there are lots of ways you can move your tinana to uplift your mood, reduce stress, and feel a sense of achievement. Choose to do something that is purely for feeling good or having fun, and dedicate it to your wellbeing.

A few ideas hei āwhina/to help you be active:

Rāpare / Thursday

Connect | Me Whakawhanaunga

It’s nearly Friday – why not tap into those weekend vibes early, and carve out some time for some meaningful connection? Use today as a sign to arrange that outing or gathering with friends, participate in social events that you might be finding an excuse to skip, or seek out opportunities for shared experiences that deepen your connections.  

Connect refers to making social connections, or whakawhanaungatanga. A sense of feeling connected, loved or belonging with others is strongly associated with better wellbeing and other health outcomes by providing a sense of meaning, safety, support and purpose.  

A few ideas to help you connect:

Rāmere / Friday

Keep Learning | Me Ako Tonu

It might be the last day of MHAW, but today’s the day to reflect on what you’ve learnt throughout the week and implement those tools into the weekend and weeks beyond. 

Evidence suggests that learning or trying new things creates a sense of achievement, competence and stimulates engagement with the world around us. There are lots of ways that you can Keep Learning today and every day. 

A few ideas to help you keep learning: