Workshop on using 'Emotions and Needs' cards, October 16, 2026

This video presents a detailed breakdown of a practical session demonstrating the methodology of working with emotions and needs to improve conflict resolution effectiveness.

Context and issues: The video analyzes a practical session on using "Emotions and Needs" cards as a key tool for developing a specialist's emotional intelligence. The main focus is directed at the necessity of recognizing one's own emotions through bodily reactions, since any emotion acts as a marker of a satisfied or violated need.

Challenges of the parties in mediation: A mediator's work is complicated by the need to manage not only their own state but also the intense emotions of all conflict participants. The problem lies in the fact that the parties' unrecognized primary emotions block rational thinking and transition into secondary states (anger, guilt). At the same time, participants often have a false expectation that others are obligated to satisfy their needs (e.g., for respect or recognition).

Resolution process and methodology: To address these challenges, the expert suggests that participants recall a tense conflict situation, write down their emotions, and select the corresponding cards for emotions and violated needs. Next, these cards are visually connected, creating an individual map of emotional response.

Practical result: Analyzing the generated map allows participants to realize whether they are capable of fulfilling their needs independently and teaches them to correctly formulate requests to others. For continuous training of this skill, the expert advises using the "alarm clock" exercise by regularly recording one's emotional state with a timer.

Be sure to watch the embedded video below to explore this analysis in detail and see firsthand how the expert works with emotions and needs cards.