What are expectations and what are needs?

Expectations and needs are two concepts that are often used in relationships, business relationships and other interactions between people.

Expectations are ideas about what is expected of a person, a group or a situation. This can include a certain behavior, a performance or a result. Expectations can stem from previous experience, common practices or agreed rules or agreements.

Needs, on the other hand, refer to what a person really needs in order to be happy, satisfied and healthy. This can include physiological needs such as food, drink and sleep, but also psychological needs such as recognition, love and self-realization. Needs are deeper and more fundamental than expectations and are at the heart of human motivation.

Five key differences between expectations and needs are:

Origin: Expectations can be imposed by other people, society or culture, while needs come from within and originate from the individual themselves.
Type: Expectations are external and refer to what is expected of a person, while needs are internal and refer to what a person needs.
Flexibility: Expectations can change and be adapted, while needs are fundamental and stable.
Priority: Expectations usually have a lower priority than needs and can sometimes be ignored or changed if they conflict with needs.
Effects on well-being: Fulfilled needs lead to greater well-being and happiness than fulfilled expectations, as they form the basis for well-being.

When someone goes to the hairdresser, the expectation is often that they will get a suitable haircut with good value for money. The need behind this is “to feel good”. For some, it is also important that a new hairstyle is recognized and appreciated by those around them. To avoid risks or disappointment, many people therefore regularly visit their trusted hairdressing salon. They therefore prefer a service provider who knows their expectations and needs and with whom they have already had positive experiences.

It is therefore important to know both expectations and needs, as in combination they provide valuable information for a promising approach.