The Needs Lens
Communication skills for leaders and teams
Behind every difficult conversation is a hidden need.
Needs like belonging, being seen, or knowing we matter. When your team can see those needs, they can talk about anything, with honesty and empathy.
From the author of Why weren’t we taught THIS at school?, published in eleven languages. Trusted by leaders and teams across the public, private, and third sectors.
The Needs Lens
One idea. Four skills.
Everything we say or do is an attempt to meet a need we all share, like being heard, feeling safe, or having a say. Once you see that, the difficult colleague, your own overreaction in a meeting, and the stakeholder you disagree with all start to make sense.
The Needs Lens turns that idea into four practical skills your team can learn.
Listen with empathy
Understand yourself with compassion
Speak to be heard
Act with care for everyone’s needs
Work with me
Whatever we work on together, we start with needs.
Workshops and training
Great teams aren’t lucky. They’re skilled.
A foundation day that changes how your team talks to each other, with half-day and taster versions, and stackable modules on feedback, hard conversations, and meetings.
Explore workshops →
Talks
Three talks for conferences, away days, and leadership events
- Human skills in the age of AI
- What your team isn’t telling you
- Disagreeing well
See the talks →
What clients say
“Alice made the session so enjoyable and interactive, and we all learned so much. She has a wonderfully infectious energy.”
“Alice ran a fantastic workshop for our Oncology Nursing Team, which was both a very enjoyable and useful session.”
“A gloriously honest and open session about ‘real stuff’, with lots of practical suggestions as well as profound advice.”
The book
Why weren’t we taught THIS at school?
“A must-read book for 21st century leaders.”
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One short, practical idea each week to help you see the needs behind behaviour, at work and at home. Easy to unsubscribe at any time.
Let’s talk about your team
Book a free 30-minute call. Tell me what’s going on and what you’d like to change, and we’ll see whether The Needs Lens is the right fit.
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