Appreciation Wheel

Find the word for what you noticed.

A wheel of 170 human qualities, for appreciating someone specifically and sincerely. Start at a category, narrow to a trait, land on the word.

Send an appreciation Read the handbook

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For example:

  1. CategoryResilience
  2. TraitGroundedness
  3. WordUnflappability

Unflappability: Stays calm and steady when things go wrong.

How to use it

  1. Think of one moment

    Something the person actually did, recently.

  2. Find the quality

    Pick a category, then a trait, then the word that fits. Composure, not just calm.

  3. Say it with the why

    “I appreciate your composure when the launch slipped yesterday.”

All 170 qualities

Ten categories, forty traits and a hundred and twenty words, each with one line on what it looks like in a person. Open a category to browse it, or pick any quality to see it on the wheel.

Character

Acts with honesty and integrity, whether or not anyone is watching.

  • Honesty

    Tells the truth, even when it's uncomfortable.

    • Sincerity: Means what they say; their words match their feelings.
    • Forthrightness: Says what needs saying directly, without being asked.
    • Candor: Shares an honest view openly, even a difficult one.

  • Authenticity

    Is the same person in every room.

    • Genuineness: Is warm or interested for real, not for show.
    • Humility: Stays down to earth and never puts on airs.
    • Transparency: Shows their reasoning and doesn't hide what's going on.

  • Reliability

    Does what they said they would, every time.

    • Trustworthiness: Keeps confidences and deserves the trust placed in them.
    • Steadfastness: Stays committed through difficulty without wavering.
    • Loyalty: Stands by people and commitments, even when it costs them.

  • Integrity

    Holds clear values and acts on them.

    • Ethics: Chooses the right thing over the easy thing.
    • Decency: Behaves honourably and decently in every dealing.
    • Fairness: Takes great care to be fair and correct in the details.

Wisdom

Sees what matters and judges well, drawing on thought and experience.

  • Insight

    Understands people and situations beneath the surface.

    • Perceptiveness: Notices what others miss: moods, details, undercurrents.
    • Intuition: Senses what's going on before anyone spells it out.
    • Discernment: Tells what matters from what doesn't.

  • Reflectiveness

    Pauses to think things through, and learns from them.

  • Diplomacy

    Handles delicate situations so everyone keeps their dignity.

    • Tact: Says hard things in a way people can hear.
    • Consideration: Thinks about how their actions land on others.
    • Graciousness: Is kind and courteous, especially under strain.

  • Experience

    Brings hard-won knowledge from having done it before.

    • Knowledge: Knows their subject well and shares it readily.
    • Perspective: Understands many kinds of people, places and ways of working.
    • Good sense: Offers sound, far-sighted judgement.

Resilience

Keeps going and recovers when things get hard.

  • Tenacity

    Holds on to a goal and doesn't let go.

    • Perseverance: Keeps trying after setbacks, again and again.
    • Determination: Has decided it will happen, and acts like it.
    • Grit: Stays firm in purpose when others start to doubt.

  • Resourcefulness

    Finds a way with whatever is at hand.

    • Can-do attitude: Can be handed a problem and trusted to solve it.
    • Ingenuity: Solves problems in clever, unexpected ways.
    • Scrappiness: Makes things happen with very little, and never gives up.

  • Courage

    Acts in spite of fear.

    • Bravery: Faces danger, pain or difficulty head on.
    • Fighting spirit: Shows courage in a hard, worthwhile struggle.
    • Boldness: Takes bold risks others wouldn't dare.

  • Groundedness

    Stays centred and steady, whatever is going on.

    • Stability: Is a steady, consistent presence others can lean on.
    • Stoicism: Bears hardship quietly, without complaint.
    • Unflappability: Stays calm and steady when things go wrong.

Intellect

Thinks clearly, learns eagerly and explains well.

  • Judgment

    Weighs things carefully and decides wisely.

    • Caution: Thinks ahead and avoids needless risks.
    • Logic: Reasons step by step to sound conclusions.
    • Rationality: Lets evidence and reason lead, not impulse.

  • Articulateness

    Puts thoughts into clear, well-chosen words.

    • Eloquence: Speaks or writes in a way that moves people.
    • Expressiveness: Conveys feelings and ideas vividly.
    • Clarity: Makes complex things easy to understand.

  • Analytical mind

    Breaks problems down to understand how they work.

    • Keen eye: Notices details and patterns others overlook.
    • Incisiveness: Asks the questions that get to the bottom of things.
    • Astuteness: Quickly sees what's really going on and how to act on it.

  • Curiosity

    Wants to know more and follows the question.

Humanity

Cares about people and treats them with warmth and fairness.

  • Compassion

    Feels for others and acts to ease their pain.

    • Empathy: Understands how someone feels, from their side.
    • Gentleness: Is gentle and easily moved by others' needs.
    • Kindness: Is warm and good to people, in small moments and big ones.

  • Generosity

    Gives time, credit and help freely.

    • Big heart: Is big-hearted, even toward rivals or after being wronged.
    • Helpfulness: Helps readily, without keeping score.
    • Hospitality: Makes guests and newcomers feel welcome and looked after.

  • Understanding

    Accepts differences without judgement.

    • Patience: Stays kind while waiting, or while explaining it again.
    • Forgiveness: Lets go of wrongs and gives people a fresh start.
    • Inclusiveness: Makes sure everyone has a place and a voice.

  • Care for others

    Puts others' good ahead of their own.

    • Selflessness: Thinks of others first, without expecting anything back.
    • Community spirit: Gives time and effort to the wider community.
    • Goodwill: Wishes others well and acts in their interest.

Discipline

Does the work carefully and consistently, and stays in control.

  • Meticulousness

    Gets every detail right.

    • Systematic mind: Follows a clear method so nothing is missed.
    • Preparedness: Is ready before it's needed, with nothing left to the last minute.
    • Precision: Is careful to be accurate and specific.

  • Diligence

    Works hard and carefully until the job is done.

    • Work ethic: Is consistently hard-working and productive.
    • Thoroughness: Covers everything and leaves no loose ends.
    • Tirelessness: Keeps going with energy when others would flag.

  • Focus

    Gives full attention to what matters most.

    • Attentiveness: Pays close attention to people and details.
    • Concentration: Brings intense, sustained attention to one task.
    • Dedication: Commits fully to a cause, a craft or a group of people.

  • Self-control

    Manages their impulses and emotions well.

    • Restraint: Holds back when holding back is wiser.
    • Sense of proportion: Keeps things in proportion, so small problems stay small.
    • Composure: Responds calmly and deliberately, never rashly.

Drive

Brings energy, ambition and hope to moving things forward.

  • Ambition

    Aims high and works to get there.

  • Enthusiasm

    Brings real energy and excitement to what they do.

    • Passion: Cares intensely, and it shows in their work.
    • Eagerness: Is keen and ready to jump in.
    • Energy: Is full of life and lifts the energy around them.

  • Proactivity

    Acts before being asked and gets ahead of problems.

    • Initiative: Gets things started instead of waiting.
    • Assertiveness: States needs and views confidently and respectfully.
    • Momentum: Brings the momentum that makes things happen.

  • Optimism

    Expects good things and helps make them happen.

    • Hopefulness: Believes things can get better, even when it's hard.
    • Positivity: Looks for what's good and what's possible.
    • Cheerfulness: Stays cheerfully confident when the odds look poor.

Sociability

Connects easily with people and makes time together better.

  • Good company

    Is pleasant and easy to be around.

    • Friendliness: Is welcoming and quick to put people at ease.
    • Warmth: Makes people feel cared for and at home.
    • Good nature: Brings cheerful good nature to every exchange.

  • Charm

    Draws people in and holds their interest.

  • Humor

    Brings laughter and lightness.

    • Wit: Is quick and clever with words.
    • Playfulness: Brings a sense of fun, even to serious things.
    • Good humor: Is hearty, cheerful and full of good humour.

  • Collaboration

    Works well with others toward a shared goal.

    • Give-and-take: Meets others halfway and works things out together.
    • Team spirit: Puts the team's success ahead of personal credit.
    • Bridge-building: Brings people and teams together so they achieve more.

Agility

Adjusts quickly and finds new ways forward.

Leadership

Gives people direction and helps them do their best.

In a group

In an appreciation round, each person appreciates the person next to them. The wheel helps in the few seconds when the right word won't come.

How the first live sessions will try it

  1. Everyone gets their own printed sheet. Download the printable wheel (A4 PDF).
  2. Before the round, each person spends a minute with the sheet, then turns it face down.
  3. During the round, attention stays on the person, not the paper.

Want to run a round with your team? Request a workshop.

Find the wheel useful? You can give once on Liberapay. Choose “Manual renewal” and you won’t be charged again.

With thanks to Raja Chidambaram and Deepa Ram Bhat for reviewing the qualities.