“Without connection, there is no communication,” said Juan Carro—a biochemist specializing in food processing, a graduate in clinical psychology, and a visiting professor at the Graduate School of the Faculty of Administration and Social Sciences—during the online conference “Communicating in Times of Crisis,” which took place on Friday, June 12, 2020.
The event was part of the Management and Business Lecture Series organized by the Graduate School of Business at Universidad ORT Uruguay.
First, the expert invited the event participants to reflect on how they felt during the health crisis caused by COVID-19. “Managing a crisis is about managing emotions,” he noted.
“We all have an internal modem that determines whether we’re connected or disconnected. Being able to tell whether my modem is on or off is extremely important for building stronger connections with people,” said Carro.
In times of crisis, it is not only vital to connect with our emotions, but also with our needs. “Needs are a language worth learning. We aren’t used to thinking in terms of needs, but rather in terms of strategies,” he said, adding, “I invite you to ask yourselves every day what you need.”
Carro presented seven categories of needs to be considered as a starting point:
- Autonomy. This category refers to spontaneity, independence, and freedom.
- Peace. Harmony, balance, and inspiration are some of the elements included in this category.
- Integrity. Authenticity, honesty, presence, sincerity, transparency.
- Physical well-being. This category includes, among other things, nutrition, rest, and sleep.
- Connection. Acceptance, affection, love, warmth, and more.
- Fun. Joy, humor.
- Meaning. This category refers to concepts related to learning, effectiveness, and creativity.
“Needs are far more important today than they were in the past because we have shifted from a paradigm of domination to a paradigm of collaboration,” Carro noted.
The paradigm of domination is characterized by separation and obedience, as well as by moralistic thinking, with a very clear line between good and evil, and a sharp division between “you” and “me.” In this paradigm, there is a strong belief that one’s own needs are more important than those of others.
In the collaborative paradigm, on the other hand, the needs of different people are taken into account; there is an interdependence between “you” and “me”; and self-connection and unity are valued.
If the paradigm of domination can be summed up as “power over,” the paradigm of collaboration is “power with.”
The expert concluded that, in times of crisis, it is essential to be attuned to both one’s own needs and those of others.