How to Use the 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace to Strengthen Culture
⏳ Estimated Reading Time: 6–7 minutes
By William F. Nazzaro, founder of The Time to Lead Institute, leadership expert, performance and executive coach, and trusted advisor to leaders navigating transformation and cultural change.
Most leaders I meet will tell you they appreciate their teams.
But that’s not the real question.
The real question is: do your people feel appreciated?
Years ago, I heard a line that has stayed with me:
“As a leader, you have to learn to lead those who are different from you.”
That includes how you show appreciation.
Left on autopilot, we default to our preferred style of appreciation. The problem is that your team is full of people who are not you. When you only show appreciation in the way that feels natural to you, you will inevitably miss people.
And when people don’t feel appreciated, they don’t owe you their best work.
If you’re honest, do you know how your team members most like to be appreciated—or are you guessing?
The Five Languages: Wha...
Why Coaching? Why Now?
(And How Much Is Staying the Same Really Costing You?)
By William F. Nazzaro, founder of The Time to Lead Institute, leadership expert, performance and executive coach, and trusted advisor to leaders navigating transformation and cultural change.
Most people don’t hire a coach when life is smooth.
They wait until they’re sick of their excuses or something finally breaks.
Honestly, it’s predictable.
People will stall, overthink, make another pros-and-cons list, binge more books or podcasts — anything to delay real change.
Meanwhile, the people who get unstuck? They don’t waste time massaging their excuses.
They pay for strategy, perspective, and the kind of gut-punch truths most people avoid.
The high cost of waiting
By the time most people finally look for a coach, they’re already paying a price:
- Underpaid.
- Stalled goals.
- Avoided conversations.
- Shrinking ambitions.
- Quietly wondering if anyone sees their potential.
That’s the real cost: doing nothing. And I know it fi...
Understanding "The Law of the Lid" in Leadership
Few concepts are as pivotal yet often overlooked in leadership and personal development as "The Law of the Lid." This principle posits that an individual's leadership ability is the lid that determines their level of effectiveness and the height of their achievement. Essentially, how well you lead directly influences how much you can achieve.
At its core, "The Law of the Lid" serves as a metaphorical ceiling on our potential. No matter how ambitious or talented we are, our leadership capability caps our growth and the growth of our ventures. This concept, rooted in the belief that leadership can be developed, offers a pathway to breaking through our ceilings.
Why is this law so critical? Consider the direct correlation between leadership effectiveness and organizational success. Businesses, teams, and projects thrive under solid leadership, indicating that improving our leadership skills can profoundly impact our careers and the collective success of the entities we lead.
Howeve...
