Frequently Asked Questions…

What is NLP?

Neuro Linguistic Programming is a model which explores how people communicate. It offers insights into what shapes us as people and allows us to reflect in order to improve and adapt. It emphasises the way that language influences the way that we think, and therefore, behave. It allows us to measure our effectiveness and presents options for change and personal growth. It is especially useful in understanding the way that people interact with others and can help bring people closer together, both individually or in teams. It seeks to analyse the theme of excellence; how we identify patterns in ourselves and others that appeal to us, and then can be reinforced and transferred into how we do things in our own lives.

I've heard that NLP can be used to manipulate others. I'm uncomfortable with this.

One of the founding principles of NLP is to clearly understand our own values and beliefs, as these drive all of our actions and behaviours. It suggests that personal contentment is based on the principle of ‘congruence', where all of our actions are based on a set of values that we truly believe in. An important aspect in our lives today is that we are constantly involved in the process of being ‘influenced' or seeking to influence others – our colleagues, our competitors, our family even our pets! As long as this is based in values such as respect for others, then it seems useful to understand the process via NLP techniques. NLP can ensure that we are fully aware when we are either being influenced or manipulated by others and when we are doing it ourselves. It can help us to protect ourselves and others through greater awareness.

How long can it take to learn these skills?

NLP uses the everyday communication skills that we all possess and heightens them. It is a process of becoming more aware of ourselves, and how we want to be. An insight into basic NLP principles can be gained in a one or two day long workshop. Becoming a qualified NLP Practitioner can take a few months. Applying the techniques, making changes to ourselves and continually refining them can take a lifetime!

How does NLP allow me to stay in control of the changes in my life?

NLP gives us tools to manage change. The human race has never lived life at such a pace and it is getting faster. Change is continual and unless we find ways in adapting to this pace, we will find ourselves feeling out of control and unable to take part as fully as we wish. NLP is one way of understanding the concept of change and how we choose to respond effectively to it. Rather than become a passenger of change, the NLP toolkit allows us to drive it (or at least make a rational choice about which role to put ourselves in during a change process).

What Is Personal Coaching?

Personal coaching is a support mechanism to anyone who wishes to understand how they are dealing with their lives in order to improve and develop. It can focus around personal wellbeing (life coaching) or the world of professional work (business coaching). It is based around a coach-client relationship where the coach offers a set of strategies and techniques for the client to measure their progress and therefore plan the changes they wish to make. The coach is not a teacher or mentor or counsellor. Instead, the coach works as a facilitator to enable the client to make the changes they wish to make, meaningful to their lives. The coaching process is one of honest reflection, planning to move forward, and measuring success.

What is Sports Coaching?

Sports coaching is designed to support a specific area of performance in which many would describe as the most challenging of all professional environments. How many other professions are assessed so acutely on whether or not they are successful? The basis for this could be a 2 hour game of tennis, a 3 hour round of golf, a 10 second dash, or a 90 minute game of soccer. As a result, mental preparation which lies behind successful sports performance can be hugely significant. NLP offers coaching techniques which can develop vital themes such as consistency, focus and concentration, dealing with success or the lack of it, preparation and training. These are the building blocks on which the technical aspects of all sports are based and without them, a sportsperson may not be as effective as they would wish.

What Is Co-Coaching?

Once the themes behind coaching have been grasped by a team of people working in any professional context, it is possible to establish mechanisms which enable individual colleagues to become each other's coach. This is a form of peer learning and support which allows an opportunity in busy, fast-changing working environments to self-reflect, step back, and work out how best to improve in order move forward. Co-coaching can be set up within organisations as small teams or in one to one pairings and can be used to bring people together in order to gain a better understanding of each other to the wider benefit of the team and the organisation.

If you have any further questions please click here to email us.