Your Appreciation is in Perpetual Beta

November 5, 2014 8:51 am Published by

Appreciation isn’t just about recognition and it’s not reserved only for large corporations. Whether you’re an executive, a small business owner, or an employee, you express and receive appreciation.  The key question when you express appreciation is the other person receiving it with the same intent and value?

Your Evolving Appreciation

Learning that there are five languages of appreciation and especially learning your own personal language of appreciation provides growth and change in becoming more aware of how appreciation is communicated and received.  As you gain experiential knowledge through practice and doing, your appreciation changes and grows.

My favorite saying is: Change is inevitable; growth is a choice.

Being authentic is what will draw people to you and it is what makes your involvement in any endeavor, interaction or event meaningful.

Some people don’t care about being authentic – they only care about making money. But it is important that you are very clear on what you want to do and what you want to achieve. Genuine appreciation reflects your character and values, which are not compromised in your quest to succeed.

Here are some tips on becoming an authentic appreciation:

1. Conceptualize your personal vision and mission, and never lose sight of these goals.

What makes you different, and what do you want to achieve? It’s a good idea to write these down so you can remember them and take them to heart.

2. Admit to your mistakes and learn from them.

We’re all guilty of expressing appreciation in a way that’s familiar to us or in ways that we prefer receiving appreciation.  Even before you became aware of the languages of appreciation, you’ve made some mistakes by not being personal in your appreciation, or simply buying the same gift for everyone to show your gratitude.

3. Know what you stand for. 

It’s important to remember, no matter the pressure, to stay true to yourself. Don’t compromise your beliefs or values for the sake of appeasing someone. Within each language of appreciation, there are different actions that can occur to express appreciation in that language.  Find one that fits for you, your style, and your budget.  Most importantly, be authentic and be consistent.

4. Know what you hope to achieve.

When you first start understanding the five languages of appreciation, it feels almost “fake” when you first attempt to express appreciation to someone.  After all, since often the introduction to the languages happens at a workshop or seminar it’s not unusual for everyone in an organization to be keenly aware that everyone’s trying their new appreciation skills.

Begin with that end in mind, and it will help you keep your focus and navigate the awkward times when you do try different forms of appreciation or even discussing with someone what their language of appreciation is.

Maria Elena Duron is a connector, trainer and coach. Small Business Owners that work with Maria Elena develop a profitable relationship building system, appeal to their brand advocates, and increase sales. Take the uncertainty out of how your personal and business brand delivers business – Get Your Checklist.

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November 5, 2014 8:51 am

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