FriendsOffice Mantras Series
One thing that almost everyone can agree on is that when they are at work, they want to feel appreciated. Keeping this in mind, it is important to “Love Always” while at work. Love isn’t always a word that connects well to work, but in the instance of “companionate” love, we can’t get enough of it here at FriendsOffice.
Companionate Love: What is it?
Companionate love is considerably less fierce than traditional, romantic love. It is based more on feelings and emotions than desire and drive. Great examples of companionate love is the way friends feel for each other. Simply enjoying the presence of other people and the connections from them is companionate.
Another way to view companionate love is to view it in the same light as appreciation. The warmth a person gets from feeling appreciated for their hard work can translate over to a form of love. Some of the companies we work with ask us for help in showing appreciation to their employees either by way of branded products or apparel, or they may look to our design team to bring about their branding in their office furnishings.
The good intentions and acknowledgment of showing someone your appreciation creates an open and loving environment. People tend to do their best work when they are feeling appreciated and loved. So maintaining a workspace filled with people who feel loved should be a key priority for all companies.
Companionate Love Languages
The easiest ways to show love for others can be found in what their love languages are. There are five main love languages. Some of the languages are easier than others to facilitate in an office setting, but none of them are impossible. Being able to identify someone’s love language and communicate with them using that language can create a night and day difference in how they behave in the office.
Tips and Tricks
- Words of Affirmation: Words of Affirmation seem to be the easiest, but are often times overlooked. For people who work together everyday, it can be easy forget the simple pleasantries of a “Thank You.” Phrases like, “Good Job!” and, “I really appreciate the work you put in,” can completely change a person’s world if this is their language. It can boost their self confidence and free them up to be doing their best work.
- Quality Time: Spending quality time together doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing in a companionate relationship that it would in a romantic relationship. Spending time together at work is as simple as sharing a collaborative space. Working in close proximity to other, being able to talk to them on a whim, and being able to make non-verbal gestures are all qualities that are lost in a separated space. People who who value quality time generally work best with others and as a team.
- Acts of Service: Acts of Service can be a really easy way to show someone some love. Taking a project off of a coworker’s plate so they can focus on other things and be less stressed is a great example of a companionate act of service. Running an errand, grabbing something for them when its on the way, even grabbing something off of the copier for someone lends itself to an act of service. For those who tend to stress a lot, one of these acts of service could be the thing that changes their whole day around.
- Receiving a Gift: Gift giving is a leave language that often gets mistaken for the expensive language. People whose language revolves around receiving/giving are generally easy to please. What they are most likely looking for is a handwritten note, and sweet treat, something that lets them know someone was thinking about them. A card that they can set on their desk and look at when they’re feeling stuck is what makes this a fun language. It doesn’t need to be anything special to make a huge difference in the day of someone whose love language is receiving/giving gifts.
- Physical Touch: This love language is a little harder to manage in the office. However, giving a consensual high-five or a pat on the back never hurt anyone. And, in this unusual year when we are combatting issues of health and wellness in the middle of pandemic, an elbow or a fist bump works, too! But remember, just because one person’s love language is touch, does not mean everyone’s is. Making sure to respect other’s personal space is the most important part of this language.
Extras!
Including love languages throughout the work day isn’t only a great tool for office-wide harmony, but also works great when used to self motivate. It can help with staying relaxed and focused. For more information like this, click the link to visit How to Relax at Work While Still Staying Productive.
This post was strongly inspired by the Harvard Business Review article, “Employees Who Feel Love Perform Better.”
For a fast and easy love language quiz, click the link to visit 5lovelanguages.com.