Final Paper
Why Appreciation is a Good Investment The Five Languages of Appreciation in the
Workplace, By Dr. Gary Chapman & Dr. Paul White
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Appreciation in the Workplace
Appreciation: communicating a sense
of value for the work they have done
and the character qualities they
demonstrate
Encouragement: coming alongside a
team member and encouraging them
to persevere
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Appreciation in the Workplace, cont.
Appreciation is a fundamental human need.
Employees respond to appreciation expressed
through recognition of their good work because
it confirms their work is valued.
When employees and their work are valued,
their satisfaction and productivity rises, and they
are motivated to maintain or improve their
good work.
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Appreciation in the Workplace, cont.
Principles of different languages of appreciation:
There are different ways to communicate appreciation
and encouragement to others.
An individual will value a certain language more than
another.
The most effective communication of appreciation and
encouragement occurs when the message is sent in the
language of appreciation most valued by the receiver.
Message of appreciation and encouragement in
languages not valued by the recipient will tend to miss
the mark.
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Appreciation in the Workplace, cont.
Least Valued Language: Challenges and Limitations
We all tend to speak our own language of appreciation.
The language of appreciation that is least valued by me
will seldom be spoken.
Mismatch of two coworkers’ languages of appreciation
leads to miscommunication and relational tension.
A person’s lowest language of appreciation really is not
important to them.
Take the initiative to talk to someone whose primary
language is your least important language. Have them
explain it’s importance to them.
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Appreciation in the Workplace, cont.
Informal ways of discovering someone’s
language:
Observe their behavior. They are doing for others
what they wish others would do for them.
Observe what they request of others. Our requests
tend to indicate our primary appreciation language.
Listen to their complaints. The things about which an
individual complains may well reveal their primary
appreciation language. The opposite of what hurts
you the most is probably your appreciation language.
Appreciation in the Workplace, cont.