You may be asking, "What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming?"
by Daryll Scott
Created by Dr. Richard Bandler and Dr. John Grinder in the early 1970s, NLP is a methodology and modelling technique designed to capture and code ‘the difference that makes the difference’ between the performance of a genius and someone of average performance in the same field. The result is a mapping of tacit abilities to explicit awareness.
Unlike other human sciences that study what is ‘normal’ or average, NLP is concerned only with the extremes of human behaviour - exceptional performance.
A practical definition of NLP application would be: It’s the behaviours and thought processes of certain exceptional individuals that have achieved extraordinary results in communication. In the context of a ‘Noggin’ Practitioner course it is exposure to the operating principles and methodology that underpins the science; and experiential utilisation of some of the coded patterns. These patterns are then generalised out into business and everyday life for effective application.
What does NLP mean?
Neuro: How we filter the millions of bits of information being absorbed through our senses to represent the world as internal images, sounds, tactile sensations, internal feelings, tastes and smells.
Linguistic: It is often said that language is the software of our brain. Once we have received the experience through our senses we allocate meaning to it using words.
Programming: Our response to stimulus occurs as a result of programmed neurological patterns.
What is NLP used for?
Possibly the most common application for NLP is therapy - this is the area of activity from which the patterns and techniques were originally coded. In this area of activity the science has been controversial for a couple of reasons:
Firstly because of the lack of regulation over practitioners, the unfortunate result of which is a huge variety in their levels of understanding and ability. I (Daryll Scott) think that this is an acceptable consequence when you consider the accessibility of NLP, and how many people would have been deprived of the remarkable benefits of this science in their every-day lives if it were regulated differently.
Secondly, because it is a new science, and not entirely embraced by the academic community, it is not empirically proven. Please note - this is not the same as empirically disproven. In time I (DS) expect this to change, although some change in what constitutes unbiased scientific observation or a conclusive statistic may need revising. In the meantime I (DS) can share with you my personal experience: I have been able to consistently help people with problematic thought processes or behaviours where CBT and psychotherapy have failed.
Since the late 1970s, the business application of NLP has been growing steadily. It has been embraced by many business professionals and underpins a great deal of current commercial training material (although often without recognition). You would be extremely hard pushed to find a management or leadership training course that does not contain patterns of NLP. (See the details of my NLP Practitioner course for information about business application).
In recent years, the benefit of NLP patterns and techniques has become obvious within education. More and more teachers are turning to NLP to help them with many of their challenges - and in my personal experience this number would be higher if the cost of NLP training were not prohibitive to many of them.
The benefit of NLP in sports performance is dramatic and immediate. It’s amazing that many top athletes do not pay as much attention to thinking as physical fitness. Again, this is likely to change.
NLP patterns and techniques are coded human behaviours that achieve specific results.
NLP Methodology and Modeling is a collection of neurological and physiological (same thing really) processes that enable extraordinary abilities. The application of NLP is only as limited as the imagination of the practitioner.
