I'm sure that everybody agrees: We deliver our best results when we are highly motivated. And we become highly motivated when we, as individuals, feel valued and appreciated. But showing genuine appreciation doesn't come easily to everybody. The good news is it can be learned.
On my personal journey, Gary Chapman and Paul White’s book, "The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace", has proven very insightful. Three guiding principles have helped me a great deal.
- Step 1: There is no progress without self-awareness and self-reflection. Only if you pay attention to yourself will you be able to improve your habits.
- Step 2: Actively look for opportunities to show genuine appreciation. When appreciation comes from the bottom of the heart, it has the greatest effect.
- Step 3: Appreciation comes in different shapes and not everyone feels appreciated in the same way. Understanding the recipient and matching the appreciation to their preference has the most impact.
In hindsight, it has taken me a while to understand how important appreciation is for motivation. If this resonates with you, start now.
Peter Eckes, PhD, President of BASF Bioscience Research and BASF North American Research representative, has 30 years of experience in the chemical and agricultural industries.
With experience in R&D, production and business management, he has focused on innovations throughout his career.
Peter completed his PhD in organic chemistry in 1990 at the University of Frankfurt, Germany, and pursued his postdoctoral studies at the chemistry department of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He joined BASF in Ludwigshafen, Germany, in 1992.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the view of their employer or the American Chemical Society.
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