Understanding the Interlocutor: Emotional State and Needs

The importance of considering the receiver's emotional state

Just as the emotional state of the sender influences communication, the emotional state of the receiver is equally critical to the success of the interaction.

Each interlocutor comes to a conversation with his or her own mental and emotional state, pressures and limitations.

Attempting to approach a difficult conversation or present a complex idea to someone who is visibly irritated, rushed or stressed is a strategy destined to fail.

The receiver will not be in the right frame of mind to listen and process the information objectively.

An emotionally intelligent communicator is able to perceive these signals and make the decision to postpone the conversation if necessary, waiting for a time when the interlocutor is more receptive.

This consideration is not only a sign of professionalism, but dramatically increases the likelihood that the message will be received positively.

Identifying the needs of the interlocutor to tailor the message

Truly effective communication focuses not on what the sender wants to say, but on what the receiver needs to hear.

To achieve this, it is essential to always keep in mind the needs of the person in front of us.

Before communicating, we must ask ourselves two key questions: "What does this person really need to know?" and "How can I present this information in a way that is most useful and understandable to them?".

This approach forces us to tailor the content of the message, adjusting the level of detail, language and approach to resonate with the receiver's perspective.

By focusing on their needs, we transform a simple monologue into an act of service, making our message more relevant, valuable and, consequently, much more persuasive.

The exercise of putting ourselves in the other person's shoes

The ability to adapt the message to the needs of the receiver is based on a practical exercise of empathy: the conscious effort to "put oneself in the other person's shoes".

This is not a passive act, but a strategic tool that allows us to see the situation from the perspective of our interlocutor.

By doing so, we can better understand their concerns, anticipate their possible doubts and imagine the questions that might arise in their mind.

A skilled communicator uses this insight to prepare his or her message, proactively addressing those questions and concerns before they are even asked.

This exercise in empathic anticipation is one of the most powerful techniques for making any communication clearer, more accurate and ultimately more successful.

Summary

Just as the emotional state of the sender is influential, the emotional state of the receiver is just as critical to the success of the interaction. Attempting to present a complex idea to someone who is irritated or stressed is destined to fail.

Effective communication is not focused on what the sender wants to say, but on what the receiver needs to hear. We must tailor the content, language and approach to resonate with their perspective.

The ability to adapt the message is based on empathy: "putting ourselves in the other person's shoes". This exercise allows us to understand their concerns, anticipate their doubts and proactively address their questions before they are asked.