Interview with Mr Patrick Chan, BBS, JP Director of ... - å ¬åå¡äºåå±
Interview with Mr Patrick Chan, BBS, JP Director of ... - å ¬åå¡äºåå± Interview with Mr Patrick Chan, BBS, JP Director of ... - å ¬åå¡äºåå±
Book Review onThe 5 Languages ofAppreciation in the WorkplaceExecutive Officers (EOs) are professional managers specialisingin resource and system management. It is not uncommon forthem to find themselves in charge of a team providing support/services to the public or to internal parties within an organisation.Where the team is made up of staff of different grades andbackground, the art of motivating them to work together towardsspecific goals/objectives often becomes a great challenge.As the Departmental Secretary of the AuxiliaryMedical Service (AMS), I need to work closelywith nearly 100 civil servants of different grades,plus over 4 000 volunteers. Since taking up thepost, I have come to realise that understandingand compassion for their staff and volunteers arethe core values of the AMS management. Theyfully appreciate that understanding the needsand desires of staff and volunteer workers andshowing appreciation for their efforts are keysto effective management and resulting success.I recently read a book entitled “The 5 Languagesof Appreciation in the Workplace” written by Dr.Gary Chapman (a renowned marriage consultantand author) and Dr. Paul White (psychologist andwork relationship consultant) in the United States.The book details the importance of demonstratingan appreciation for people in the workplace andexplains the different ways of doing that.The central theme of this book focuses onmotivating through appreciation, which is built onthe premise that people in the workplace (whetheran employee or volunteer position) need to feelappreciated for their work. Individuals enjoy theirwork and respond to such appreciation by givingtheir best, and such strengthened commitmenthelps the organisation achieve its goals andbecome successful. The book explains that thereis no “one size fits all” formula for demonstratingappreciation. In other words, what makes oneemployee feel appreciated does not necessarilymake another employee feel appreciated. So,when we communicate appreciation to our peoplein the workplace, we have to identify the rightlanguage of appreciation.The 5 languages of appreciation prescribed in thebook are briefly summarised as follows -Words of Affirmation using words orally orin writing to affirm and encourage those aroundus that their hard work and effort is valued.Some people prefer the positive message tobe communicated in a private conversation,while others value being praised in front of alarge group. Expressing thanks for a job welldone can also be easily achieved through anemail, but handwritten notes are still valued bymany workers.Quality Time giving someone our undividedattention to share accomplishments,frustrations, suggestions, and feelings ordesires about life or work. You must convinceyour people that you are really listening andgenuinely show your desire to understand theirconcerns. You can stop by and see how yourcolleagues are doing and spend a few minuteschatting with them or take the time to listen tothem while eating lunch together.Acts of Service lending a helping hand toyour people and assisting in getting a taskdone when required. You can stop by theworkplace of your colleagues and see if theyneed any help in getting something done.You should be careful to ask before offeringassistance to identify the specific service thatwould be most meaningful to them.18
EO BLOGMain Page Management Articles Guest Book FoldersTangible Gifts showing appreciation topeople at work by rewarding them with gifts.The most important thing is to find the rightkind of gift for them, as giving an arbitrary giftwith no meaning can actually have a negativeeffect. It is better for you to take time andnotice what your colleagues enjoy, observingtheir hobbies and interests so that you can buythem a small and appropriate gift.Physical Touch giving a pat on the back,a handshake or even a “high five” for a jobwell done. Usually, physical touch occursspontaneously and in the context of celebration.In order that this language of appreciationcan be seen as a meaningful expression ofappreciation we have to observe the norm ofa particular culture. The norm on whether thephysical touch is considered as appropriateor inappropriate touches between membersof the opposite sex or same sex.The book also highlights the fact that for each ofus there is a primary and secondary languageof appreciation and a least valued languageof appreciation. Our primary language wouldcommunicate more deeply from our hearts;the second language comes from a secondaryplace, while the least valued language is theleast meaningful to us. There is an assessmenttool called the Motivating by Appreciation (MBA)Inventory which helps individual employeesdiscover their primary appreciation language,their secondary language and the language thatis least meaningful to them.A person’s preferred language of appreciationwill change over time in response to differentstages, circumstances or events in life and theindividuals with whom they are interacting. Underthe influence of these factors, one’s secondarylanguage of appreciation may ascend the ladderof importance and one’s primary language maytend to decrease in emotional value. There mayalso be situations in which one’s least importantlanguage may become meaningful.It is important for us to discern the language ofappreciation people value most and speak thatlanguage to the person you are trying to encourageso you do not miss the mark. The two most concreteways to discern the language of appreciation is tofind out how they show appreciation to others andwhat they complain about.As civil servants, we have lists of duties andresponsibilities which are specific to the posts weare holding, and most jobs are inter-related in ourworkplace. We should be careful in performingthe acts of service in such a way that you arenot seen as simply shirking your responsibilities.When we are showing appreciation by usingthe languages of tangible gifts, we have to becareful not to be perceived as having possibleconflicts of interests, accepting an advantage orbreaking anti-corruption laws. In relation to anact of physical touch, we have to be cautiousto avoid the incident being construed as sexualharassment.I highly recommend this book because it providesdeep insights into the different considerationswe must have when showing appreciation forour colleagues in order to create a positive andproductive work atmosphere. A positive workingrelationship is extremely important, especiallywhen we are often asked to “do more with less”.Last but not least, knowing the tips and skillsto show appreciation for other’s work is notenough. We have to constantly put these intopractice to recognise their real effects.If you are interested in the book, please go tohttp://appreciationatwork.com.Alice Chu19
- Page 3: Patrick Chan, BBS, JP,of General Gr
- Page 8 and 9: 多 走 半 步整 個 訪 問 ,
- Page 10 and 11: 由 左 至 右 : 陳 振 華 、
- Page 12 and 13: As part of the Human Resource Manag
- Page 14 and 15: Dissecting the Web:What actually ha
- Page 16 and 17: 行 家 小 檔 案 -在 忙 碌
- Page 20 and 21: News from theGeneral Grades OfficeA
- Page 22 and 23: T rainingCongratulations to 20 coll
- Page 24: 帶 領 讀 者 探 索 寫 作 的
Book Review onThe 5 Languages <strong>of</strong>Appreciation in the WorkplaceExecutive Officers (EOs) are pr<strong>of</strong>essional managers specialisingin resource and system management. It is not uncommon forthem to find themselves in charge <strong>of</strong> a team providing support/services to the public or to internal parties <strong>with</strong>in an organisation.Where the team is made up <strong>of</strong> staff <strong>of</strong> different grades andbackground, the art <strong>of</strong> motivating them to work together towardsspecific goals/objectives <strong>of</strong>ten becomes a great challenge.As the Departmental Secretary <strong>of</strong> the AuxiliaryMedical Service (AMS), I need to work closely<strong>with</strong> nearly 100 civil servants <strong>of</strong> different grades,plus over 4 000 volunteers. Since taking up thepost, I have come to realise that understandingand compassion for their staff and volunteers arethe core values <strong>of</strong> the AMS management. Theyfully appreciate that understanding the needsand desires <strong>of</strong> staff and volunteer workers andshowing appreciation for their efforts are keysto effective management and resulting success.I recently read a book entitled “The 5 Languages<strong>of</strong> Appreciation in the Workplace” written by Dr.Gary Chapman (a renowned marriage consultantand author) and Dr. Paul White (psychologist andwork relationship consultant) in the United States.The book details the importance <strong>of</strong> demonstratingan appreciation for people in the workplace andexplains the different ways <strong>of</strong> doing that.The central theme <strong>of</strong> this book focuses onmotivating through appreciation, which is built onthe premise that people in the workplace (whetheran employee or volunteer position) need to feelappreciated for their work. Individuals enjoy theirwork and respond to such appreciation by givingtheir best, and such strengthened commitmenthelps the organisation achieve its goals andbecome successful. The book explains that thereis no “one size fits all” formula for demonstratingappreciation. In other words, what makes oneemployee feel appreciated does not necessarilymake another employee feel appreciated. So,when we communicate appreciation to our peoplein the workplace, we have to identify the rightlanguage <strong>of</strong> appreciation.The 5 languages <strong>of</strong> appreciation prescribed in thebook are briefly summarised as follows -Words <strong>of</strong> Affirmation using words orally orin writing to affirm and encourage those aroundus that their hard work and effort is valued.Some people prefer the positive message tobe communicated in a private conversation,while others value being praised in front <strong>of</strong> alarge group. Expressing thanks for a job welldone can also be easily achieved through anemail, but handwritten notes are still valued bymany workers.Quality Time giving someone our undividedattention to share accomplishments,frustrations, suggestions, and feelings ordesires about life or work. You must convinceyour people that you are really listening andgenuinely show your desire to understand theirconcerns. You can stop by and see how yourcolleagues are doing and spend a few minuteschatting <strong>with</strong> them or take the time to listen tothem while eating lunch together.Acts <strong>of</strong> Service lending a helping hand toyour people and assisting in getting a taskdone when required. You can stop by theworkplace <strong>of</strong> your colleagues and see if theyneed any help in getting something done.You should be careful to ask before <strong>of</strong>feringassistance to identify the specific service thatwould be most meaningful to them.18
Change language