NLP Explained - How It Works And Why It Works So Well

NLP attempts to model the human experience and then create and apply techniques based on these models.  NLP explores how people think, identifying successful or limiting patterns and then either modelling them for use by others or changing them. 

The NLP Attitude and Approach

You might wonder - 'what is NLP?'

Richard Bandler, the inventor of neuro-linguistic programming states that an attitude of curiosity, wanton experimentation and NLP behavioural frames are the basis of the NLP attitude.

The first frame is one that focuses on outcomes or results rather than problems.  Rather than focusing on what is wrong and why, we focus on the desired outcome and how best to achieve it.  This is how Neuro Linguistic Programming works. 

The second frame is possibilities instead of necessities. With this shift of focus, you believe that anything is possible and nothing is necessary. When you believe something is impossible or necessary, you lose creative drive. 

The third frame recognises curiosity and fascination rather than assumptions and “facts” as truth.  Einstein’s attitude of “What if....?” exemplifies how one should disregard what is said to be ‘fact’, ‘definite’, or ‘possible’. 

The third frame adopts the attitude of curiosity and fascination in place of making assumptions and clinging to facts.  Albert Einstein disregarded what was 'fact', 'definite' or 'possible' and entertained the idea of what if……?  And in so doing, changed the scientific world and reframed reality.

Cause and Effect, a Trainer viewpoint

An NLP Trainer is interested in being ‘at cause’, meaning that they take total responsibility for what happens in their universe.  Most people are at effect, meaning things happen to them.  Would you place yourself on the ‘at cause’ side or the ‘at effect’ side?

Maps of the World

Everyone sees the world differently.  They view inputs (visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, gustatory, and olfactory) through perceptual filters based on their values, beliefs, experiences and learnings.  Each person’s perceptual filters are unique.  NLP allows us to understand how we and others perceive things in order to facilitate better communication. 

NLP Tools

If you decide to do some NLP training or NLP coaching, you will learn to use a series of tools, and then techniques based on these tools.  Tools used by Practitioners and Master Practitioners include:

• Sensory acuity and physiology
• Rapport
• Representational systems
• Eye accessing cues
• Sub-modalities
• The "Meta-model"
• The "Milton-model"
• Well-Formed Outcomes
• Meta-programs
• Strategies
• Perceptual Position
• Logical Levels

NLP Techniques

Once you are trained, you will be able to use techniques such as the below.  These can be used on yourself and on others.  Someone that has a full grasp of these techniques will be able to do everything from cure phobias to increasing someone’s confidence. 

• Phobia Model
• Swish
• Anchoring
• 6-step reframe
• Belief Change
• Time Line Therapy
• Parts Integration

So, in a nutshell, that is what NLP is about.  It is estimated that over 50,000 people in the UK have taken NLP training courses, and it has practical application in situations where therapy would otherwise be used or even for use in business and sales.