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The latest in Gary Chapman's best selling series about how to best express love to individuals in one's life, The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace changes gears a bit and helps one show appreciation in a setting where the word love may be misinterpreted or not be appropriate.

For this edition, Chapman paired with workplace psychologist Dr. Paul White to discuss ways appreciation can be shown in the workplace, as well as the effect appropriately directed and received encouragement has on workers individually and the workplace as a whole. Chapman and White discuss the various ways appreciation is shown and the importance of encouraging someone in a way that is meaningful to him/her. The five love languages are quality time, acts of service, words of affirmation, tangible gifts, and physical touch. Within these five languages, there are various dialects, or specific ways that are more meaningful depending on the person. For example, one worker may feel the most appreciated when receiving a private not of encouragement, while another may be more encouraged by a public word of affirmation.

Chapman and White are thorough in their treatment of each language of appreciation and how it can be expressed in the workplace.They give many helpful examples from the variety of field tests they've done with numerous companies throughout the nation, of varying sizes, services offered, and structures. The end of each chapter includes several questions under "Making it Personal" that help the reader apply the contents of each chapter to his/her life. There is also an "Appreciation Toolkit" in the back with helpful appendices on topics such as "How to Reward Volunteers" and "Acknowledging and Dealing with the 'Weirdness Factor'".

Overall I would strongly encourage any person in leadership over others in the workplace to read this book. The effects of positive and appropriate affirmation in the workplace cannot be overemphasized. Anyone from the CEO to the low man on the totem pole who simply wants to encourage those around him will benefit from reading Chapman and White's The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace.

I received this book free from Moody Publishers as part of their Moody Publishers Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255