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For teams who want the missing piece to do hard conversations well
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Welcome! I'm Alice

Would you and your team like to:

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  • Handle hard conversations confidently rather than avoiding them or doing them badly

  • Understand the hidden patterns that trip you up despite your best efforts

  • Build a culture of empathy and respect, where difficult feedback is empowering not damaging

  • Find creative solutions that work for everyone?

 

Let me introduce you to Needs Understanding, a powerful, practical approach for communication and relationship. When we look at behaviour through the lens of shared needs - like belonging, creativity, or being seen - everything starts to make more sense.

"Brilliant, easy to understand, and applies with equal force in personal and professional contexts."

Sharif Shivji KC, commercial barrister

How can my team work with Alice?

Alice offers keynotes and workshops

"By using Needs Understanding skills, managers at all levels of seniority can foster the kind of environment in which people feel engaged and can give their best, finding creative and efficient solutions in seemingly intractable situations."

John Odell, Director, 'Big Four' professional services firm

“Alice facilitated a training for our company and it was an absolute success. She knows how to bring the values of Needs Understanding to big organisations, and to get senior management involved.”

Training for 50 members of a US investment firm

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Get the book

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"A beautifully simple guide to the relationship skills we all so deeply need, but most of us don't know how to access. This book belongs firmly on the curriculum for creating a more peaceful world."

Dr Scilla Elworthy, three times nobel Peace Prize nominee

"This book is a tool box; keep it close and dip in often."

Jim Carter OBE and Imelda Staunton CBE, actors

What people say

Amy Clarke, Chief Impact Officer, Tribe Impact Capital

Alice made the session so enjoyable and interactive, and we all learned so much.

She has a wonderfully infectious energy that makes working with her a complete joy, and we couldn't recommend her more highly.

Amy Clarke, Chief Impact Officer, Tribe Impact Capital

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Jonathan Parr, Headteacher

Needs Understanding is such a powerful and flexible tool.

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

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Tom Kingsley, Cancer Practice Nurse Educator

Alice ran a fantastic workshop for our Oncology Nursing Team, which was both a very enjoyable and useful session.

The feedback from the attendees was very positive, and I recommend Alice for her valuable work.

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Christine Osae, Vice Chancellor, Davis College

Alice is a phenomenal coach and a wonderful trainer.​

I feel more in touch with my humanity and purpose in life, and I'm more aware of the need for kindness and empathy when interacting with others.

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Harriet Beveridge, Keynote Speaker and Executive Coach

That was utterly brilliant. 

​A gloriously honest and open session about 'real stuff', with lots of practical suggestions as well as profound advice.

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Laonikos Psimikakis-Chalkokondylis, The Eden Project

One thing which stood out was the focus on practical application.

It was very different from other trainings that are more abstract, and I could immediately see how to use the material to bring real benefit our team.

©2025 by Needs Understanding

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