top of page

Training

Needs Understanding training offers the inspiration that comes from fresh and exciting ideas, together with the practical tools to put them into action to create change. Training is fun, interactive, and a safe space for participants to learn. People leave with skills for communication, relationship and problem-solving that they can use at home and at work.

Short introductory sessions (1 to 2 hours)

Inspiring short workshops that equip you with practical tools to get started with Needs Understanding.
Needs Understanding at work: an introduction (1.5 hours)

Needs Understanding's toolkit can change your experience at work by providing a new way of understanding yourself and others, and practical skills to create more empathy, self-awareness, empowerment and capacity for problem-solving We will cover: Habitual ways that we listen that block conversation • Listening tools for increasing connection and solution finding • Understanding why some situations are so difficult for us to deal with • Awareness of our fingerprint needs as a step to choice and change • How we can unintentionally exacerbate difficult conversations • Using neutral observations rather than judgements Length: 1.5 hours, with 1 hour and 2 hour alternative versions available Number of participants: Any Delivery mode: Online or in person Previous experience required: No

Needs Understanding for difficult conversations (1.5 hours)

Difficult conversations can lead to people feeling upset and bad decisions being made. Discover three Needs Understanding tools that can help you get the best out of challenging interactions at home and at work. We will cover three skills that you can take away and use. Skill 1: Know when not to speak - notice when you are reactive instead of proactive Skill 2: Agree before you disagree - use observations not evaluations Skill 3: Give yourself the best chance to be heard - empathy before explanation Length: 1.5 hours, with 1 hour and 2 hour alternative versions available Number of participants: Any Delivery mode: Online or in person Previous experience required: No

Fingerprint needs: your unique key to navigating challenges (1.5 hours)

Your individual fingerprint needs are a powerful tool for understanding your reactions, especially in the situations that you find the most difficult to manage at home or at work We will cover: Your unique blueprint of 'fingerprint needs' - what it is and where it comes from • Recognising when you get triggered, and why you sometimes feel furious, ashamed or as if you are 5 years old again • Getting yourself back to a more rational state • Responding and not reacting, so that you get the outcome that you want Length: 1.5 hours, with 1 hour and 2 hour alternative versions available Number of participants: Any Delivery mode: Online or in person Previous experience required: No

Needs Understanding: the toolkit (0.5 to 2 days)

The complete Needs Understanding toolkit for listening, understanding yourself and others, speaking, and making decisions.
2024.01.29 Website NU graphic.png

Ten ways of listening that alienate people • Two island model of empathy • Develop empathic attitude • Find your individual empathy language

Problem solving with the needs dip • Finding solutions that take care of everyone's needs • Using the distinction between strategies and needs to find better ways forward • Moving from opposition to partnership • Setting respectful boundaries • Connecting across divides

Create connecting conversations • Express your anger without blame • Use four language tools ~ observations not evaluations; requests not demands; appreciation and celebration not praise and reward; regret and sorrow not guilt and denial

Connect with your needs • Use your internal resource tank • Understand what your feelings and judgements are trying to tell you • When you get triggered

Needs as a way of making sense of yourself and others •  Your unique fingerprint needs as a key to your challenges • Travelling through needs to get to the best solutions for everyone

For those wanting the complete Needs Understanding toolkit for listening, understanding yourself and others, speaking, and making decisions.

Length: 0.5 to 2 days. It takes 2 days to cover the whole toolkit. Each half day is standalone, so you can opt for 0.5 days, 1 day or 1.5 days if you prefer.
Number of participants: Any. Up to 12 gives personal attention for each participant.
Delivery mode: Online or in person
Previous experience required: No
Ways of listening that don't work, and what to do instead
Parenting with Needs Understanding: helping our children to thrive

Discover a parenting approach that is deeply rooted in the relational. This talk is for any organisations wanting to offer the parents who work for them some extra tools for the times when they don't know how to respond to a piece of challenging behaviour, a child who is struggling at school, or a teen who has stopped talking. It's relevant for all ages, and opening a deeper dialogue about parenting at work can be connecting for teams.

Needs Understanding: the complete toolkit (0.5 to 2 days)
Learn all the core Needs Understanding concepts and skills that you need to flourish at home and at work. By the end of it, you will have a whole new toolkit for listening, understanding yourself, speaking, and making decisions.
Core: Needs as a way of making sense of yourself and others •  Your unique fingerprint needs as a key to your challenges • Travelling through needs to get to the best solutions
Listen with empathy: 
Ten ways of listening that alienate people • Two island model of empathy • Develop empathic attitude • Find your individual empathy language
Understand yourself with compassion: Connect with your needs • Use your internal resource tank • Understand what your feelings and judgements are trying to tell you • When you get triggered
Speak to be heard: Create connecting conversations • Express your anger without blame • Use four language tools ~ observations not evaluations; requests not demands; appreciation and celebration not praise and reward; regret and sorrow not guilt and denial
Act with care for everyone's needs: 
Problem solving with the needs dip • Finding solutions that take care of everyone's needs • Using the distinction between strategies and needs to find better ways forward • Moving from opposition to partnership • Setting respectful boundaries • Connecting across divides
Training and mentoring details
Using Needs Understanding to solve difficult people problems
  • Needs Understanding: the full foundation
  • Needs Understanding: essential skills
  • Needs Understanding for wellbeing
  • Solving tricky problems with the Needs Understanding framework

It seems SO obvious, but I never would have thought of things this way without your course (don't all great ideas seem like this?)

Needs 
Needs Understanding for wellbeing

TRAINING

Equip your teams with communication and collaboration skills that make the difference.

More info
Group Meeting
Alice Sheldon_32 © Nick Gregan.jpg

laughter

inspiration

depth

learning...

The session with Alice was brilliant. We all learned so much, and Alice made the entire session so enjoyable and interactive. She created a wonderful safe space where we all felt we could talk openly and freely. Alice has a wonderfully infectious energy that makes working with her a complete joy. We couldn't recommend Alice more highly than we already do to anyone thinking of working with her.

Amy Clarke, Tribe Impact Capital

I was worried about having a 3 hour long online session on Zoom, but the three hours flew by, and our team experienced a deeper connection that I thought possible online. I thought Alice’s introduction to Needs Understanding was thorough, very relevant to our team, relatable and resonant. It was very well paced and engaging throughout. I think everyone on the session got a lot out of it that they can use in their personal and professional lives.

Niamh Scullion, Eden Project

Thank you so much for the AMAZING day – so much positive feedback. Thank you for the quality of warmth and precision you brought. I wish we had more than one day, and look forward to working together in future.

Justyna Sokolowska, Putney High School

What people say
2024.02.29 Jonny.jpg

Needs Understanding is such a powerful and flexible tool.

​

It's helped me to find new ways forward in challenging situations, and to build even stronger relationships.

Jonathan Parr, Headteacher,

UK Junior School

©2024 by Needs Understanding

bottom of page