You’d be surprised how often coaches hear similar questions to the title of this article. Sometimes they’re serious, sometimes they’re said in jest… but they’re always based in a real (and understandable) objection people have when they’re thinking about enlisting the help of a coach or mentor.
Your mind is one of the most precious things you have, and I’d be the first person to say that you should be very careful to whom you open it.
You can’t trust every Tom, Dick and Harry (even Dr. Tom, Dick or Harry) to put their metaphorical fingers in there and rearrange the jumble.
But one of the items in my toolbox that commonly gets a strong reaction when mentioned is NLP, or Neuro-Linguistic Programming.
It’s something that’s hit the spotlight in recent years, becoming all the rage in entrepreneurial circles for two primary – but polar opposite – reasons:
- Making money
- Poking through barriers and helping people unlock their potential
How much exposure people have to either mode 1 or mode 2 usually determines their opinions on NLP, and their reaction when you mention it.
People who have mostly heard it talked about in “make money” niches tend to immediately dismiss NLP as slimy, manipulative manure – a crude method of persuading people to part with their cash for little more than a pep talk and no lasting benefit.
At worst, it could be used to convince people of a lie, making it a technique that’s often nattered about by ethically-challenged marketers.
Thankfully, though, these marketers are often looking for the next “quick money” opportunity – much like the people they hope to rob convince to buy stuff – and don’t put the necessary effort and study into figuring out what NLP is really all about. The result is transparent attempts at using Neuro-Linguistic Programming that fall flat on their big, dumb faces and leave the professionals shaking our heads.
Don’t get me wrong, though. Used sensitively and with a deep understanding, NLP can be employed successfully – and to positive effect – in any situation that requires a degree of persuasion. It’s all about the outcome, which could even be simple entertainment in the form of stage hypnotism, for example.
People who have been primarily exposed to circles that treat NLP in the second mode – as a valid tool for cutting through mental noise and affecting holistic change – will rave about it. They aren’t scared of it, nor wary of others who understand its practice. In fact, they’re endlessly enthusiastic about it.
Because they’ve seen exactly what it can do to help turn your life around.
If you’ve dismissed NLP as mere manipulation, a joke or something to be afraid of, here’s a bit of help in understanding the basics of what it’s all about…
What’s NLP All About?
The term Neuro-Linguistic Programming was coined by Richard Bandler and John Grinder back in the ’70s. It investigates and seeks to work with the links between three things:
- Neurology (how our minds and bodies work)
- Language (the way we communicate and interact with others)
- Programming (the norms of behaviour that society and the world at large implant in us)
NLP sees all three of these as a connected system that moulds our subjective view of both ourselves and the world around us. It looks at how each element influences the others and how they work together to cause shifts in the way we perceive and conduct ourselves – from simple personal connection between individuals, to speech-based therapeutic applications, breaking through mental roadblocks and determination of self belief.
Of course, implementation goes much, much deeper than that overview but that’s the sign above the door. It isn’t about being skeevy and trying to get people to part with money for nothing.
Should You Be Wary of NLP?
Of course, being a practitioner, I’m going to say no, you shouldn’t be scared or dismissive of NLP. On the simplest level, great breakthroughs can be had through little more than consistent application of positive language and personal affirmations. There are various, highly beneficial self-help products on the market that use this tactic to overcome potentially debilitating afflictions such as anxiety.
And let’s not forget about one of the world’s greatest hypnotherapists… a man I very much admire by the name of Paul McKenna, whose books I Can Make You Thin and Quit Smoking Today are amongst a long line of international best-sellers based on his extensive knowledge of neuro-linguistic programming and hypnotism.
Does it work for everybody? No, it doesn’t. And that’s fine.
Just like some people aren’t the kind who can be hypnotised for entertainment (or therapy), NLP techniques aren’t directly applicable to every single one of us – which is usually what leads to the negative opinions from a therapeutic standpoint.
And we both know negative word spreads quickly. Meanwhile, those feeling the benefit just sit back and enjoy the rewards.
So if the idea of being on the receiving end of NLP techniques makes you feel a bit cagey, but you haven’t personally encountered it in a coaching sense, be open to giving it a go. It just might be the answer to those personal problems and habits you find yourself loathing every morning.
If not, then at least you tried… and know for certain that it isn’t the approach for you. Knowing’s much better than confusion or despair, wouldn’t you agree?
This is why I offer a completely FREE introductory call for all my coaching clients – so we can figure out what we need to focus on and whether my tools fit your sockets. Even if they don’t, you’ll still walk away with a clearer view of the road ahead.
So if you’re a medical professional who’s fighting burnout… feeling anxious, ground down and troubled about the future, get in touch and book a chat right here.
Let’s get your third eye open.
Share this Post
