Thursday, August 27, 2009

How Many Languages of Recognition?

Besides my love for reading business and psychological based non-fiction books , I also love reading books about developing oneself and improving one's marriage.

Some of you are probably familiar with Gary Chapman's acclaimed work and book The Five Love Languages which is just an excellent marriage book.

The premise of his book is that each of us has a primary "love language" and that we may be speaking the wrong language to our spouse. The five types of languages he has discovered are:

* Words of Affirmation
* Quality Time
* Receiving Gifts
* Acts of Service
* Physical Touch

I believe similar principles cross over into the field of employee recognition in that an act of recognition for one person is not meaningful to another.

My findings speak to four aspects of recognition versus actual languages, namely:

* "Appreciative Listening" - listening with intent and care
* "Recognition Talking" - speaking meaningful and specific words of acknowledgement
* "Praiseworthy Actions" - demonstrating kind actions and caring concern
* "Rewarding Giving" - taking time to give people the right things

While research continues to show people's differing recognition preferences, I wonder if we actually speak a different recognition language?

What do you think? Do we speak different recognition languages?
at 3:16 PM
Labels:

2 comments:

  1. Derek IrvineAugust 31, 2009 at 1:46 PM

    Excellent post, Roy. A few months ago, I blogged on six different types of recognition:
    1) Recognition of effort
    2) Recognition of skills and talents
    3) Recognition of the need for focus and direction
    4) Recognition of personal needs
    5) Recognition of the need to grow and develop
    6) Recognition of the need to let off steam

    And Cindy Ventrice added an important number 7) The need for trust

    More details on each type available here: http://globoforce.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-type-of-recognition-do-you-need.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. Roy SaundersonSeptember 10, 2009 at 10:20 AM

    Thanks for your insights, Derek.

    So much recognition needed and so little time to do it all!!

    And I appreciate you joining the Employee Recognition Community as well.

    Take care,

    Roy

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)