NLP

 

"I can't believe I'm 35 and only learning this now. NLP should be taught in schools!"

- Glenda Russell (NLP Practitioner 2010)

 

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Why do you want to learn NLP?

 

What is NLP?

 

How can you learn NLP?

 

What if you learn NLP?

How can you learn NLP?

Because NLP is a practitioner-based discipline, you will not "learn" NLP by reading a book. That will give you the 'What' of NLP. Even if you try to apply what you read in an NLP book you may get variable results and have nothing to compare these with. Also, because most exercises require more than one person for them to work, you will need to find someone else who is prepared to read the book at the same time as you do and who is willing to practice with you. You will still not have the feedback of a certified NLP trainer who is a Master of the subject. So, to learn NLP you should attend an NLP course.

How do I become an NLP Practitioner?

You may be wondering about this already. Shopping for NLP training programs is like shopping for clothes: there are many styles, fabrics, sizes, etc to choose from and it's important that you pick the right one for you. There are essentially two main styles of learning NLP, each with their pros & cons:

1. Spread out over a long period of time, typically 21 days over 6-7 weekends. This normally takes around 6 months and will certainly ensure that you learn the information at a pace where you are certain to understand it. Some drawbacks are that: people often drop out because it takes too long; you may not get to attend every course and therefore you have gaps in your knowledge; you spend a major portion of every training backtracking what was taught in previous modules. Your unconscious mind prefers to learn quickly. A useful analogy is how cartoon movies used to be made, one still at a time. By putting all the stills together quickly the moving flowed and you understood it. If each frame were separated out a day at a time you would find it difficult to both understand and retain the information in a meaningful way.
   
   
2. The second style of learning NLP is to go for an accelerated learning program or an 'immersion' approach. So, you take out anything from 7 to 12 days and immerse yourself in the knowledge. The advantage is that you tend to learn the information more effectively but a drawback is that you may not have the depth of comprehension of the slower courses.

 

A third and better way is to combine 1 & 2 above. You first complete a Home Study version of the training and then you immerse yourself for 7-10 days over a short period of time. Add in an open-book test and you are sure to have both the fast learning and the comprehension to go with it. You also have the benefit of the Home Study program to refer to afterwards, thus closing the loop. A good NLP school will also provide coaching support. This is the easiest and fastest way to learn NLP.

 

For those who want to learn NLP through English there are the additional time and cost factors associated with traveling to an English-speaking country if you do not live in one.

What can you expect at an NLP training?

Research into ultradian rhythms has discovered that we need a break every 90 minutes. So, a good NLP training course will break the topics taught into 90-minute segments.

 

To ensure that all learning styles are taken into account the training should normally be structured using a system such as the 4-Mat system. This ensures that in each segment the following is covered:

• Why you are learning this
• What is the theory underpinning this
• How do you actually do it – this is done through exercises
• What if I apply this elsewhere – a generous Question & Answer session to explore what has been learned during the exercises

 

Although exercises are sometimes done in twos and in larger groups of 5 plus, the most familiar exercise format is working in groups of 3 (person A, B, C):

• Person A is the Practitioner practicing the skill
• Person B is the 'client' of the Practitioner
• Person C is the observer or coach for person A

 

This is a systemic approach. The roles rotate and this ensures that all participants get 3 different experiences and perspectives on the exercise. Should a group not get the expected result then an exercise is reloaded during a break and they get a chance to do it again. To be awarded a Practitioner certificate you must demonstrate that you can use the tools of NLP.

 

A reputable NLP training will also have coaching assistants to help you with the exercises. The normal ratio for this is 1 assistant for every 6 participants.