What is NLP?
NLP stands for Neuro-Linguistic Programming and was developed in the early 1970s by John Grinder, Associate Professor of linguistics, University of California, Santa Cruz and Richard Bandler, a master’s student of information sciences and mathematics. Both of them were fascinated by what made high achievers different from the rest and what the rest could learn about high performance from the high achievers.
Modelling excellence is a fundamental process of NLP. We all form very individual perceptions of the world and our immediate environment through what we commonly call our senses, emotions and also that internal debate that many of us have in order to make sense of things. Of course, that ‘inner voice’ can also prevent from doing many things that we might otherwise want to do. NLP is about creating a positive outlook and world view.
By modelling high achievers Grinder and Bandler came to the conclusion that replicating their language structure and behavioural patterns could replicate their success in others. Consequently, NLP has been applied in many areas of personal development, especially in business, sport and life.
NLP has been defined in a variety of ways including:
- 'The key to learning';
- 'The study of success';
- 'The manual for your brain';
- 'The art and science of communication'; and
- The method of creating your own future'.
Often, NLP is defined by breaking down its component parts:
Neuro: the mind and, in this context, how it filters external stimuli and information to create the person’s internal representation of the world.
Linguistic: the personal meaning and interpretation that each of us attaches to the external information we receive.
Programming: the study of the thinking and behavioural patterns that people use in their everyday lives.
Over time, NLP has also been applied to help people in a broad range of areas, such as overcoming phobias and dealing with issues such as insomnia, weight loss and giving-up smoking.
My approach to NLP
NLP techniques and thinking about effective coaching and mentoring continue to develop. In addition, many of us NLP practitioners, also look at other disciplines such as Hypnotherapy and Time Line Therapy to enlarge the toolkits we have to support our clients. As a coach and mentor, in addition to NLP, I also draw on other coaching methods, as well as my previous experience as a trainer, a mentor and line manager. The primary aim is to help and support the client.
Alamgir Khan |Coach & Mentor – NLP Master Practitioner | AMK coaching & mentoring