Above the surface behaviours, below the surface drivers
Model by Hans Dieter Shuttle

Above the surface behaviours, below the surface drivers

When we find ourselves in conflict with people, we are almost always reacting to their behaviour. We get annoyed, or hurt or worried when they behave in ways we don’t understand or approve of, that sit outside our system of values or don’t meet our needs.

 However, people are more than their behaviour. Behaviours are a bit like an iceberg – what is visible on the surface is a small matter compared to what sits below.

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Below the surface lies the messy, murky, complex undercurrent of our emotions, fears and desires, our needs, values and belief systems; deeper still is the inheritance of our evolutionary psychology. They, often unconsciously, drive the behaviours that manifest on the surface. Carl Gustav Jung, the father of analytical psychology famously said: 

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”

 When we pay attention only to the behaviours, we don’t see the whole picture and are in danger of slipping into judgement. 

I love this model from a colleague of mine, Hans Dieter Shuttle:

            ABOVE THE SURFACE BEHAVIOURS

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              BELOW THE SURFACE DRIVERS

 To be able to understand the other person truly, we need to dive below the surface and develop empathy. We need to be able to ask: What’s driving their behaviour? How are they feeling? What needs are being unmet?

If someone is behaving aggressively, but we understand that this is because they are stressed, for example, we may be able to navigate the situation very differently than without this insight.

This way, the likelihood of getting a better outcome will be much higher than if we are merely reacting to the behaviour we see on the surface. Bear in mind that by being compassionate it doesn’t mean that we condone the behaviour; it just means that we understand what drives it and are able to respond to that.

To develop genuine compassion and empathy, we also need to be self-aware enough to notice our own reaction first. We must approach the situation with calm and clarity, without taking what’s going on personally, otherwise, we will just react, pulled by our underground currents! 

Tricky, isn’t it? 

It is okay to allow ourselves to pause and take a bit of time to process what is going on and how we are feeling. Perhaps we can look below the surface to spot our own drivers and needs. Often, we rush into decisions that we could have afforded to take some time with and had a better outcome as a result.

 I also like this model from another friend and colleague of mine, the culture expert, Fiona Robertson.

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According to this model, if people’s needs are met their behaviour will be broadly ‘functional’ and if their needs are not met, their behaviour will be broadly ‘dysfunctional’. 

 So once we know that needs, met or unmet, drive behaviour, it's particularly useful to know what humans need most. But this is perhaps a topic for another blog :)


 About the author

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Maya Nova is a speaker, trainer, coach and a mindful leadership consultant with over a decade of experience working with people and organisations to help them improve their mental agility, resilience and wellbeing. She is passionate about living our lives as if they really mattered, mindfully, one day at a time. Some of her clients include TVNZ, ANZ, Fisher & Paykel, 2degrees, Tower and Lotto NZ among many others. Visit her website 

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If you liked this post, please share it with your friends and colleagues, give it a thumbs-up, and share your comments below!

Susanne Ritzenhoff

Director at Toi Ora Live Art Trust

4 年

Enjoyed reading your article Maya Nova. By engaging with emphatic curiosity we may be able to understand more of the drivers for behaviour for ourselves and others. Thanks and love the visuals.

Shavon Jenkins

Experienced Accountant with a proven track record of diversified accounting and finance experience. Well-versed in legal industry, outsourced accounting, fintech, accounts payable, billing, and staff training.

4 年

Great article, thank you very much . ??

Milena Velez

Founder, Leadership Consultant, Facilitator and Coach - Connecting People Within Organisations with Vim & Vigour

4 年

Very insightful! Thanks for sharing ??

Paula Hilditch

Leading teams to high performance

4 年

???? for this great article Maya Nova. Lots to consider and think about and a great reminder that we should remain curious about our friends and colleagues behaviours rather than judging them on what we see.

Alessandra Edwards

Performance & Wellbeing Expert For CEOs, Senior Execs & Teams | Personalised Genetic Strategy | Mentor, Trainer, Author

4 年

Maya Nova I really enjoyed reading your article. We are very aligned in how we view behaviours. Of course, from my DNA 'lens' I may like to add that what sits beneath the iceberg is also affected by our genetic tendencies.

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