Forget Love Languages Gratitude Languages Matter More for Happiness At Work, Study Finds

Forget Love Languages Gratitude Languages Matter More for Happiness At Work, Study Finds Youve probably heard of the five love languages, a breakdown of the ways people experience love that was first made popular in the early 90s. But how familiar are you with yur gratitude language?While your love language may inform how seen you feel by a romantic partner, your gratitude language could have even wider implications. At the end of the day, we all want to feel acknowledged and appreciated and thats perhaps especially true at work. After pouring ample time and energy into your job, feeling like no one is taking the time to recognize your hard work can lead to a build-up of resentment and significantly impact the way we feel about our careers.Its important for employees to feel recognized for their contributions. But managers should note that a one-size-fits-all approach to gratitude wont cut it, according to new research conducted by Deloitte. Suzanne Vickberg, a social-personality p sychologist and Applied Insights Lead for Deloittes Greenhouse Experience Team, explained the companys impetus for conducting this research.Its important to understand there are differences between people and to get curious about what an individual prefers,she said.If you want to validate someones contribution and encourage their continued engagement, you need to know what makes them feel appreciated, not what makes others feel appreciated.As part of their research, the team at Deloitte looked at gratitude through the lens of the four primary Business Chemistry Types. Each type, which Vickberg utilizes professionally to help teams in creating cultures that enable each member to thrive and make their best contribution, comes with a distinct set of strengths and perspective. The Four Business Chemistry Types1. PioneersPioneers are defined by the value they place on possibilities. They spark energy and imagination, Deloittes report reads. Theyre outgoing, spontaneous, and adaptable. Th eyre creative thinkers who believe big risks can bring great things.2. GuardiansGuardians value stability and they bring bestellung and rigor, the report says. Theyre practical, detail-oriented, and reserved. Theyre deliberate decision-makers apt to stick with the status quo.3. DriversThe report depicts Drivers as those who value challenge and generate momentum. Theyre technical, quantitative, and logical. Theyre direct in their approach to people and problems.4. IntegratorsBy valuing connection above all, the report positions Integrators as the people who draw teams together. Theyre empathetic, diplomatic, and relationship-oriented. Theyre attuned to nuance seeing shades of grey rather than black and white.How Your BC Type Informs Your Gratitude LanguageAmong the reports many findings, parallels were drawn between the different Business Chemistry Types and the ways theyre most inclined to experience and ultimately prefer different forms of gratitude. While all BC Types reported th ey most preferred recognition in the form of new growth opportunities, Pioneers, for example, preferred it at a much higher rate than the rest. Interestingly, new growth opportunities outranked recognition in the form of compensation for all BC Types, too.Source Deloitte, The Practical Magic of Thank YouWhen it comes to more everyday forms of appreciation, such as verbal recognition, researchers also noticed an interesting pattern when it came to gender. Though three-quarters of respondents reported they were satisfied with a simple thank you in their day-to-day interactions, women, at 36%, had a higher preference for seeing the other party make the extra effort to put that thank you in writing.Deloitte also found that who is making the show of gratitude can matter just as much as what form it comes in, with recognition from leadership mattering more for some BC Types than others. Interestingly, both Guardians and Integrators care slightly more about recognition from their direct su pervisors, while Guardians care least for recognition from peers.Source Deloitte,The Practical Magic of Thank YouUltimately, researchers recommended a few key ways to most effectively show gratitude for each BC Type.1. The best way to thank a PioneerSay thank you and offer them a gunst der stunde to try something new, the researchers recommend. Prioritize recognizing them whentheyve been part of a big win. For an extra boost, ask their colleagues or the bosss boss to deliverthe thanks, and consider who else should hear the news.2. The best way to thank a GuardianResearchers say Inquire about whether theyd welcome a new opportunity and maybe consider a financial reward.Make sure to thank them, not only when theyre part of a big success, but also when you see themmaking a strong and steady effort, or when their expertise adds particular value. If youre their boss,go ahead and recognize them yourself, or invite leadership to share in delivering kudos. And itsprobably okay to keep it a bit quietthey dont necessarily need (or want) their name in lights.3. The best way to thank a DriverPresent them with a challenging opportunity and thank them, particularly when theyve beensuccessful in their endeavors, but also when their expertise proves critical, the researchers recommend. If you can get the higherups to acknowledge their performance, even better4. The best way to thank an IntegratorThank them sincerely and ask if theyd like a growth opportunity, the researchers say. Acknowledge their efforts as muchas their successes, and while youre at it, recognize their commitment to living your organizationsvalues. If they report to you directly, theyll likely appreciate you doing the recognizing yourself,or you could get their colleagues in on the effort, but theres probably no need to share yourappreciation beyond a small group.To access Deloittes full The Practical Magic of Thank You report, click here.