Theoretical Foundation of the MBA Inventory
Research has demonstrated that individuals are motivated and encouraged in a variety
of ways. In personal relationships, individuals both give and receive appreciation
with one another in five basic behavior patterns -- through verbal praise, acts
of service, giving gifts, spending quality time, and physical touch. (Please see
the book, The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman or go to
www.fivelovelanguages.com for more information.) It is important to note,
however, that an individual’s preferred way of receiving appreciation in a personal
relationship (that is, family or friends) often differs from how they feel encouraged
in a work-related setting. And our investigations have found one language (physical
touch) not to be as significant in work-related relationships. As a result, questions
related to the language of physical touch were not included in the MBA Inventory.
The MBA Inventory is designed to gain a clearer picture of an individual’s primary
language of appreciation and motivation as experienced in a work-related setting.
Individuals differ in how they experience feeling appreciated at work. Some people
prefer to be told that they are doing a good job; others feel valued when their
supervisor spends individual time with them. Some team members are encouraged if
their colleagues work with them to complete difficult tasks, while others are motivated
by tangible rewards received for a job well done. Managers and supervisors want
to communicate appreciation and encouragement in ways which are effective to their
team members.
However, many individuals attempt to communicate appreciation and encouragement
to others by utilizing their preferred "language" of
appreciation. Thus, if I value verbal praise from others, I will tend to use verbal
praise in trying to encourage my colleagues. This works well when the individual
on the receiving end of communication has the same language of appreciation or encouragement.
But when individuals have differing motivational languages, the message sent (with
good intention) tends to not have the desired positive impact on the individual
who has a different motivational language.
Therefore, understanding an individual's primary and secondary languages of appreciation,
motivation and encouragement can assist managers and supervisors in communicating
effectively to their team members. Similarly, understanding one’s lowest language
of appreciation also is valuable because it makes one aware of potential "blind
spots" -- ways of communicating to others that are not natural or common for you,
but may be important to some of your team members.
The MBA Inventory and MBA Report provide valuable input regarding your own primary,
secondary and lowest languages of appreciation as well as those of your team members,
facilitating effective communication and understanding among all team members.