The Power of Words: Fostering Recognition and Motivation at Work

For most of us, when we can say for most of us, when someone says the five love languages, we think about our children, spouses, family members and even those personal relationships. But I want us to consider how we can use them in the workplace in order to improve communication, build stronger teams and create a positive work environment in the workplace. These languages actually translate into appreciation languages that align with professional dynamics. So this will be a four part series taking a deeper look into how we can apply these into the workplace.

So the first we're going to take a look at is words of affirmation. So what does it look like at work? It's giving verbal praises for a job well done. Someone may say, hey, you did a great job handling that presentation today, sending an encouraging email or a handwritten note, or even publicly recognizing an employee's achievements during a meeting. Some of the benefits include boosting your employees morale, their motivation and even self confidence. It could also create a culture of recognition and value, having the feeling of being needed and wanted.

What does this look like? How can we implement it? When we give compliments, we need to make sure they are specific and sincere. Highlight their strengths and not just the outcomes and use constructive feedback with positive reinforcement. In segment two, we're going to take a look at acts of service, what it looks like, the benefits and how we can implement them in the workplace. As always, be courageous, have compassion, build connections.