The seven work languages

[TexasTowelie]

You might have heard about “the five love languages.” They come from a ridiculously popular book by Gary Chapman by the same name, and they are purportedly the following:

1) gifts,
2) quality time,
3) words of affirmation,
4) acts of service (devotion), and
5) physical touch.

Chapman’s idea is that, in order to be happier with your loved one, you figure out how they like to receive your love, instead of just doing to them what you’d have done to yourself. So you might like hugs and physical touch the most, but they might need you to say kind things to them. So you say nice things, and then they give you hugs, and everybody’s happy.

I like this list because it really does seem like some people respond more to certain things than others. Personally I’m a touch person, and someone who likes gifts seems almost fake to me, but putting them both on a list makes me realize that maybe we’re just wired differently. It helps me understand other people a bit more and reserve judgment.

I want to do the same thing but for work instead of love. The question changes from “how to you want to receive love” to “what motivates you to work?”. I’ve come up with the following list:

1) money
2) security
3) status
4) social connection
5) making a positive contribution to the world
6) relief from boredom/ organizing framework
7) passion

Read more: http://mathbabe.org/2015/08/20/the-seven-work-languages/

[hobbit709]

1. The 7 Dwarves had it wrong

It's "I owe, I owe, so it's off to work I go"

[TexasTowelie]

2. That would present an interesting exercise

matching each of the seven dwarves with each of the seven language characteristics. I suggest that you inhale a couple of times (no coughing) and present your analysis at a later time. I wish that I could join you in that exercise contemplating and pondering and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[Sherman A1]

3. Interesting

I will have to ponder this....

[Paka]

4. I like it.

[jtuck004]

5. I can get more from someone by just recognizing them, maybe their contribution, than one

can get for a raise, more times than not.

That first list says there are more ways that people want to get love than just one. Adult Education classes teach the same thing, that people learn in different ways, with different senses, and that if you want to be the most effective trainer or educator you should design and teach to those.

Work life is no different. What motivates people is what THEY think is important, and a boss that walks through, is genuine, and she or he remembers the names, asks how they are doing, says "saw your work on xxx and it was really good" - will get far more out of that workforce than Evilhair and his ten billion dollars can buy.

Ask anyone who runs a successful business. Money is necessary, but it isn't the #1 motivator.