What is Neuro Linguistic Programming?
NLP is a process of discovering the structure of the thinking and abilities that we and others have (especially those of excellence) in order to reproduce the results that we want with consistency.
You will get many different things under the banner of NLP which is why it is important to know the values and the principles of the person that you choose to be your coach in this subject.
Which of these things have you done well today?
- Woken up on time?
- Left someone you work with in a good frame of mind having spoken to you?
- Explained something to someone else in a way that they understood?
- Moved a bit further forwards in achieving your goals or even totally achieved some?
- Successfully handled a telephone call?
- Inspired someone to do something they have not done before?
- Given feedback in a way that was received positively?
- Learned something unexpectedly?
- Successfully negotiated a potential conflict either at work or at home?
- Made a new acquaintance with whom you look forward to having future contact?
All of them? Some of them? None of them? Whatever your answer you have a strategy for achieving whatever it was that you did achieve. If for example you succeeded in inspiring someone to do something they have not done before, you have a strategy for how you do this. The chances are that you do know some of the elements of your strategies but chances are that there are some crucial bits of which you have no conscious knowledge. Most of us take for granted the everyday things we do well.
Now answer the same question for these things—which of these have you done ‘well’ today?
- Become upset or stressed?
- Given up on a goal?
- Missed a deadline?
- Left someone feeling frustrated with you?
- Felt frustrated with yourself?
- Got into an argument?
- Damaged a friendship?
- Attempted to influence someone but succeeded in getting them more resistant to change?
- Said something that you didn't mean to say and now regret it?
- Slammed the phone down?
It may seem strange to ask whether you did any of these things ‘well’ but whatever you did behind your behaviour lies a strategy for how you achieved exactly the result that you did.
