What is the Motivating by Appreciation Inventory (MBAI)?

The Motivating by Appreciation Inventory (MBAI) helps you take the guesswork out of showing appreciation. This simple online assessment identifies each person's primary appreciation language and outlines their most valuable actions. With clear, personalized results, you can stop using one-size-fits-all approaches and start hitting the mark with meaningful appreciation that truly resonates.

What are the 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace?

The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace is a trusted resource that helps leaders communicate appreciation in ways that truly resonate. The framework identifies each team member's primary appreciation language and offers simple, practical ways to express it in everyday work, helping to improve morale, strengthen trust, and reduce turnover.

Support Your Team Remotely with Practical Tools

When your team isn’t in the same building—or even the same time zone—it’s easy for people to feel isolated, overlooked, or burned out. As a leader, you want to keep your team connected, valued, and motivated, no matter where they are. But keeping virtual employee engagement alive isn’t about adding more Zoom meetings. It’s about finding ways to genuinely appreciate people when hallway conversations and office drop-ins aren’t an option.

At Appreciation at Work™, we understand how hard it is to lead purposefully when everyone is behind a screen. That’s why we created tools designed specifically for remote teams. You don’t need to guess how to support your people—you need a plan that’s proven, simple, and flexible.

Our Tools Help You Build an Appreciative Remote Culture

Leading from a distance requires a different kind of intentionality. That’s where the Motivating By Appreciation Inventory (MBAI) comes in. It helps your team express appreciation in ways that actually land—with clarity, not guesswork.

Basic MBAI

This version works for most workplace settings and includes:

A quick 10–15 minute assessment for each team member

An individualized report showing how each person feels appreciated

Practical suggestions on how to act on that knowledge

The Basic MBAI is your starting point for a better online workplace culture, whether your team is hybrid, in-person, or spread across time zones.

Remote Version of MBAI

This version is tailored for distributed teams. It includes everything in the Basic version, plus specific strategies for supporting and motivating remote employees. That includes:

Tips for recognizing people effectively through digital communication

Guidance for expressing appreciation when you can’t rely on body language or spontaneous feedback

Ways to avoid miscommunication and build stronger trust across distance

Whether you’re new to remote team leadership or just need a better way to engage your people, this tool brings clarity and practical direction.

Designed for Real Workplaces, Backed by Real Research

We don’t rely on theories or vague advice. Every tool and strategy we offer is based on research with thousands of professionals across industries and countries. We understand the real challenges of maintaining virtual employee engagement, and we’ve created tools that meet teams where they are. With us, you will:

Learn what motivates each team member, remotely or in person

Build real trust through authentic appreciation

Improve morale across digital teams without overloading meetings

Reduce misunderstandings in online workplace culture

Apply specific ideas for how to support and motivate remote employees

Keep Remote Teams Aligned and Appreciated

Without clear strategies, remote teams drift. Morale slips. Appreciation gets lost in translation. But it doesn’t have to be that way. When you use proven tools to guide your remote team leadership, you don’t just keep people connected—you help them thrive.

With Appreciation at Work™, you don’t have to guess how to motivate your team. You get a clear, proven system for building a stronger, more appreciative culture—no matter where your team works. Support your remote team with intention. Start with the right tools today.