Neuro-Linguistic Programming
‘We are committed to advancing knowledge and raising standards across all aspects of business and personal development’
Neuro-Linguistic Programming is all about how to use the power of your mind to achieve the results you want in your life.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming looks at how we use the language of the mind to consistently achieve our specific and desired outcomes.
It is how we structure our sensory experience, order our thoughts and behaviour, to communicate with ourselves and others.
NLP is concerned with the mind-body experience – getting into the mental and physical state you want, when you want, whenever you want. Our sessions provide the tools to develop that know-how. To be the very best you that you can be.
NLP is an attitude and methodology that leaves behind a trail of technique. It is about modelling excellence and installing it in yourself and others.
Definition of NLP:
Neuro:
Our neurological and nervous system (the mind) through which all of our life experiences are processed via the five senses:
- Visual
- Auditory
- Kinesthetic
- Olfactory
- Gustatory
Linguistic:
All communication (our use of language and nonverbal messages) in which our neural representations are encoded, arranged and defined. These include:
- Sound
- Words
- Smells
- Images
- Feelings
- Tastes
Programming:
How we investigate and use our communications to ourselves and others through our neurological systems to achieve our specific outcomes. That is, how we use the language of the mind to obtain our objectives.
NLP and Models of Excellence
Neuro-Linguistic Programming was built upon Models of Excellence: by identifying how successful people did what they did, modelling that and installing it in other people.
The founders of NLP – John Grinder and Richard Bandler – modelled three highly successful experts in their fields: the family therapist Virginia Satir, the legendary hypnotherapist Milton Erickson and the founder of Gestalt therapy, Fritz Pearls.
Grinder and Bandler believed that if one person can do something well then so can another if they follow the same procedures. NLP was therefore born of a pursuit of excellence, following the trail of techniques that leads to a successful outcome.
NLP has since developed to encapsulate the very best models in every conceivable field, based upon modelling what works best. TLS Associates Ltd believes in modelling excellence in others and installing it in ourselves and in discovering and developing Models of Excellence and using it with clients and partners.
Modelling excellence is the cornerstone of NLP and it is engrained in our approach to personal and business growth.
NLP Communications Model
Understanding the NLP Communication Model is fundamental to grasping the origins of NLP. Once the basics have been grasped we can move forward quickly to learn how to model excellence and go from strength to strength.
We see, hear, feel, smell and touch external events and process those through our filters which delete, distort and generalise ‘reality’ to create our map of the world.
These filters of distortion, generalisation and deletion are made up of our values and beliefs, attitudes, meta programs, decisions, memories, language and time/space/matter/energy.
Distortions are misrepresentations of ‘reality’ which we construct to ensure the world fits into our model. Sometimes this can be useful for future planning. Problems can arise when we distort to such extremes that unrealistic and limiting beliefs can surface.
Generalisations are broad conclusions which fit into categories based upon previous experience. This can be useful when we take in a lot of information and need to come to a decision. It can be limiting when occasional events are given meaning and become standard examples.
Deletions are most common place and occur when we pay selective attention to only certain aspects of experience. It means we are not overloaded with information: we can only process seven (plus or minus two) pieces of information at a time. Over deletion leads to part of our experience being totally ignored.
Once filtered these events are stored as our internal representation, which are constructed by our visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, olfactory and gustatory senses.
Everybody processes events differently, due to our different experiences and so forth, and then we store them according to further changes in attitudes, language, beliefs and values and so forth, so it could be said that we are twice removed from reality. This relates to one of the presuppositions of NLP, that the Map is Not the Territory.
Our internal representations affect our state which affects our physiology and these can all effect each other to produce our behaviour, the physical manifestation of our internal state.
Presuppositions of NLP
The following presuppositions are neither true nor false. They are convenient beliefs, which once integrated, can be incredibly empowering and helpful in all aspects of life. These are beliefs that we choose to hold true in our business practice to provide the best possible working environment for our partners and associates and ensure we help deliver the desired outcome for our clients.
Often overlooked is the very important presupposition on ecology. All Changes should be Evaluated in terms of Context and Ecology. Ecology is the study of consequences, ie, what happens in one part of the system has a knock-on effect elsewhere. It links to You Cannot Not Communicate. If change happens in one area, the impact must be measured to ensure it does not have a negative impact on another area. Measuring these consequences is a prerequisite for every adjustment to the system and we believe must be rigorously monitored.
The Map is Not the Territory
What we experience is not the event itself, but our representation of it.
Respect other people’s Map of the World
Everyone has a different map of the world and no matter how greatly these can differ from your own, every person deserves to have their view respected.
People have all the Resources they need to Succeed
Everyone is capable of achieving their specific outcomes, if they use all the resources they have.
You are Responsible for you own Mind therefore the Results you get
I am responsible for my own mind and therefore the results I get. If I chose to live at Cause, I will cause how I feel and act. If I live at Effect I will empower others to feel and act on my behalf.
People are not their Behaviours
Accept the person as they are, change the behaviour if necessary.
Everyone is doing the Best they can with the Resources they have
All behaviour comes from a positive intention to do the best we can for ourselves, no matter the outcome of that behaviour
The Meaning of Communication is the Response you get
If you are in control of the communication and take responsibility for that, it is up to you to get the result you seek.
You Cannot Not Communicate
It is impossible not to communicate. Even if you do nothing, you are sending out a signal that you are doing that and other people can read into it what they will. That is we are unconsciously communicating all the time. It is better to communicate consciously and ethically than unconsciously and manipulatively.
There is Only Feedback
There is no failure, only feedback.
The Law of Requisite Variety
The system or person with the most flexibility of behaviour will control the system.
All Changes should be Evaluated in terms of Context and Ecology
Ecology is the study of consequences. If change happens in one area, it must not have a negative impact on another area.
All Procedures should be Designed to increase Wholeness
Every intervention must be for the greater good of the individual.
NLP Principles for Success
The following is a simple, yet effective tool for achieving your outcome.
Know your outcome
Obvious but often overlooked. Ask yourself what you really want to achieve.
Take action
Lesley-Cameron Bandler identified the goal-getting procedure as being: wishing, wanting, planning, doing, having. How often do we get stuck at one of those stages and can go no further? The first step is to act and act now. Take action, massive action. It is the only way to achieve.
Have sensory acuity
Sensory acuity is the awareness of what is happening around us, the things we see, hear, feel, smell and taste. A heightened sensory acuity allows us to calibrate change to confirm if we are moving in the right direction. If we have no measurement of change, we have no way of knowing if we are moving on.
Have behavioural flexibility
This applies to the Law of Requisite Variety as listed in the presuppositions above. The person with the greatest flexibility of behaviour will control the system.
Operate from a physiology and psychology of excellence
Perception is projection. We project what we are inside, consciously or unconsciously. If we put ourselves in an upbeat state we are far more likely to achieve our objectives and inspire those around us.
NLP Keys To An Achievable Outcome
The following is an extremely useful tool to help you achieve your desired outcome. This can be applied to any goal or aspiration, however big or small, whether personal or business, and is a sure way of measuring progress. It is a great framework for success.
1. Stated in the positive.
What specifically do you want?
2. Specify present situation.
Where are you now?
3. Specify outcome.
What will you see, hear, feel etc when you have it?
4. Specify evidence procedure.
How will you know when you have it?
5. Is it congruently desirable?
What will this outcome get for you or allow you to do?
6. Is it self-initiated and self-maintained?
Is it only for you?
7. Is it appropriately contextualised?
Where, when, how and with whom do you want it?
8. What resources are needed?
What do you have now, and what do you need to get your outcome?
Have you ever had or done this before?
Do you know anyone who has?
Can you act as if you have it?
9. Is it ecological?
For what purpose do you want this?
What will you gain or lose if you have it?
