What is NLP
What is NLP?
There are lots of definitions and here are but a few
- The study of excellence
- NLP is an accelerated learning strategy for the detection and utilisation of patterns in the world
- NLP is how to use the language of the mind to consistently achieve our specific and desired outcomes
- NLP is the practice of understanding how people organise their thinking, feelings, language and behaviour to produce the results they do. NLP provides people with a methodology to model outstanding performances achieved by geniuses and leaders in their field.
- How we organise our perceptions through the language of the mind to create our reality.
History of NLP
John Grinder and Richard Bandler began studying some of the experts in behavioural change back in the 1970’s at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Bandler was a student at the university and Grinder a language professor. They studied experts in this field and began to notice some interesting patterns. When studying Virginia satir a successful family therapist they discovered that she affected and changed behaviour in her clients by being specific. Whilst in contrast studying Milton H. Erickson they discovered his success was achieved by being extremely vague and ambigious with language. Erickson is sometimes referred to as the father of hypnotherapy.
The success that Grinder and Bandler had studying Satir and Erickson led to the development of the Milton and Meta model. The Meta model is very specific and the Milton vague and ambiguous. This was the start of neuro linguistic Programming.
This modelling of Satir and Ercikson led to NLP developing as a modelling technology with the specific focus on the set of differences that make the difference between the average performer and the genius.
So where NLP began as a means of modelling excellence, it soon had very active subsets – namely training and as a result of the training NLP applications.
- NLP Modelling – the coding of patterns of genius what ever their field
- NLP Training – the training of the NLP patterns
- NLP applications – the application of the NLP patterns
Five principles of success:
- Know your outcome.
When you know what you want it becomes more achievable. - Take Action
What is your first step – without action there are no results - Sensory Acuity
Use your senses to be aware of what is happening in your life as you move to achieving your goal – What do you see, hear and feel? - Behavioural flexibility
Change to achieve success. If it is not working do something different - Operate from Physiology / Psychology of excellence
Empower yourself – have a mindset of success and operate from a totally resourceful state

