Now Let’s Play NLP
Neuro-Linguistic Programming or NLP is in vogue within management and HR circles. I’m cautious with a word such as programming – am I going to be programmed or rewired, or worse, am I expected to do that to others? Is it manipulative, cult-ish or even dangerous? Conversely, is it just common sense dressed up in the Emperor’s New Clothes – a figment of over-active imagination?
Last week I spent three days on what turned out to be a very intense and mostly enjoyable course on NLP basics. Not always enjoyable, being deliberately thrust out of a comfort zone. To try to visualize the future and the past, to draw lessons for now, to imagine what success or attainment will feel like. I discovered that I was similar to the two trainers and 30% of the other participants in finding visualization difficult rather than easy. However, there were two exercises in particular that I found powerful and potentially useful in coaching or training situations.
The first was the deliberate adoption of different perspectives to a situation, for example of conflict with a colleague. To imagine and feel what it was like to be in their shoes in that situation and how it might seem and feel to a third party outsider. Then to imagine what additional resources the observer could give to alleviate the situation.
Secondly, the Logical Levels of Mission > Identity > Beliefs/values > Capability > Behaviour > Environment. So often we tackle a situation from bottom upwards by influencing the environment – which can of course work – rather than look at, say beliefs/values, and watch how that influences capability and behaviour.
Certainly much of NLP is common sense, although as Robbie the trainer was often saying, not necessarily common practice. Listening, empathetic understanding from another’s perspective and a genuine belief that the person has the answers and most of the resources within themselves are all in there.
If NLP is about how we as human beings are programmed, then that’s fine by me. And useful as part of a wider toolkit.
