Cover Image: The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace

The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Excellent workbook for understanding how to navigate.workplace relationships with compassion and insight.

Was this review helpful?

An admission to start with, I have begun to unironically use the concept of the 5 Love Languages in my own life. I started sardonically but quickly came to see that there is a lot of important work being done there. So translating this to the workplace made a lot of sense to me. Before returning to university, I worked in Sales and HR as a supervisor and I quickly began to see that everyone worked better if they felt appreciated and that this appreciation needed to be expressed in a variety of ways. Some people want comments, others want to be relief upon, to be called upon, praised in public, praised in private. There are a lot of useful tips in this book, although it does run rather long. At times it became a bit repetitive, but there are definitely tools in here I'll employ once I return to the workplace!

Was this review helpful?

Emotional intelligence is important, especially when dealing with people ... and practically everyone deals with people. This book is a gift for everyone who wants to improve their relationship with the people around them most of the day. There are 8 or more hours spent in a company or office, it is terrible to work in a complicated or selfish environment. This book can help you to have practical ideas on how to make your classmates feel important, talk to them according to their needs and grow in a knowledge of your environment. Sometimes we think that our logic is that of the others and it is NOT like that. I think it is an excellent gift for every boss.Is an awesome book to start the year in your organization.

La inteligencia emocional es importante, más cuando tratas con personas... y prácticamente todos tratamos con personas. Este libro es un regalo para todo aquel que quiere mejorar su relación con las personas que lo rodean la mayor parte del día. Son 8 o más horas las que se pasan en una empresa u oficina, es terrible laborar en un ambiente complicado o egoísta. Este libro puede servirte para que tengas ideas prácticas de cómo hacer sentir importantes a tus compañeros, hablarles de acuerdo a sus necesidades y crecer en un conocimiento de tu entorno. A veces pensamos que nuestra lógica es la de los demás y NO es así. Creo que es un excelente regalo para todo jefe y un super libro para comenzar el año en tu organización.

Was this review helpful?

Not a bad book by any means. Just not sure if it is a necessary one. The people who would choose to pick up this book and read it are probably not the ones who need to learn more about getting along with others in the workplace.

Was this review helpful?

This was a very good book. As a boss and an employee, this was very relevant information. It was very well organized.

Was this review helpful?

Gary Chapman has written a number of “Love Language “ books. Each excellent, and this one is no exception! The FIVE LOVE LANGUAGE books (all of them!!) have helped me as a person to be more connected with people in relationships. I’ve had better personal relationships with my husband and children. Through this insightful book,, readers can apply the same principles to colleagues. This is of immense value, especially when we don’t usually equate “love” with professional associations. EXCELLENT! ! INSIGHTFUL!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Moody Publishers and Netgalley for this ARC.

I have read the ‘Five Love Languages’ and the ‘Five Love Languages for Children ‘ and still, years later highly recommend them to people.
This book will also be added to that list now !! Again, Mr Chapman and Mr White present easily readable information on how people have different work styles. It is a highly informative, common sense book for all leaders, and team members to read and embrace.

Was this review helpful?

Gary Chapman's work has been influential to millions of people. He improved the way couples communicate and talk to one another. Now he's revolutionized how we interact with people in our workplace. Our workplace happiness is equally important as our home, but sometimes handling conflicts can be much for challenging. This book makes handling these conflicts much easier and creating a work environment that allows you to treat co-workers like an extended family. This is a must-read for leaders in the business world.

Was this review helpful?

This revision to the 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace was great, though I'm not sure how different it was from the original. As before, I liked that this book focused on everyone in the workplace contributing to appreciation, not just managers and supervisors. I think it's an important concept that we all contribute to the work environments we are a part of. It might be that I read the other so long ago that I don't easily recognize the differences. Regardless, rereading the book and reminding myself of the theories within is a great reminder!

Was this review helpful?

Better for New Adherents to Love Languages
February 10, 2019

As much as the premise is compelling, and the research powerful in its own right, the text was slow, plodding, and difficult to read in digital format. Pull quotes showed up in color mid-sentence, with no delineation as to why (in my copy). People who may have read about love languages for a previous application may find this book merely repeats the concepts for about 1/2 the book, before going way deep, way fast, about why workplaces require a slightly different interpretation of the standard five love languages. For my library, it’s extraneous.

Was this review helpful?

I have long been an advocate for applying the five love languages into relationships. Even before I knew that the 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace book existed, I've had conversations with co-workers about how you could apply these languages in the workplace. Therefore, I was delighted to find out that there was actually a book dedicated to this topic and knew I had to read it. I truly believe that these languages exist and could really make a difference in the happiness level of workers if they were applied by supervisors and coworkers alike. Although the book feels like it was written for supervisors or managers to read, I felt like anyone who is working could apply these practices with their fellow co-workers. After all, the "worker bees" tend to interact more frequently with one another than with their supervisors and would have more opportunities to express appreciation. My only complaint about the book is that I felt like it was a little repetitive and long winded. It could probably be condensed into a couple of chapters or written as a long magazine article. Despite this drawback, it is still worth reading. Maybe all the repetition helps the ideas sink into the reader better! I've read two other 5 Love Languages books so maybe it wouldn't be as redundant for first time readers of the 5 Love Languages concept. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. All thoughts expressed in this review are my honest opinions of this book.

Was this review helpful?

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Having been a supervisor in a couple of other positions I found this book incredibly interesting. I knew that Love Languages were a thing and it makes sense that this completely translates to work affirmation and making your direct reports/peers feel valued in the work they do. Anyone that's going to be responsible for managing staff should take a look at this book!

Was this review helpful?

Chapman and White’s Five Languages of Appreciation at Work is written with the same premise of some of their other works, most famously their Languages of Love. This book focuses, as the title states, in the work environment, not at home. It addresses the ways colleagues and supervisors can demonstrate appreciation to one another. The book outlines the five languages with explanations and examples. It provides data and facts to support the notions that showing appreciation is key if it is done in a way that actually matches the way a person wants to be appreciated. The authors have created an inventory to allow individuals to identify and classify their appreciation method. Once known, it can be shared and explored, so people can get the accolades they deserve, in a way that will feel sincere and valid. The authors also acknowledged that knowing about appreciation types is helpful but not foolproof, and sometimes just knowing one’s appreciation style is not enough. They share strategies that address scenarios and situations when more is needed or miscommunication may have occurred. I appreciate the honesty in acknowledging this aspect of the dynamic.

Overall, I think anyone who works in a group setting and cares about being appreciated in a way that makes sense to them (I know this is not everyone), will benefit from taking the inventory and reading the book. Though I received a digital copy to review, I went out and bought a hard copy and inventory, as I want to show it to my coworkers and perhaps integrate it fully in my work setting.

Was this review helpful?

Great summation of all the love languages and how they can be used in the workplace to show appreciation. If you’re familiar with the 5 love languages this will be an easy read. It includes Generational differences in love language expression, specifics for different style work places/different industries, expressing appreciation when working with volunteers, challenges that make expressing appreciation hard and how to overcome them, Lots of examples and case studies as well as Q&A. There are thought probing questions that guide the reader to understand their language of appreciation as well as language of appreciation for their coworkers and bosses. Love how the book stresses that it’s not just bosses that should show appreciation to subordinate but that coworkers and bosses need to be shown appreciation by employees as well.
I received a digital copy of this book from netgalley. This has in no way influenced this review. I wasn’t required to write a review. All thoughts are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I really appreciated this book and the lessons I learned from inside the pages. I like how it really focused on the idea of building healthy workplace relationships to really make those that you lead feel valued and appreciated and even heard. Gone are the days where a person fears and has an unhealthy relationship with the boss. This book showed studies that showcase how much more productive, healthy and happy both you and your team can feel if you communicate effectively. Well written, well researched a must for all leaders or those who one day wish to become leaders.

Was this review helpful?

My knowledge of the five love languages is pretty normal. I read the original book for marriages plus the one for teens. I think the main challenge in the workplace one is isolation. It takes a lot to figure out your co-workers' love languages unless your whole workplace does the inventory and shares the results (which, honestly, my personality prefers BIG TIME). The authors do give you signs to start working out the love language of those around you, but I don't know. I prefer it directly from them.

While I found some nuggets that were worth the read, I didn't really LEARN all that much from this book. I loved the initial chapters where all of the data was. (Surprise!) Once speculation began, I didn't feel it was as valuable. I liked a few of the examples - even highlighted 2 of them to share with a specific co-worker. Framing compliments as "One of the things I admire about you is...", "I wish I were more... (like them)", and being detailed and specific were all great pieces of advice.

I would recommend this to any supervisor of any kind in any field. Appreciation only means so much coming from a coworker. It tends to mean more the higher up the ladder that it comes from. However, if you're like me and searching for ways to show your colleagues that you appreciate them, it's worth a flip through - even if you have to resist the urge to make all of them take the inventory so you just know their language.

Was this review helpful?

The Five Languages of Appreciation is taking the popular Five Love Languages and applying them to the workplace. There were some interesting facts that I took from this book and things that I believe I will be able to implement at work. There are valuable statistics shared about how being appreciated is the #1 factor in job satisfaction - higher than pay.

There were good examples given of how to show appreciation for Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Acts of Service and Gifts (Physical Touch is not as relevant to the workplace though there is discussion around the debate whether to include it and the times a firm handshake or pat on the back can be appropriate). One of the most interesting parts to me was the concept of time being one of the best gifts that can be given - additional paid time off or the freedom to come late or leave early. I’ve seen the impact and excitement around this at my work but hadn’t considered it in the framework of time being so limited for everyone and that giving people time is truly a gift.

However - despite learning these things and finding ways I can apply them - this wasn’t a favorite book. I felt it was stretched out and sometimes repetitive. I think this same information could be included as a chapter in the five love languages or in a long article and not need to be a separate book.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I was delighted that someone devoted a book to the wonderful mission of appreciating employees, and there is real value in this book. Unfortunately, too much time is spent promoting the authors’ assessment tool (which costs money) which allegedly will determine the primary way any one individual wants to be acknowledged: by words, by time, by gestures, by gifts, or by touch. Additionally, large sections present dubious studies that arrive at questionable conclusions (people leave their jobs because of feeling underappreciated—really? I thought it was because they hated their boss) or boil down to common sense (guess what, sometimes people prefer help instead of being thanked). The authors seem surprised when their own simple-minded assessment doesn't capture the nuances of what people really appreciate when, instead of admitting that interactions between people are complex and can't be captured in a simple survey.

Was this review helpful?

This is a must read for team leaders or managers anywhere in the world.
If you're looking for an end of year gift to your boss, this is it! I say so because we all need encouragement and more so being appreciated at work makes a whole lot of difference in how we work and this book explores both the misconceptions about appreciation and the best way to encourage and motivate people.
I got an eARC in exchange for an honest review and I loved it so much that I kept taking notes that would come in handy when I am in a leadership position.

Was this review helpful?

I had read, loved and implemented advice from the book "5 Love languages" in my personal life. It changed my relationship with both myself and my wife. So, when I picked up this book (got a free copy from NetGalley) I had very high expectaion from the book.

And to say that I am not disappointed is an understatement. The authors have done a phenomenal job of translating the framework from a personal, intimate setting to a professional setting with the same life changing possibility, for both sides of the relationship (the giver and the receiver).

Read this book if you want to do your bit to make our workplaces a much more conducive, inclusive and productive environments.. Must read for all leaders and aspiring leaders..

Was this review helpful?