Express Ways

What Do You Need?

Interest based Collaborative Negotiation is built upon interests being identified and needs being met. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is used as the foundation of this process. The Course in Collaborative Negotiations lists the following seven basic needs. Various diagrams show differing numbers of needs. My role is to present these options to consider, not whether any given number of needs is valid or appropriate.

My interpretation, using the graphic that will be refined later, involves having individuals perform a review of how they are meeting their needs, from the bottom to the top of the pyramid, at any given time they find themselves in conflict.

Physiological Needs

For example, when they are uncomfortable due to physiological situation, such as being very hungry or tired, in an uncomfortable location, or needing to stand up or go to the bathroom during a conversation or in a formal mediation setting or other meeting to resolve a conflict, they will not be a able to focus on other matters as easily.

Safety Needs

If they feel insecure in a confrontation with authority figures, or in a public setting, they may need to find ways to relieve stress before hand or during the process. I will offer suggestion of references to practices that may be beneficial.

Belonging or Love Needs

Divorce or workplace dispute can erode an individual’s feeling of being of value in a relationship or community. Offering a way to address the deep emotional responses to such life events will be explored and references and links to sites that offer help and support will be listed.

Esteem Needs

Saving face and maintaining dignity is crucial in maintaining long term relationships. Finding ways to remain free of shame or blame of others will be discussed. How one communicates with their peers is crucial.

Self-Actualization Needs

Being one’s true, core Self can be enhanced when one resolves conflict from a place or authenticity. Speaking Circle models of presentation will be used to demonstrate how this :vibrant vulnerability may strengthen a person’s sense of self worth.

Need To Know And Understand

Gaining new perspective and perceptions through successful settlement of disputes is empowering and fulfilling. Discussing the value and rewards of assimilating new knowledge to instill new behaviors to reduce future conflict and enhance long term relationships will be one goal of presenting this work.

Aesthetic Needs

Establish a world that works for all begins with a world that works for the individual. Seeing the beauty of the world and of one’s life experience is the height of achievement of good communication skills and community building.
The Course states that Interests are non-negotiable, but the relative importance of a person’s interests is negotiable or at least subject to change.

I present a new term, “Network of Needs” and a graphic that represents the concept. The everchanging situations people find themselves in will make a marked difference to what they may prioritize at any given time.

Interest are “Why” a person feels or acts any way at any given time and what value they place on meeting particular needs at particular times.

The title of one major component of my work is called “The Why In the Road”.
I have a basic graphic that evolved from the idea of traffic circles and reduced conflict. I will show those graphics and describe how they tie in to Speaking Circle for effective communication and conflict resolution in my next document.

Dynamic Solutions

Disputes are a dynamic process occurring in myriad settings. Emotions may run high, rendering communication ineffective or dysfunctional. Learning how to defuse the situation using techniques which allow some space to breathe is crucial in moving beyond the stalemate of shouting at one another. Practice in Speaking Circles methods may be a vital step you can make on the road to new and dynamic solutions and improved relationships.

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Creating Conscious Consensus

Entering into an agreement, formal or informal, is an opportunity for all parties to consciously choose cooperation over confrontation. Entering the negotiation process with more in-depth understanding of the interests of all parties can expedite the process. With all stakeholders committed to the outcome, it is vital each person is fully seen and heard. Vulnerability is a barrier which may be overcome as individuals are acknowledged and appreciated for who they are and what they say. Authentic communication paves the way on the road to new solutions. We may have started from diverse points of view, but we may find the way to merge our ideas as we travel that road together.

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