What is NLP?

What is NLP

What is NLP? Neuro Linguistic Programming is the study of how you think, speak and behave. Now if you are looking to study "How you are getting what you are getting'' that is a good place to begin. As the wise man once said "To change your outcome it is important that you change your thinking" Easier said than done. It is a process of understanding our own selves by observing and understanding the world around us (or vice versa), with a new set of very successful tools and techniques, evolved in the world of NLP by experts.

Neuro refers to the thinking patterns that make up the mental aspect of our strategies. We take information in and hold it in our minds in visual, auditory and kinesthetic (feeling) ways. For example a part of a strategy to feel confident at the start of giving a presentation might be to see ourselves as in a movie, in full color, doing the presentation in a way that we would ideally like to do it. We might hear an encouraging internal voice urging us to do well. We might imagine the smooth feel of the table that is beside us as we stand and the steady confident feeling in our stomach as we begin to speak.

Linguistic refers to the way we use language both inwardly to ourselves (our inner dialogue) and the language we use in conversation with others. With NLP, we can become aware of the patterns in our own and others language and the effect of these patterns on both ourselves and others. For example, even if you ask someone ''why not'' when they say they can''t do something, they become even more resistant to the idea of doing it. A more effective question might be ''What would happen if you did this?''

Programming: The programs that we run are our strategies for getting results in all areas of our life and work. Sometimes those results are what we want whereas at other times they do not seem to meet any conscious need. We are like computers, in that; we have mental and behavioral codes for running our lives. Sometimes the codes work well and sometimes they have ''bugs'' and instead of achieving the results we want, we sabotage our seemingly desired success. Sometimes we have the codes but we use them inappropriately. For example, you might be perceived as stubborn in the way that you hang on to a point of view when it would be better to let go. What you could do would be to use that same structure to tenaciously hold on to your goals when faced with disappointment. Stubbornness can be tenacity when used appropriately. NLP is a means of tapping into the wealth of resources that we all have within to support us in achieving what we really want, says Sue Knight in her book, NLP at Work.

Today NLP is described as:

• A Collection of Communication skills
• A series of sales techniques
• A way of questioning that allows you to uncover information that is missing, unconscious or hidden, so that you can understand a communication fully
• A set of beliefs that allows humans to grow
• A collection of skills for influencing people while maintaining your integrity and respecting theirs
• A way to build stronger, more enjoyable relationships
• A detailed understanding of how people learn and how to teach them.

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