what is nlp neuro linguistic programming

NLP: What’s Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Why You Should Learn It

Neuro-linguistic programming (or NLP) is a set of techniques that improve communication, interpersonal relationships, and personal development. In this guide, you’ll learn how NLP works and how to use it. You’ll discover simple yet effective techniques, like eye-accessing cues and NLP predicates.

If you’re interested in getting trained in NLP, to enrich your own life or help others, we’ll also share important considerations for choosing a reputable NLP training program.

Let’s dive in.

NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming is so spot-on that most people wish they’d learned it in primary school.


What Is Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)?

It is based on the idea that our thoughts, language, and behaviors are all connected. By changing one of these elements, we can change the others.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming is a set of skills that reveal the kind of communication that matters most – on the inside and out.

For many, it’s clarifying to offer a definition by showing what we mean by the words neuro, linguistic, and programming. Here you go:

Neuro: Referring to the mind or brain, particularly regarding how states of mind (and body) affect communication and behavior. NLP teaches a structural way of viewing mind and body states, developing mental maps that show how things happen and how to change course.

Linguistic: Meaning that our mind and body states are revealed in our language and non-verbal communication. Language is the tool we use to gain access to the inner workings of the mind. Neuro-linguistic programming language patterns teach us how to access unconscious information that would remain vague and unknowable otherwise.

Programming: This refers to the capacity to change our mind and body states. You’ve heard the term living on autopilot, right? To someone trained, this would mean that you are living according to your programming, which consists of habitual thoughts, feelings, reactions, beliefs, and traditions.

Someone trained in neuro-linguistic programming knows how such programs are structured in the mind and how to access them through conversation so that outdated programs and autopilot behaviors can be changed.

How Does NLP work?

During conversations, most of us fixate on words. What does this person mean and what shall I say in return? It’s been long established that words are the least meaningful aspect of communication, conveying just 7% of meaning (Mehrabian, 1972).

For example, when someone tells you they’re willing to help you organize a social gathering, but their voice is flat and their facial expression looks like you just invited them to an evening of electric shock torture…it’s obvious something else is going on. Their words said YES, but the non-verbal communication – the other 93% – said SOMETHING ELSE.

What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming? The other 93% of communication. It is a system for understanding and using the kind of communication that really matters. Master non-verbal communication and you become a communication master!

But here’s something even more interesting:

Most people don’t realize that communication is made of so much more than interactions between people. There exists an entire world of communication within your mind and body. Inner life – your mindset, attitude, and feelings – is an active form of communication.

Inner communication is a strong suit of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, which was originally known as the study of the structure of subjective experience. This is a fancy way of saying that NLP breaks down what’s going on between your ears so that you can do something constructive with it. Here’s a taste of how it works.

Let’s say you’re having friends over for dinner and you’re feeling extra tense. You’re not sure why. Everything seems fine, but you’re feeling on edge. An NLP Practitioner could figure out how you’re creating this tense state in a few moments. It’s all about how you’re communicating with yourself on the inside.


The NLP Breakdown of Inner Communication

Inner communication is made of images, sounds, and feelings (the VAK Model). Finding out what’s giving you tense feelings is a matter of discovering which images and sounds go with the tense feeling. As you turn your attention inward, looking for what you see and hear on the inside, you might discover that you are imagining things about the dinner:

• You’re seeing your house all messy as the guests arrive.
• An inner voice that says, “They’re going to hate your dinner.”
• Looks of disgust on their faces as they eat.
• You’re sitting alone in your house because no one showed up.

And so on. The point is: You probably weren’t consciously aware of all the inner communication channels. If you’re feeling tense about dinner, you’re probably imagining how badly it could go and responding to this unconscious imagery and sound. The tense feelings are a mirror of the other channels.

This is why Neuro-Linguistic Programming claims that people are not broken. We simply respond to inner communication, whether or not we’re aware of it. So, if you’re picturing bad things, happening at your dinner party, you’re going to feel tense. You’re working perfectly.

When you become aware of how you are perfectly creating a mindset you don’t want, you can change it. Neuro-Linguistic Programming offers a vast library of methods to change our mindset once we identify it. Transforming the inner communication so that you feel better is the Programming aspect of NLP.


NLP Research and Recognition Project

The NLP Research and Recognition Project, founded by clinical psychologist Frank Bourke, PhD, is a not-for-profit organization created to expand the clinical investigation into Neuro-Linguistic Programming.

Bourke received his doctorate in clinical psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry in London and has been using NLP clinically since the early 1970’s.

After the 9-11 attacks in 2001, Dr. Bourke designed and implemented a rehabilitation plan for 800 World Trade Center building survivors. He discovered that he was able to alter the symptoms of PTSD (trauma) with an NLP-derived protocol more quickly and effectively than with other protocols.

As a result of this experience, Bourke founded the NLP Research and Recognition project “to advance the science of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and bring the research up to a scientific standard necessary for more widespread implementation.”

A common question among those seeking training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming is, “Is there any research to back NLP?” The answer is a resounding yes. The results NLP practitioners have experienced for decades are now being codified into clinical research.


History and Origins of Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP)

Although Jon Grinder and Richard Bandler often receive most of the credit for originating Neuro-Linguistic Programming, NLP was actually founded by a group of people who made consistent contributions. This group includes Grinder and Bandler as well as Frank Pucelik, Robert Dilts, Judith Delozier, Leslie Cameron, David Gordon, and others.

At the University of California, Santa Cruz in early 1970s this enlightened group set out to discover the specific communication patterns that enabled outstanding psychotherapists – including Milton Erickson (famous psychiatrist/hypnotherapist), Virginia Satir (founder of Family Systems Therapy), and Fritz Perls (founder of Gestalt Therapy) to achieve uncommon results with their clients.

By direct observation and videotape analyses, they were able to break down these practitioners’ effective patterns of communication and teach them to others.

neuro-linguistic programming Virginia Satir.
Virginia Satir
neuro-linguistic programming milton erickson
Milton Erickson
neuro-linguistic Programming Fritz Perls
Fritz Perls

The process used to discover the magic in transformative communication was called modeling. Many consider modeling to be the heart and soul of Neuro-Linguistic Programming. When you know how to create models based on the expertise of others, you can learn and teach any new skill in its essential form.


NLP – Predicates

Their first discovery was that Satir matched her predicates (verbs, adverbs, and adjectives to those of her clients without being aware of doing so. Some clients would use visual predicates mainly, while others used auditory or kinesthetic predicates. This led to the proposition that for any person, one of the senses (seeing, hearing or feeling) is more highly valued and is reflected in the words that he or she selects.

When Satir matched her words with the predicates her clients used, the clients appreciated that Satir understood them. This created rapport, which made her interventions more acceptable.

NLP- Eye Accessing Cues

Next, Grinder and Bandler discovered eye accessing cues which are movements of the eyes, may indicate whether one is using pictures, words and sounds, or feelings when thinking, remembering or learning.

neuro-linguistic programming

For instance, when a right-handed person looks up towards the left, he is probably remembering visual images.

Subsequently, Grinder and Bandler, after studying Milton Erickson, refined the linguistic patterns used by therapists to effectively influence people’s behaviors.


The Four Pillars (foundations) of the neuro-linguistic programming:

neuro-linguistic programming four pillars of nlp

Rapport

NLP provides an important gift to build relationships with other people. Rapport can be described as connecting quickly with others. Creating rapport creates trust from others. Rapport can be built quickly through understanding modality preferences, eye accessing cues and predicates.

Sensory Awareness

Sometimes when you walk into someone’s home, you notice that the colors, smells, and sounds are subtly quite different from yours. Neuro-linguistic programming enables you to notice that your world is much richer when you deliberately pay attention to your senses wholly.

Outcome Thinking

An outcome is your goal for doing something. Outcome connects to thinking about what you want, as opposed to getting stuck in a negative mode of thinking. The principles of outcome approach may help to make the best decisions and choices.

Behavioral Flexibility

Behavioral flexibility means being able to do something differently if the way you’re currently doing it isn’t working. Being flexible is a key aspect of practicing NLP. Learning NLP helps you to find fresh perspectives and to build these habits into your repertoire.


Neuro-linguistic Programming Training (NLP Training)

The main reasons a person may take an NLP training are to:

  • Be a powerful and inspiring communicator
  • Be skilled at reading non-verbal cues
  • Increase your subconscious and sensory awareness
  • Master and be in control of your thinking and emotions
  • Alleviate fears and phobias
  • Motivate and empower
  • Develop depth in personal and business relationships
  • Attain success and achievement
  • Rectify unwanted behaviors in yourself and others
  • Effectively communicate and get information from others

Levels of NLP Training

There are many organizations that oversee, organize, and often accredit training centers. All organizations agree to the following levels of NLP training, which can be found at many NLP training centers. However, this does not mean that one can move from training center to training center, hoping to acquire the next level of training. Often training centers have their courses build on the previous course content.

Therefore, it is best to either commit to taking all your training at one center or checking with the training centers prior to starting your journey.

NLP Practitioner

NLP Practitioner is the first level of NLP training. There is generally no requirement of NLP experience, and anyone can enroll. An NLP Practitioner training encompasses learning the basic elements of NLP, as well as the techniques of combining these elements to apply them with skill and elegance. This training provides a series of skills and strategies for success, as well as creating value in life.

Thus, it includes addressing challenges in relationships, business, family, as well as education. Learning to solve such issues leads to greater personal growth. A quality NLP practitioner course usually involves projects of real-life application of the NLP Skills. These skills help others to overcome fears and phobias, in addition to learning greater confidence.

neuro-linguistic programming seal
NLP Practitioner Seal

NLP Master

An NLP Master training builds on the Practitioner level material in more depth or adds more complex techniques and models. Some of the key areas addressed include modeling and language. In this level, people develop skills to change beliefs and values in themselves and in others that better fit their lifestyle, family, and work systems. Master training usually covers developments in communication techniques.

These may include quantum linguistics, discovery and retraining of the unconscious behavioral competence, and why people think differently and how they do it, which is our individual values. Training may also cover filters to our personality – Meta Programs, which are advanced strategies, advanced NLP submodalities, mediation skills, and also advanced linguistic negotiation.

Each training center has its own set of courses they specialize in. Taking the master course is vital for completely transforming your business, health, as well as relationships. Taking this training enables you to expand and profit in substantial ways.

neuro-linguistic programming master seal
NLP Master Practitioner Seal

NLP Trainer

NLP Trainers train NLP Practitioners as well as NLP Master Practitioners. This program enables discovery of your unique identity as a trainer and as a presenter, which is what makes a difference. A person learns how to be confident, which allows them to have fun and be at ease in front of people.

This training prepares you to become a charismatic and transformational presenter. It delivers skills and techniques to successfully influence groups, to understand, analyze, and coordinate group processes, and also the mastery of skills to be a charismatic presenter. Upon completion, a person is able to present in front of groups of any size with perfect confidence.

neuro-linguistic programming trainer seal
NLP Trainer Seal

NLP Coach

An NLP coach is proficient in not only NLP but also Life Coaching. They use the NLP tools throughout their coaching sessions to guide the client through the stages of a coaching session- Pretalk, Information Gathering, Transformation, and Integration.

An NLP Coach might have learned coaching and then added on the NLP Practitioner and NLP Master Tools to their credential. Or, a coach may have taken a complete NLP-Integrated Life Coach Training.

A confident NLP Coach can will be able to flow between multiple technique and models, utilizing specific ones as needed throughout a coaching sessions.

See NLP Coach Training

NLP Life Coach Seal

✅ You might also enjoy additional articles on NLP models and techniques


What is NLP?

NLP is a set of models that allow someone to create cognitive behavioral change and build more resourceful states to achieve their goals. NLP is short for Neuro-Linguistic Programming. NLP models teach you how to see problems from new perspectives to find better solutions. NLP holds a vast library of tools and techniques that one can access to solve any problem they may face. This flexibility is what makes NLP the most suitable training for coaches in any niche or everyday people trying to move forward in their lives.

What is NLP used for?

NLP is used to assist yourself and clients to become more effective communicators, problem solvers, and goal achievers. By practicing NLP you are able to see the world from a new perspective which allows you to become more flexible and resourceful in the way you approach any obstacle.

Is NLP Magic?

No. NLP is not magic. NLP models allow you to retrain the way you approach problem states to move towards more resourceful states. Some people call it magic because it is so effective. But, but like any other change, you must still apply it regularly to your life.

Can anyone learn NLP?

Yes, anyone can learn NLP. Here, at iNLP Center, we have students or all ages and continents learning and benefiting from the NLP tools they’ve learned.


Types of NLP Training

Training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming was originally conducted in live, group settings. It was thought that NLP needed to be taught in person to really be understood. However, over the years and with the development of the internet, online training has become more popular and accepted as an effective training style. iNLP Center was the first to successfully feature online NLP trainings and has since perfected the platform and delivery to make it the most effective way to learn NLP.

Additionally, some centers offer a blend of online and private training. There are many benefits to online training as the ability to learn the material and practice it in your daily life before moving on to new material and techniques.

However, as with any neuro-linguistic programming or NLP training, it must fit your personal style and needs. The things to consider when evaluating what training is right for you is:

  • The quality of the material taught
  • Their philosophy and focus
  • Financial affordability
  • Time required to complete the training(s)
  • Credibility of the training center and staff
  • Accreditation and endorsements
  • Support during and after your training

Make sure to ask as many questions as needed to find out if the NLP training center meets your criteria.


iNLP Center

iNLP Center offers a comprehensive NLP Practitioner, Master Practitioner, and Trainer program, as well as Life Coach training that will prepare a student for work as a coach, trainer, or to simply enhance a current career.

Want to learn NLP? Get started right now:

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