Bravos Lab Nov 2025 with Maud Gaspard – Signals of value: unlocking the hidden language of appreciation.
What happens when a group chooses to value one another with intention? What happens when leaders stop talking about appreciation — and start practising it?
That was the central question at our most recent BRAVOS! Lab, hosted on November 18th at the P7 Arena in Media One Hotel. Led by Bravos coach Maud Gaspard, the session brought together a diverse group of professionals for an energising, eye-opening exploration of what employee appreciation really looks like in action.
This wasn’t a talk. It was a Lab. It wasn’t a theory. It was practice.
And the result? A room full of people who left feeling seen, inspired, and equipped to build stronger teams.
Why Appreciation Matters
Appreciation isn’t a buzzword. It’s not a poster on the wall or a generic “Good job, team!”
Genuine appreciation, when practised with intention, has the power to:
- Build trust
- Strengthen motivation
- Increase retention
- Improve collaboration
- Spark performance and growth
You get a team that feels seen and starts performing at its full potential.
In fact, recognised employees are 7 times more likely to be fully engaged. But here’s the catch: not everyone feels appreciated in the same way.
That’s why Maud introduced us to the 5 Languages of Appreciation. A simple, robust framework to decode how different people experience recognition.
Walking through the wheel of “the languages of appreciation”, participants expanded their awareness of the different ways appreciation can be expressed.
We explored what each language looks like in action, what is already practised within their teams, and what could be strengthened to create even greater impact.
The 5 Languages of Appreciation – Bravos! Key Takeaways
1. Words of Affirmation: Not just “Great job,” but why it mattered. Specific, genuine feedback that tells someone they’re seen.
2. Quality Time: Being fully present. No phones, no distractions. Just real, undivided attention.
3. Acts of Service: Helping lighten someone’s load when it counts. Doing, not just saying.
4. Tangible Gifts: Not about the price tag. It’s the intention that counts. A small token that says, “I thought of you.”
5. Appropriate Physical Touch: In cultures and contexts where it fits: a handshake, a pat on the back, a gesture that says “you belong.”
We explored how each language shows up in the workplace, where we naturally lean, and how we can stretch ourselves to speak someone else’s language when it matters most.
What the Group Reflected – The Collective Impact
Through structured activities, deep conversations, and shared reflections, participants shared their appreciation preferences and the ripple effects they’d seen when teams get it right.
Our word cloud revealed what a culture of appreciation creates: trust, connection, empathy, motivation, empowerment, growth, and a sense of feeling seen and valued.
These are not “soft” outcomes. They are performance drivers: recognised employees are 7× more likely to be fully engaged. Frequent, consistent, values-aligned appreciation strengthens motivation, trust, leadership, and retention.
Your Path Forward to a culture of recognition
Want to keep the momentum going?
This week, identify one person in your team. And ask yourself:
- What’s their primary language of appreciation?
- How can I express it in a specific, timely, values-aligned way?
Then do it.
Culture shifts this way: one intentional recognition at a time, not in theory, but in lived experience.
Culture shifts this way: one genuine recognition at a time. Infusing new behaviours, creating team rituals. And together, we’re building the foundations of a workplace where people feel valued, energised, and empowered to grow.
Join the Bravos Journey
The Bravos Labs are part of a larger movement. We’re not here to chase perfection. We’re here to build honest, energising communities where engagement becomes real.
🎯 Our next Lab is January 20, hosted by Akbar Khan. Reserve your seat now at bravos.ae/labs.
🏆 Is your company ready for the Bravos Employee Engagement Awards? The deadline to submit your case is February 17. Start with the Readiness Scan.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this session. To Maud for guiding it with wisdom and heart. And to our partners at Media One Hotel for providing the perfect setting.
Together, let’s make appreciation a shared language in every workplace.
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