Neuro-linguistic programming or NLP as it is popularly referred to is fast finding an increasing number of takers these days. Many people are keen to learn NLP in order to get that winning edge and get ahead of the competition in today’s competitive world. The entire concept of NLP is based on the theory that by modeling oneself after someone successful, we will be pretty soon is able to develop the successful person’s belief system. In a way it involves gradual and practical change in certain behavioral patterns.

These days there are many schools from where you can learn NLP. More than learning this entire process has got more to do with exploring and then practicing what is being taught as part of NLP sessions. A lot of interactive sessions form part of such sessions. Many new ideas are bounced around in NLP sessions between the students and the trainers, which make these sessions interesting to the participants.

A simple online search can put you across several schools where NLP is taught. Make sure though that you learn NLP only from a certified instructor of NLP. You can also find many self-help tapes and books on the subject too available these days. Books are valuable aids to learning NLP. They could also compliment what you are already learning in NLP classroom session, if you are enrolled in one. You can also find many audio and video tapes on the subject. The choice of whether to learn through books and tapes or attend courses ultimately lies with you.

One of the reasons for the rising popularity of NLP lies in the fact that the entire concept is based on practical experiences of successful individuals. NLP as a theory is more solution oriented and therefore easy to practically implement in our daily lives. NLP has already helped millions around the world with problems including traumas, phobias and interpersonal communication related issues.

Those wanting to learn NLP can enroll themselves in short workshops on the subject too, that are held from time to time. These programs which are usually a one or two day affair can be pretty useful for getting an introduction on the subject. Moreover you will not be wasting much of your time and also money with such short introductory workshops. Those who are keen to learn NLP thoroughly can always enroll themselves in full time longer courses which could last for a few months. The syllabus typically in an NLP training program would consist of several practical sessions. Long term courses usually lead to certification in NLP.

Neuro Linguistic Programming is a great tool for use in personal coaching, business coaching and life coaching. The question is, how do we use Neurolinguistic Programming NLP in a coaching environment?

In fact, neurolinguistic programming NLP is a very natural tool for use in coaching because it relies on a very simple model for personal change. This is a model which is used by anyone who enjoyed personal change, self improvement, etc, and by innumerable coaches everywhere.

THE NEUROLINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING COACHING MODEL

The basic pattern of Neuro Linguistic Programming NLP is as follows:

? Associate into the problem state

? Dissociate from the problem state

? Associate into the resource state

? Take the resource state to the problem state

Given a real understanding of this pattern, it becomes easy to apply in any coaching situation:

? What is the problem that the coaching client has? Are you able to get them to experience that state? If not see below.

? Can we dissociate from the problem state? How do we do this? If we can’t do this, what can we do? See below for answers to this question.

? What resource do we need to solve the problem?

? As we feel those resources, how is the problem different now?

ASSOCIATING INTO THE PROBLEM STATE

It is common for a coaching client to enter a coaching session in the problem state. However, they don’t always do so. For example they may be so cerebral that they are not able to easily enter the problem state.

Here is an easy way to associate the client into the problem state:

? When did you last feel this?

? When exactly was this?

? Where did it take place?

? What were yo seeing, hearing and feeling at that time and place?

By doing this we can begin to associate the client into the problem state.

DISSOCIATING FROM THE PROBLEM STATE

Dissociating from the problem state is normally relatively easy.

The simplest way is to ask the client how they want to be different.

Sometimes a coaching client may find it difficult to dissociate from the problem state. This is where neuro linguistic programming offers valuable tools for dissociating from the problem state. The tools which NLP offers include:

? Dissociating in space (e.g. over here – over there)

? Dissociating in time (then – now)

? Dissociating is size (that small you – this you)

? Use of metaphor (that person in the story – you)

EXAMPLE

A client walks into your office, complaining that he feels nervous when he has to make a public speech. “I get kinda nervous, it bugs me that I act this way” he says.

You notice that he has not satisfied the first step of the NeuroLinguistic Programming pattern, in that he is talking about his problem, so he is not associated into it.

“When was the last time you felt this way?” you ask. “Oh. Last week I had to give a speech it was horrible!” “Where were you, precisely?” “I was in our big conference room…I saw the faces of our clients…” You see his face fall. Now he is associated into the experience.

“And that’s how you’ve been. How do you want to be?” you ask. You notice his physiology change as he dissociates from the problem state.

“I’d rather be confident”. “And what’s it like when you confident?” “Oh that’s a real rush, I feel great!” You notice his physiology and voice tone change. Now he is associated into the resource state. Time to collapse the states.

“And as you feel that great, notice the faces of your clients in the big conference room…”

CONCLUSION

The coaching pattern is a fundamental NLP skill that we teach on our Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner training here in New York.

NLP or Neuro-linguistic programming is the process of redefining how one thinks through the positive combination of communication, interaction and perception. NLP was originally developed in the 1970s and has since increased in popularity as business professionals, life coaches and those looking to be more fulfilled explore NLP as a means by which to achieve their goals, and in the case of life coaches the goals of their clients.

The fundamental goal of NLP is to change a person’s outlook on life for the better. Some people find that their past negative experiences hold them back in achieving their goals, while other people who are more content before NLP, realize they can go onto achieve greater things through the application of Neuro-linguistic programming.

Through increasing your personal digestion of good experiences, and diminishing negative ones; think of the possibilities that become open for you. Imagine if you could apply the same fundamental values to your life, to that of a person you find has achieved the goals you wish to achieve. Perhaps you have been unlucky in relationships, or your entrepreneurial aspirations are always hampered by your inability to think of that one great idea, or perhaps you don’t have the drive or understanding to take a business to the next level. With NLP, through a process called modeling, you can mirror the success of others while unlocking internal barriers that are holding your back. With NLP you will learn that you are born with the same skill sets and capabilities as those around you, as well as the notable people who have managed to achieve their goals through unlocking them. NLP will teach you to harness these skills to achieve success and fulfill your life goals.

One major consideration that is brought forth by Neuro-linguistic programming is that our entire belief system is created by the experiences that we have had throughout our life. We believe that certain personal limitations are only there because of our past experiences. For example, a women who considers herself not to have the aptitude to learn to drive may feel like this because of her past negative experiences such as a near car crash when out with a driving instructor or the negative vibes that the driving instructor gave out towards her abilities. With NLP it is possible to overcome these issues through revaluating your abilities and how you can overcome whatever it is that is holding your back.

Everyone has areas of their life where they are more successful than others, such as someone may be good at math and poor at English to give a simplified example. With NLP it is possible to pull the factors that influence these outcomes and manipulate them to maintain your ability at English and apply the elements that make you good at English to also make you good at math.

To understand more about how you can use NLP to improve your abilities the best thing to do is contact a professional who will be able to guide you through the processes involved in changing your outlook on life and the negative experienced and beliefs that are holding you back.

One of the principles of Neuro Linguistic Programming is that our experiences of the world, everything that makes us what we are, is represented in a sensory way, i.e. through the things we see, hear, feel, smell and taste, and the internal pictures, sounds, and feelings that we create.

Whether or not we accept this model as a complete description of reality, it is a useful starting point for examining and beginning to control our individual reality.

Internal Dialogue

One of the most important of the sensory channels is the internal dialogue that we run in our minds (i.e. the voices in our heads). This channel is a sub-category of the auditory channel (i.e. we “hear” the voices) but has such an important place in NLP that we give it it’s own category, which we call “Auditory Digital” or Ad.

One of the things that makes humans unique among animals is the complexity of our spoken language. Our language allows us to conceive of, consider, and express extremely complex ideas. We do this inside our own heads, as well as to the outside world.

THE PROBLEM WITH NEGATIVE DIALOGUE

When working as an NLP coach with clients, the client may express the belief that he cannot do something, or that he is a failure, or any one of a thousand other complaints or issues.

It is often easy to be aware that the client is repeating words that are already playing in his head. We can notice this using any number of Neurolinguistic Programming calibration techniques such as eye accessing, listening to predicates and other language patterns, and we can check simply by asking the client if this is the case.

It is easy to imagine how difficult it is to feel confident when there is a voice in your head repeating: “You’re a failure! You’re a failure!”

So what can we do about negative internal dialogue? Fortunately there are lots of Neuro Linguistic Programming techniques we can do, that are fairly easy and fun. We describe a few of these below.

WHOSE VOICE IS IT?

You may wish to ask yourself whose voice it is in your head? Maybe it’s the voice of a parent or a teacher? Ultimately, it is fairly obvious that the voice is yours!

And as it’s your voice, you are ultimately responsible for it, and in control of it. If you don’t like what it’s saying, tell it to be quiet.

If it won’t shut up, change the tonality of the voice. Give a Mickey Mouse type voice and you may find it difficult to take the voice seriously.

Or move the voice. Some people find it refreshing to move the negative voice down onto the floor by their left foot. Let it lie there doing its usual whining, and when you want it to shut up for a while just put your foot on top of it, and squash it.

These are example of sub-modality shifts in neuro linguistic programming.

INSTALL A POSITIVE VOICE

Better yet, what would you like the voice to say? How would it sound if it were a coach or a cheerleader? What tonality would it have? Where would it be?

If you need practice to fully install the new coach voice, simply become aware when the negative voice says something. Listen to what it has to say, then ask your coaching voice to say three things that show the negative voice to be lying. For example the inner dialogue might go as follows:

? Negative voice: You’re a failure!

? Coach voice: There are lots of people in the world who love and care about you! That’s a success!

? Coach voice: You have a good job and are respected at work! That’s a success!

? Coach voice: You have dreams to aspire to! That’s a success!

If you carry out these exercises regularly, you will soon find yourself happier achieving more, with a quiet mind or a supportive inner dialogue.