The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace is a book by Gary Chapman and Paul White about the five different ways people experience appreciation. It's a re-write of "The Five Love Languages" also by Gary Chapman adapted for the work setting. While the concept is powerful, the book is very repetitive and tends to provide very obvious examples. Nevertheless, there are a few interesting lessons.
- The five languages of appreciation are: 1) Words of Affirmation. 2) Acts of Service. 3) Quality Time. 4) Physical Gifts. 5) Physical Touch.
- Each person has a primary and secondary form of appreciation. You can saturate someone's primary form. In that case their secondary form may be more highly valued. For example, someone who doles out compliments freely may find their words of affirmation be discounted by those receiving them. In this case, quality time may be more highly valued from this person.
- Primary and secondary forms of affirmation tends to be constant over time.
- Primary and secondary forms of affirmation differs depending on context. Appreciation languages for personal relationships may differ from work relationships.
- Words of Affirmation can include affirmation of acts (a task well done), personality (cheerfulness) and character (honesty).
