The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace: Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People, (New Edition), Jan/2019

The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace applies the love language concept to the workplace. This book helps supervisors and managers effectively communicate appreciation and encouragement to their employees, resulting in higher levels of job satisfaction, healthier relationships between managers and employees, and decreased cases of burnout. Ideal for both the profit and non-profit sectors, the principles presented in this book have a proven history of success in businesses, schools, medical offices, churches, and industry.

Is appreciation communicated regularly at your workplace?
Do you truly feel valued by those with whom you work?

At work, people express and receive appreciation in different ways. Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Paul White identify these as the five languages of appreciation:

Words of Affirmation: Words, both oral and written, can be used to affirm and encourage those around us. Some people prefer personal one-on-one communication, while others value being praised in front of others (but it is important to know that relatively few people like to receive public affirmation in front of a large group.)

Quality Time: Personal, focused time and attention with their supervisor is highly affirming for some. But others enjoy different types of time — “hanging out” with their coworkers, working together as a team on a project, or just having someone take the time to listen to them. And the type of time desired can differ significantly depending on whether it is with colleagues or with their supervisor.

Acts of Service: Assisting in getting a task done can be extremely encouraging to a colleague. Helping a teammate “dig out” from being behind, working collaboratively on a project that would be difficult to do alone, or just working alongside with them on a task, are all ways to demonstrate appreciation for their efforts.

Tangible Gifts: The key to an effective gift in the workplace is the “thought,” not the amount of money spent. Taking time to notice what your colleagues enjoy (chocolate, coffee, cashews), observing their hobbies and interests (sports, books, crafts) and buying them a small related gift shows that you are getting to know them as a person and understand what is important to them.

Appropriate Physical Touch: While we acknowledge that physical touch is less important in work-based relationships, and the potential for abuse exists, we still find that appropriate physical touch is meaningful. Usually, it occurs spontaneously and in the context of celebration — a “high five,” fistbump, slap on the back, or congratulatory handshake. To not touch one another at all often leads to a cold, impersonal environment.

If you try to express appreciation in ways that aren’t meaningful to your co-workers, then they may not feel valued at all. The problem is that you’re speaking different languages. In The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, Dr. Chapman and Dr. White will help you:

• Express genuine appreciation to co-workers and staff — even on a tight budget.
• Increase loyalty with the employees and volunteers in your organization.
• Reduce cynicism and create a more positive work environment.
• Improve your ability to show appreciation for difficult colleagues.
• Convey the language of physical touch in appropriate ways.

Based on the #1 New York Times bestseller, The 5 Love Languages, Dr. Chapman and Dr. White give you practical steps to make any workplace environment more encouraging and productive. Before you know it, you will learn to speak and understand the unique languages of appreciation and feel truly valued in return.

About The Authors:
Dr. Gary Chapman is the author of 30 books, including the #1 New York Times bestselling The 5 Love Languages® series, which has sold over 6,000,000 copies and been translated into 40 languages.

Dr. Chapman is the director of Marriage and Family Life Consultants, Inc. in Winston-Salem, NC. With over 40 years of counseling experience, he has the uncanny ability to hold a mirror up to human behavior, showing people not just where they go wrong, but also how to grow and move forward. Dr. Chapman has traveled the world presenting seminars, and his radio programs air on more than 250 stations. He and his wife, Karolyn, have two adult children and two grandchildren.

Dr. Paul White is a psychologist, author, speaker, and consultant who makes work relationships work. For the past 20 years, he’s improved numerous businesses, wealthy family estates, and non-profit organizations by helping them:

■ Create positive workplace relationships and environments.
■ Raise the level of job satisfaction for both employees and volunteers.
■ Eliminate tension around family business issues.
■ Successfully transfer families’ wealth to the next generation.
■Guide confused individuals into a satisfying career path.

Dr. White serves as the Director of Family Coaching and Personal Development for Navitas Wealth Advisors, Inc., which serves many multimillionaire and high profile business families to help develop wealth transfer plans and diminish tension around business succession issues. Additionally, he is engaged by national organizations and top universities to consult with their high net worth donors.

Dr. White was graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wheaton College, earned his Masters of Counseling from Arizona State University, and received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University, where he received the Outstanding Doctoral Student award during his final year of study. He has been married for over 30 years and is the father of four adult children.