WHAT IS NEURO-LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING?

Pure Neuro Lingusitic Programming (NLP) is based on the early original work of its co-creators, John Grinder and Richard Bandler, together with the contributing work of their earlycolleagues - Frank Pucelik, Leslie Cameron Bandler, Judith de Lozier,Steve Gilligan, David Gordon, Robert Dilts, Steve and Connierae Andreasand Christina Hall to mention a few. 

Perhapsthe most succinct method of defining the broad body of skills andinsights contained within NLP is to expand on the words used within thename. Neuro - explores the relationship and interaction between ourbody and our minds. Linguistic – how we communicate and arecommunicated with both verbally and non-verbally. Programming – refersto the patterns and codes with which we live out our lives through ourreactions, behaviours, emotions and habits.

Thepurpose of NLP is to study, describe and transfer models of humanexcellence. As a meta-discipline it focuses on the discovery and codingof those patterns of human behaviour which distinguish excellentperformance from average performance in any human endeavour. It isthese distinguishing patterns which combine to form the practical,reliable and learnable techniques and methodologies called NLP.

Usingthese patterns it is possible to replicate an expert’s intuitiveapplication of their skill or their unique formula for achievingexcellence. This replication can transfer from one discipline or skillset to another unrelated discipline or skill set. (i.e. transferringskills sets from say the performing arts to say a business application)Replication can also be successfully applied from applications withindisciplines - such as from one successful company to another.

ImportantlyNLP also allows people to adapt the skills of others who they recogniseas role models in their area of expertise. These people have excelledthrough naturally created patterns of excellence and repeated andrefined them with consistent positive results. NLP allows people todefine and contextualise the strategies, techniques and physiology usedby their role-models to achieve excellence.

NLPalso provides the master keys to give people the capacity tounderstand, control and if necessary change what it is that definesthem as a person such as their thinking, reactions, emotions, beliefs,habits and even their identity and destiny.

The History of NLP

Others’ descriptions and observations about NLP

“NLP is the study of the structure of subjective experience.”Dr. John Grinder and Richard Bandler (1980)

“NLP is an accelerated learning strategy for the detection and utilization of patterns in the world". Judith DeLozier and John Grinder (1987)

“NLP is a about an attitude and a methodology which leaves behind a trail of techniques. “ Richard Bandler

“We think of NLP as a field that explores the patterns and organisation of effective human intuition.” Chris Collingwood & Jules Collingwood. (2001)

“Neuro-LinguisticProgramming (NLP) is a meta discipline which focuses on the discoveryand coding of patterns which distinguish the most capable ofpractitioners of some particular discipline (managerial practice,medical practice, sports, therapy…) from the average practitioner.These distinguishing patterns are the substance of NLP.” Dr John Grinder

“NLP could be the most important synthesis of knowledge about human communications to emerge since the sixties.”Science Digest

“NLPoffers the potential for making changes without the usual agony thataccompanies these phenomena' and that it 'allows for increasingoptions, flexibility, creativity and therefore greater freedom ofaction than most of us know.” Training and Development Journal