There are the 5 Love Languages and also the 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace? Are they related?
Great question! They are indeed related. The 5 Languages of Appreciation are based on the 5 Love Languages. However, there are some key differences. For example, Physical Touch is almost never anyone’s preferred language in the workplace and for good reason.
The two concepts are discussed in the HuffPost article, Love Languages Also Exist at Work. Here’s How to Figure Out Yours. Love To Appreciate Consulting’s founder Diana Rogers Jaeger was interviewed for the article based on her extensive experience facilitating 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace workshops.
Diana was quoted talking about the power of personalizing the 5 Languages of Appreciation, such as Words of Affirmation.
“In general, they want praise that’s specific and given one-on-one, It’s specific to people, though,” she said. “Some may prefer praise that’s given by telling others what a great job the person is doing.”
In the article she also discussed how to communicate appreciation to someone who values Acts of Service.
To perform an act of service, ask yourself, “What can I do to help this person or take an action item off their plate?” Rogers Jaeger said.
“It means a lot to them when people offer to help, and they’re not required to,” she said. “It may be pitching in when someone is on a tight deadline, running an errand, bringing food and drinks when they are working late, or helping them with a computer issue.”