About Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)
A Definition of NLP
Why the Name – NLP
Benefits of NLP
Our Approach to NLP
History of NLP
Modelling Excellence
Principles of NLP
A Definition of NLP
NLP is the exploration of the dynamics between mind and body (neuro) and language (linguistic), and how their interplay (programming) affects our behaviours.
Why The Name - NLP
The name NLP was chosen as it incorporates the three most important components of human experience - neurology, language and programming (or patterning).
- Our neurology regulates how our bodies function and affects our internal sensations and emotions and also our external behaviours.
- Our language determines one of the main ways in which we interact with the world and communicate with other people.
- Our programming (or patterning) determines the kinds of ‘models of the world’ we create.
Benefits of NLP
- NLP has its roots in therapy so is fundamentally about creating change for the better. It offers powerful techniques to transform unwanted habits, build self-esteem and develop positive mindsets that get results – for yourself and others.
- According to Modern Psychology Magazine, "NLP may well be the most important vehicle for change in existence".
- NLP gives you a greater understanding of what makes people tick so you can get onto another person's wavelength and understand where they are coming from more easily.
- At work you can apply NLP specifically to building confidence and success in interviews, presentations, meetings and negotiations.
- In your career, the tools of NLP can give you a real advantage to get back on to the career ladder, change direction and go for promotion.
- In your personal life, NLP enables you to perceive differences and conflict in a new way so you no longer need to ‘change the other’; instead your insights can create more meaningful dialogue and greater appreciation of one another.
- NLP is a great personal development tool for young people as it teaches them to appreciate different perspectives, to take greater responsibility for their actions, and to have a more positive outlook and self-belief.
Our Approach to NLP
Inspire to Motivate takes a creative and holistic approach to training NLP which incorporates key findings in neuroscience.
We believe the only person you can change is yourself; it is how you are in relationship with another and the skills you use which influence the outcome of conversations.
At the heart of our work is the relationship of trust we build with adults and young people. Using NLP allows us to do this more quickly which means we can show you how to get better results more efficiently and effectively.
Becoming more aware of how we think and feel on the inside brings about different results on the outside so in our assessment and working practice we consider different psychotherapeutic models to bring about change safely.
History of NLP
The field of NLP was created in the 1970’s by Richard Bandler, a Gestalt therapist and computer programmer, and John Grinder, a linguistics professor. They were supported in their work by Gregory Bateson, a fellow professor at Santa Cruz University. They studied and utilised ideas from cybernetics, linguistics, communication theory and neurology to model the skills of:
- Virginia Satir (a founder of Family and Systemic Therapy)
- Fritz Perls (developer of Gestalt Therapy)
- Milton Erickson (founder of the American Society for Hypnosis and an eminent psychiatrist and hypnotherapist).
Modelling Excellence
So NLP developed out of the modelling of human thinking skills which is the process of taking a complex event or series of events and working out the component parts which result in excellent performance. These bits can be organised into step-by-step strategies and taught to others as well as transferred into other contexts or content areas.
An example of this is 'motivation'. For example, if we find a young person who is very motivated to play sport but not to complete their homework, we can ‘model’ him to discover his motivational strategy for sport. This skill can then be transferred to his homework for better results.
Principles of NLP
All of the models and techniques and processes of NLP are based on two fundamental principles:
A Map Is Not The Territory
As human beings we can never know reality because there is no absolute reality. We can only know our perceptions of reality. As we grow and evolve, we develop ‘neuro linguistic maps’ of reality and it is these maps, which determine how we perceive reality. It is from these perceptions that we act and interact in the world. Generally speaking, it is not reality, which limits or empowers us, but rather the maps which we have created.
Mind And Body Are One System
In the West we used to believe that mind and body were separate. We are now redisovering that this is not so. Our minds and bodies are inextricably linked and when we change our body - internally or externally - then this will affect the ways in which we think and feel. Alternatively, when we change our thoughts then our bodies are affected.
To find out more about how you can create positive change click on NLP Training
