People - 4. We are all humans: let's start there!

What do humans have in common? Maslow would say:

• Basic needs: physiological needs (eating, drinking, sleeping, breathing) as well as safety and security needes (health, employment, property, family, and social stability).?
• Psychological needs: love and belonging (friendship, family, intimacy, sense of connection) and self-esteem (confidence, achievement, respect, individuality)
• Self-actualization needs: morality, creativity, spontaneity, acceptance, and to experience purpose, meaning, and inner potential.

Initially, we can't imagine that we'd need to start from the bottom with each colleague and each country. However, to create a trust relationship we must set out from the basic needs, since it's from there that we will create a trust relationship. Why? Because as Eleonora SALADINO would say in her 7 brain theory, each of our identities starts with values:

• Each person is "generated" by?values?(an inner compass that is created during the first 6-7 years of life)
• which are transformed into?beliefs?(beliefs are established over time),
• which are the basis of our?thoughts?(both conscious and unconscious)
• which together with beliefs and values generate our?words
• which in turn make up our?actions
• which, if repeated, create our?behaviors
• which in turn if repeated over time generate?habits?…
• thus creating our?identity!

Therefore, it is essential to start with VALUES! Each country, each team, and each person has their own values. To understand them is hard work, but it is important to start with this.

The questions you would typically ask each other in the beginning of the work relationship (what is your business background? How long have you been in this role? How is your life in and outside of the company?) are not only icebreakers, but they are necessary to start a solid and trusting relationship.

Ask, listen, and while you are forming your work relationships don't forget that we are all humans!