The Conversations that Shape Trust and Culture

Understanding Human Social Needs in Culture Transformation

Why do some individuals or teams thrive while others stall, even with the same resources? The answer often lies not in strategy or talent but in the quality of conversations. At Selion Global, we see culture not as static values but as a living, breathing force shaped by these conversations. Conversations either foster trust and collaboration or create resistance and disengagement. For a culture to thrive, one must recognise and address five fundamental human social needs:

• Protection

• Connection

• Belonging

• Strength

• Partnership

These needs influence the way people engage in dialogue, build trust, and ultimately shape the evolution of an organisation’s culture.

Leveraging Conversational Intelligence to Strengthen Culture

At Selion Global, we guide leaders in using the Conversational Dashboard, a tool designed to identify behavioural patterns, transform resistance into engagement, and create environments where open dialogue fuels innovation and performance. Which of these conversational modes resonates most with your leadership experience?

From Resistance to Trust: Navigating the Five Conversational Modes

Here are five key conversational modes that influence team dynamics and culture. They can foster a culture where trust and psychological safety become the foundation of high performance.

1. The Resistor: Addressing the Need for Protection

When individuals enter Resistor mode, they feel threatened and default to self-protective behaviors. Fear drives their reactions, making them resistant to new ideas.

Our experts help leaders create psychological safety—acknowledging fears and fostering an environment where people feel secure enough to engage productively.

2. The Skeptic: Fostering Connection

Skeptics often resist relationships, dismiss feedback, and prioritise hierarchy over human connection.

We guide leaders to put relationships before hierarchy, creating a space where people feel valued and heard. By reducing fear and judgment, teams move toward deeper connection and collaboration.

3. The Wait & See: Cultivating Belonging

Uncertainty can lead individuals into Wait & See mode, where hesitation and distrust thrive in the absence of clarity.

We help leaders instil a strong sense of belonging, ensuring teams align around shared goals and feel like an integral part of the organisation’s future.

4. The Experimenter: Strength Through Collaboration

Experimenters are willing to share ideas but need the confidence to transition from individual efforts to collective success.

We empower leaders to shift the focus from personal achievement to shared victories, fostering an environment where teams build strength through collaboration.

5. The Co-Creator: Building Partnerships and Trust

At the highest level, Co-Creators thrive in an environment of trust and shared purpose. Here, conversations become a catalyst for transformation, shifting organisations from fear-based cultures to trust-driven ones.

At Selion Global, we help leaders cultivate Level III conversations—authentic, unscripted dialogues that drive innovation, performance, and deep-rooted trust.

Conversations are like umbilical cords that provide nourishment to help us grow and thrive at work. Yet we often see conversations as ways to influence others to our point of view, to tell people what to do, or get things off our chest, rather than as a source of nourishment to fuel and navigate our journeys into the future with others.

Creating a Culture of Trust, Integrity, Accountability, and Excellence

Recognising these conversational modes and responding to core human needs enables individuals to transform resistance into engagement, skepticism into connection, and uncertainty into belonging. Trust is built through actions, and integrity is revealed in the conversations and actions we choose to take—or avoid. Accountability ensures that these values are not just ideals but are upheld consistently across all levels of an organisation. At Selion Global, we help leaders turn conversations into a strategic advantage.

What's one conversation you should be having today that could reshape your culture tomorrow? The journey from resistance to co-creation is not just about improving conversations—it’s about shaping the very foundation of an organisation’s success.

For leaders seeking to foster meaningful change, João Luiz Pasqual brings a thoughtful, results-driven approach to leadership development.

This insight is informed by the expertise of João Luiz Pasqual, Partner at Selion Global, and a recognised expert in leadership and organisational culture, bringing valuable perspectives to Selion Global’s approach.