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Last Updated:
19 August 2005
 

Articles from Mike:

Coaching in Organisations

Getting Students into the Training Room (Part 1)!

Getting Students into the Training Classroom  (Part 2)

NLP - A Trainer's Tale (Part 1)

NLP - A Trainer's Tale (Part 2)

 

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In the first part of this article, I looked at my overall slowwww introduction to NLP - in this 2nd part of , I will cover the specific changes I have made to my Training /Coaching approach using my learnings with NLP.

Once I became certified as an NLP Practitioner, I talked with my fellow Trainers and Clients to gauge their reactions to the possibility of using NLP skills in a business setting. The reaction I noticed was fairly stark:

• Some people looked at me when I mentioned "Neuro-Linguistic Programming" as if I had just said "Future-based derivative retro value discounting" - puzzled, yet polite.

• Others considered it "manipulative magic" - fine for self-development, but with no place in their business world.

I decided not to use the label "NLP" and, instead, to work some of the skills and techniques into my current approaches to Coaching and Training:

In the classroom:

• I use written and spoken persuasive language to entice people to attend the training in the first place. I have written an example of this in another article
   

• I get all to set "well-formed personal outcomes" at the beginning of the training - this has made life much easier and more-focused for me as a trainer.
   

• I use active listening to generate rapport and to generate "metaphors for learning" using the listener's frame of reference.
   

• I use trance techniques and humour  to work with the state of the audience - to e.g. increase overall curiosity in the learning  - and to install the learning in a more effective manner.
   

• I use voice tone and body language techniques to underscore and make more congruent my communication. I also notice the voice tone and body language of learners and react to this constructively.
   

• I am conscious of setting anchors with my tone of voice, certain words, gestures or just by where I stand.

Previously, I would have used many of the above skills/techniques - but not as consciously, comprehensively or effectively.

In Coaching settings - I also use most of the above skills, except that I work with NLP in a more overt way -  I pin down areas for development and related obstructions with the individual, and work on ways of getting around them.

NLP has complemented both my Training and Coaching styles (having done both since 1986) and has helped me to:

• Become more observant and less prescriptive
   

• Focus in on behaviour for change
   

• Deal with changes more quickly and elegantly.

I have tried, and failed miserably (see the previous article), to pick up NLP from a book. It is very experiential.

I recommend that you try out an NLP workshop  - and EXPERIENCE the difference for yourself.

Mike Collins