what is nlp?
nlp coaching – a tool of choice towards excellence
Neuro-Linguistic programming is an approach devoted to the study of human behavior, focusing on communication, learning and change. NLP was created at the beginning of the 1970, further to research conducted by two Californian scholars, John Grinder and Richard Bandler. It is a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from various theoretical and practical sources (cybernetics, linguistics, Palo Alto School, neuro-semantics, communication pragmatics, Milton Erickson's utilisational approach, brief and systemic therapies) in order to offer helpful tools such as those listed below: - An intervention framework that is solutions-oriented instead of focusing on problems;
- Precision Language (Meta Model)
- Verbal and nonverbal synchronization
- Timeline to access to personal resources
- Modeling method (David Gordon's experience classification matrix)
- Alignment of the logical levels of change to develop congruence and motivation
People who are not familiar with or who know little about the NLP approach ought to be aware that NLP is basically an approach that is not intended to develop any ideology and that objects to any exclusive or dogmatic approach. The scope of the NLP approach is pragmatic, not scientific (as it studies the structure of subjective experience, which intrinsically escapes the scientific methodology, and also because it does not seek that much evidence, but rather facts -- as isolated as they might be -- that have yielded conclusive results, so as to analyze and reproduce them). The NLP approach thus focuses on results obtained (what is working?); and then, on the processes that have yielded such results (what made this work?). To achieve this, the approach models excellence. In short, if failing requires a certain way of doing things (cf. How to Fail Most Successfully, by Paul Watzlawick), the same principle applies if one wants to achieve success! What makes the difference? That is the whole question. And that specific question reflects the entire NLP project. No more, no less. In that sense, NLP does not attempt to find out what is true or false, what is good or not from a moral point of view, but what works and what does not work. This approach therefore involves giving oneself a great deal of perspective to take an observer position, in order to emerge from frames that might prove to be limiting, if not binding ("ideological frames") and develop the way we view things so as to become, thanks to the tools yielded by such fine, careful attention, a more open, autonomous individual apt to attain full bloom. NLP therefore targets the individual's personal development, thriving to provide practical tools to improve communication, learning and change, based on clear theoretical approaches that have proven to be effective through tangible results. Besides, as NLP is actually a toolbox, it is important to stress that the user ought to be questioned more than the tool. This dimension of NLP use is clearly expressed in the following passage of Didier Boudineau and Nicole Catona's the book entitled, Manager avec la PNL (Managing with NLP) (Éditions d'Organisation) : "NLP in itself ought to be distinguished from its applications, just as the efficiency of NLP tools ought to be assessed by the yardstick of their user's ethics. Saying that NLP is a harmful manipulation tool is as absurd as forbidding the use of all knives owing to knife assaults. The ethics issue does not target the tool itself, but its user. Thus, the efficiency of NLP tools and the speed with which tangible results to human problem states can be obtained are related to their use by practitioners with strong personal ethics. If it is quite possible to use NLP tools to influence individuals at their expense, the same goes for many other communication tools. Advertising and media information can be just as harmful, which does not basically question their use!" Finally, NLP is acquired via a training program structured by several integration levels (NLP Basic Training, Practitioner, Master Practitioner, Post-Master and Trainer). To become a Certified NLP Coach, an individual must have completed the Post-Master level (the required level to be a certified SICPNL member). The Post-Master level is the only level allowing an individual to act as a professional NLP coach and to use that title. Becoming a Certified PNL Post-Master requires 1,000 hours of training.
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