New Young Adult Version of the MBA Inventory: Connecting with Those Under 30
If you haven’t noticed yet, younger employees approach work—and life—differently than many of their colleagues who are a bit (or a lot) older. What they value personally, their expectations for their career paths, and even how they want to be treated on a daily basis reflect a new generational perspective. This impacts how they approach appreciation at work – how they want to be shown appreciation, for what they want to be appreciated, and who they desire appreciation from.
This shift matters when we think about communicating appreciation at work. It’s not just a matter of adjusting language—it’s about tuning into what resonates. At Appreciation at Work, one of our core values is to listen closely to those we serve and respond thoughtfully to their needs.
Listening, Learning, and Revising
Over the past several months, we began receiving feedback from clients and facilitators that our original Motivating By Appreciation (MBA) Inventory felt more geared toward older generations—Boomers, Gen X, and older Millennials. The phrasing and action items often seemed formal or outdated for younger team members just beginning their professional journey.
So, we decided to ask for their input directly.
We reached out to young professionals—those in their late teens to late twenties—and invited them to review our Expanded MBA Inventory. Their feedback confirmed what we’d been hearing: the content needed to be updated to reflect what truly speaks to this generation.
They didn’t just offer feedback—they provided specific suggestions on each language of appreciation, and, most importantly, updated actions that feel more relevant today.
A Version for Young Professionals
The result of that collaboration is the Young Adult Version of the MBA Inventory, designed specifically for employees in their late teens through late twenties. And yes—we had a bit of fun with the logo. We chose two representative cultural icons: a cell phone and a coffee cup.
But beyond the design, the core of this version reflects key insights about recognizing young professionals in ways that matter to them.
How the Young Adult Version Differs
1. Peers Matter More Than Titles
One key difference is a greater emphasis on receiving appreciation from peers and colleagues, rather than supervisors or managers. While we don’t approach this issue from an “all or nothing” perspective, our research has shown us that younger team members are more focused on relationships with their same-aged peers and coworkers than their older colleagues or supervisors.
2. Culturally Relevant Language and Channels
We eliminated phrases like “Email me a thank you” because that’s not how many young adults communicate. Instead, we looked at messaging apps, voice notes, and short, meaningful messages sent through more common channels to make sure the actions are culturally relevant.
3. Emphasizing Flexibility and Balance
Finally, more emphasis is placed on work / life balance and scheduling flexibility since that is a higher value for these team members. An example of this is in the actions for Tangible Gifts, where one option is “Allow me to take some comp time after working long hours.”
Real Feedback, Real Results
The feedback we’ve received so far has been encouraging. Young adults report that the updated version feels more relevant and better reflects how they think and feel. It speaks their language—not just literally, but emotionally and relationally.
This employee appreciation assessment offers a clearer picture of how young professionals desire to be shown they are valued and what types of appreciation actually motivate them.
If you want to learn how to combat negativity in the workplace, this is one simple, powerful tool to help shift your team’s emotional culture. When employees feel seen, valued, and recognized in a personal way, the atmosphere changes.
Try It Out (and Save Money While You Do)!
We’d love for you to explore this new version with the younger members of your team. Whether you’re a manager, a mentor, or part of a cross-generational team, understanding how to connect meaningfully makes a difference.
In fact, we are offering 20% (that is, $5 off) as many codes for taking the Young Adult version as you would like to buy (until April 30, 2025) – just use the code YA-MBAI when you check out.
Share this:
Categories 5 Languages of Appreciation, Employee engagement, Managing By Appreciation, MBA Inventory, Workplace Culture
