Writing with the 5 Love Languages
The five love languages at work teach us a lot about how our team, clients, and peers give and receive business appreciation. ⠀
Author Gary Chapman proposed five love languages, created for couples, to show and receive love. This later naturally extended to a workplace version of our needs in a professional world. ⠀⠀⠀
The five languages of Appreciation in the Workplace are: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🧡Words of affirmation - using what we say to affirm people⠀⠀⠀
Loving words is a given for people like me doing writing as a professional service. Writing raving words for my colleagues and business friends shows appreciation in the business and clarifies that you value them. If this is your love language, you take the time to do things like:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🤍Write a google review.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🤍Send an email expressing gratitude.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🤍Gush with engagement on social media.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🤍Journal gratitude for those you work with⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🤍Handwrite cards to express appreciation.⠀
🤍Offer a testimonial for a website.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you want to develop your language for appreciating others in the Workplace, use words of affirmation. It doesn't have to be sappy to be sincere.
🧡Acts of Service - what our actions do to affirm people
If you feel appreciated and swarmed when someone does something for you or helps you, you probably have the love language of acts of service. When a collaborator or fellow entrepreneur helps me with a puzzling technology issue that I am struggling with, I feel so thankful for the help! When I can review and edit a document for a client saving them time and exasperation, I hope they sense my commitment to them. Being in a service industry, this one is a big one for me! ⠀⠀⠀⠀
🧡Receiving Gifts - things that make people feel valued⠀⠀
When you are writing to clients or peers intending to help them feel appreciated through receiving gifts, you write about things they will receive due to their loyalty, such as freebies, monthly promotions or giveaways. Many people feel appreciated and valued by the gifts that are offered to them as a sign of commitment and love. Creating content that identifies things they will receive is an excellent way to appeal to those who value gifts.
🧡Physical Touch - appropriate touch like a pat on the back (this is so hard right now for those who appreciate others in this way!)⠀
Oh, how I miss hugs and a pat on the back or smiling body language. 🥰 It is difficult even to remember when handshakes and hugs were part of my entrepreneurial DNA. But until we get back to appreciating others with appropriate physical connections, there are ways to symbolize those things. If you feel appreciated and valued at work with this love language, you will sense warmth from a hugging emoji that does it virtually. 🥰🤗🙌⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🧡Quality Time - offering undivided attention and time⠀⠀⠀⠀
This love language is the undivided attention and clarity you offer to others. If you value others' time, you write clear and concise value to make it meaningful to your reader. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You offer others quality time when you: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🤍extend time on your discovery calls as needed⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🤍give value consistently on your website, email marketing and social media ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🤍listen attentively to the concerns of others to compassionately understand their issues and goals⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🤍build lifetime relationships that last⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🤍see them beyond the role they play in your work⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We are all different, and being attentive to seeking out ways to appreciate each other is critical. It is not a one size fits all approach. A successful entrepreneur or business owner strives to showcase and share all the love languages to show others' appreciation. This will help you guide your efforts to become a better writer and appeal to your audience in the way that they sense your appreciation for them in the unique ways that they feel your love.
Love your view,