Last month, we read The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace by Gary Chapman and Paul White. This interesting read was both insightful and entertaining for the members of our team. Each chapter provided a section to reflect on what the different languages of appreciation meant to ourselves and how we interpret it.
The book outlines these as the 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace:
Words of Affirmation: Uses words to affirm someone's character or action. Ex.) Praise
Quality Time: Giving undivided personal attention. Ex.) Having quality conversations with your peers, committing to time
Acts of Service: Helping others when they need it. Ex.) Asking a colleague if they need help on a big project
Tangible Gifts: Giving someone a thoughtful token of appreciation. Ex.) Concert tickets for exceeding their quarterly goals
Physical Touch:Not as much of a valued form of appreciation, but appropriate physical touch is still relevant. Ex.) Pat on the back, high fives
Check out this Forbes article that tells you how to best communicate appreciation in the workplace & has a quiz at the end you let you know what your preferred language is!
Grace Lim | Project Manager
How has the transition to Work From Home been for you?
It’s been a very smooth process! I worked from home earlier in my career for about 3 years so it was mainly setting a new routine and adjusting to not having to commute or drive anywhere.
What new hobbies/activities have you taken on or have been doing more of?
I’ve picked up a few books covering racism and Asian American history that have been brought to light during the BLM movement which have been an incredibly insightful and educational. When I don’t have my nose in a book, it’s been great to work on recipes that have a lot of prep or cook time which weren’t really possible to do before with the commute that I had.
If you could be social distancing from anywhere in the world, where would it be?
South Korea or New Zealand. They really nailed leading their countries out of the pandemic and it has shone a bright light on how far behind we are.Blake Chesley | Director of PMO
How has the transition to Work From Home been for you?
It has been interesting adapting routines, adjusting my engagement with co-workers, and facilitating project team members. After a couple weeks, new norms were already taking form and a new shared experience gave something to relate to one another with.
What new hobbies/activities have you taken on or have been doing more of?
I have picked up 3D printing and I have been enjoying more board games, video games, hiking, and mountain biking.
If you could be social distancing from anywhere in the world, where would it be?
The International Space Station. If that counts, I would choose there any day. If not the International Space Station, then I would choose Yosemite.How has the transition to Work From Home been for you?
I love working from home! The transition has been easy for me. I enjoy no traffic and working in pjs ;p I miss the team and seeing our customers tho!
What new hobbies/activities have you taken on or have been doing more of?
I started watercoloring! I have zero artistic ability but it was something I could share with my mom so I started doing it virtually with her and I’m hooked!! I love how you can’t control the paint and you let it do what it does and that’s the beauty of it! No coloring within the lines here!
If you could be social distancing from anywhere in the world, where would it be?
The orphanage in Valle de Guadalupe. I miss the kids so much and think it would be so fun to work there during the day and help make dinner and play with the kids after work! Oh not to mention you’re in beautiful wine country and would have it all to myself!!!
Sarah Phanhthaly | Senior Account Manager
How has the transition to Work From Home been for you? Interestingly enough, I was working remote/from home a majority of the week pre-Covid times, but now that it’s not an option, it’s been different. Some days are tougher than others. I miss being around people, sharing meals, having face to face connections and the energy I get from spending quality time with those around me. I now realize how grateful I truly am for technology and being able to still connect with my family, friends and colleagues virtually.
What new hobbies/activities have you taken on or have been doing more of? I’ve been trying new recipes and cooking more, which means I’ve been eating way too much! AND I’ve been binge watching a lot of Korean Dramas, what a double whammy!
If you could be social distancing from anywhere in the world, where would it be? Greece, any island, dreaming about the cobblestone streets, basking in the sun, dipping in the Aegean Sea and dancing on the sand until the sun comes up …. Or Burning Man!
Jack Rentz | Director of Operations
How has the transition to Work From Home been for you?
The transition has been smoother than I thought. Having occasionally worked from home before, I thought the transition would be more difficult but establishing a routine has helped ease the transition. Scheduling breaks throughout the day to get up and stretch or workout has helped break up the workday and keep productivity high. Additionally, having regular cadences with coworkers has also helped keep the office comradery spirit alive. I’ve also been able to spend more time with family which I’m thankful for.
What new hobbies/activities have you taken on or have been doing more of?
I bought my first pair of running shoes in about 10 years and I’ve started running twice a week! I like to be active and it’s something I’ve been procrastinating about doing for a while. With gyms being closed I’ve had to switch up my workouts and figured this would be a perfect opportunity to start. I’ve also been spending more time on the golf course but my handicap isn’t getting any better…
If you could be social distancing from anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Napa! The endless wine and amazing food are all I need.
Join Bird Rock Systems and Blackberry Cylance for this week's Talk Track Thursday. As Managing Director for the Incident Response practice , John Wood leads teams of incident responders in large and small scale breaches across a variety of industries.
Step into the "New Normal" and detect threats on demand with Security on Demand! SOD has a patented, behavioral analytics technology platform that enables the detection of advanced threats to protect brand value and reduce the risk and mitigate the impact of a data breach.
Countless organizations have sought to increase desktop control, deliver a consistent user experience, and reduce cost. Yet, most have struggled to make VDI a reality.
This Talk Track Thursday, Tintri will dive into what Intelligent Infrastructure and what it can do for you.
The Tech Break, a blog published by the team at Bird Rock Systems, is back with new and informative content! For the next few months, we will be publishing a new blog post every other Tuesday that provides insight and learning into your business' main I.T. concerns.
Check out our latest post written by our Vice President of Services, Joseph Javien:
The San Diego Food Bank is continuing their efforts to provide food assistance and resources during this pandemic. Through their different food programs, they are committed to provide these to the 350,000 people they serve every month.
The Emergency Volunteer Center(EVC) under the coordination of OneOC matches volunteers to urgent needs based on skill, geography, and availability. Volunteers can be assigned for different projects such as Animal Services, Information and Referrals, and Recovery-Response in light of COVID-19.
Support the frontliners in the fight against COVID-19! UC San Diego Health is accepting donations of Protective Equipment and Supplies. You can also send monetary donations to the Emergency Response Fund.
Baby2Baby is a Los-Angeles based organization that provides children living in poverty with basic necessities such as diapers, formula, and food. During this pandemic, they are accepting monetary donations from the public to continue sending essentials to low-income families across the nation.
The San Diego Hot Chocolate 15K & 5K Road Race returns, starting at Petco Park. It benefits Make-A-Wish®, a national charity that creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
Exciting things are happening at Bird Rock. Every month, enjoy some new-tech updates, fun upcoming events, and what's going on in So-Cal!