❤️Words of Affirmation at Work: The Power of Praise
Do words of appreciation really make a difference at work?🗣️
Absolutely! But here’s the kicker—less than 50% of employees prefer words as their main way to feel appreciated. That means over half your team is sitting there thinking, “Words are nice, but… show me you appreciate me.”
So, how do you know if words are the way to go? You learn their language of appreciation—because appreciation only works if it’s received the right way. And guess what? There’s a simple way to find out!
That’s what we’re diving into today—Words of Affirmation, the first of the 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace.
And if you’re thinking, “Wait, what are the other four?”—don’t worry! This is part one of a five-part series. You’re in the right place. 😉
Appreciation is a game-changer.
Book your training workshop or keynote to boost morale and trust with your team.
The Power of Words: A Story That Stuck With Me
Let me take you back to a moment early in my career. I was stressed—like, “Should I just quit and raise goats?” stressed.
My supervisor must’ve seen the look on my face because he pulled me aside and said:
“I see how hard you’re working. Your attention to detail is really making a difference here.”
Y’all, those simple words changed everything. He didn’t just recognize my performance—he appreciated me.
And you know what? My boss knew I needed to hear that because we had taken the 5 Languages of Appreciation assessment as a team. He weren’t just guessing—he knew my preferred language of appreciation was Words of Affirmation.
That’s the magic of knowing how people want to be appreciated.
Words do matter…
Let’s get your team started with the 5 Languages of Appreciation.
How to Use Words of Affirmation the Right Way
💡 Here’s the deal—Words of Affirmation only work if they’re done right. That means making them:
1️⃣ Personal & One-on-One
Not everyone loves a public shoutout. Some people (my introverts, I see you 👀) would rather crawl under their desk than be the center of attention.
Instead, find out how they like to receive appreciation. One-on-one conversations? A quick email? A handwritten note? (More on that in a sec.)
2️⃣ Specific & Meaningful
🚫 Skip the generic “Good job!”
✅ Instead, call out exactly what you appreciate about them.
✔ “I appreciate how you took the time to mentor the new hire. It really made their first week easier.”
✔ “Your ability to stay calm under pressure is something I admire. The way you handled that tough client was impressive.”
When appreciation is specific, it sticks.
3️⃣ The Handwritten Note Effect
Can we talk about handwritten notes for a second? Because they are GOLD.
Think about it—how many of you still have a thank-you card or handwritten note from years ago? 🙋♀️
Emails get deleted. Slack messages disappear. But a handwritten note? That gets tucked away and re-read when someone needs a little boost.
Want to make someone’s day? Write them a quick note of appreciation. It’s old-school, but it works.
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But Wait… What If Words Aren’t Their Thing?
Remember when I said less than 50% of employees prefer words as their top language of appreciation? That means there’s a good chance some of your team is thinking:
“That’s nice, but I’d rather you just help me out when I’m overwhelmed.”
That’s why knowing your team’s preferred language of appreciation is a game-changer.
📢 Good news! There’s an assessment for that. It’s a simple way to identify how each team member wants to be appreciated.
Because appreciation isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s about speaking their language, not just what’s easiest for you.
Take Action: Show Appreciation the Right Way
✅ Step 1: Learn Your Team’s Language- Start by taking the 5 Languages of Appreciation assessment as a team. You might be surprised by the results!
✅ Step 2: Start Small- If Words of Affirmation are someone’s preferred language, commit to giving at least one meaningful piece of verbal or written appreciation each day. It takes 30 seconds but has a lasting impact.
✅ Step 3: Bring It to Your Workplace- Want to create a culture of appreciation in your organization? I’d love to help! Book a keynote or workshop, and let’s bring the 5 Languages of Appreciation to your team.
Because when appreciation is done right, it doesn’t just boost morale—it changes the entire workplace.
How can you increase your employee engagement?
When leaders genuinely appreciate their people, incredible things happen.❤️
❤️Final Thoughts: Words Matter—When Used Well
When you lead with appreciation, you build a workplace where people feel seen, heard, and valued.
👉 Get access to the workshop or keynote, so you can boost employee engagement, retention and productivity.
I’m cheering 📣 for you!
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