Okay, so the title might be a tad dramatic. Surely Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs prioritises food, water, and shelter? Yes, and quite rightly so! However, when it comes to our psychological needs, our desire for understanding and to be understood is key, and we’re certainly not going to argue with Oprah:

“The single most important lesson I learned in 25 years talking every single day to people, was that there’s a common denominator in our human experience. We want to be validated. We want to be understood.”
(Oprah Winfrey, Harvard University Commencement Speech, 2013)

Understanding others and expressing ourselves clearly, are fundamental human needs. If we can’t do this, we won’t get very far. Whether we’re a newborn baby or a nonagenarian, we all crave connection. If somebody doesn’t truly “get” us, we struggle to connect.

At Understood, we envision a world where employees and customers feel valued, appreciated, and understood. We begin every project with a desire to understand, whether it’s understanding the leaders, customers, or employees of an organisation. That’s why we focus on workplace communication training, helping teams develop effective strategies that foster real understanding.

Building connections

It’s about building human connections – employee to employee, and employee to customer, in that order.

For organisations to thrive, every employee (including those behind the scenes) must understand both the customer and one another. Internal alignment builds rapport with customers by ensuring that everyone is on the same page.

We prioritise compassionate communication, in other words, communication that remains authentic, aware, and empathetic. This includes active listening techniques, so people understand how to handle difficult conversations with care and confidence.

Talk to us, explore our website, read our blog, and follow us on LinkedIn to learn more and discover ways to grow a more successful business.