An Introduction to NLP
NLP is a complete methodology used by professionals and business leaders worldwide to support personal and team development.
NLP – A Potted History!
In the 1970s, NLP was co-created by Dr Richard Bandler and John Grinder. Richard was a math student, and John was a linguist. Luckily, for the hundreds and thousands of NLP Practitioners that have been privileged to study and thrive from their models and processes ever since, Richard and John worked together to study the pioneering and successful change workers or “wizards” of their time, including Fritz Perls (Founder of Gestalt Therapy), Virginia Satir (Family Psychotherapist) and Milton Erickson (Hypnotist).
As they observed the “three wizards” achieving rapid changes for their clients, Richard and John were determined to find the difference that made the difference.
They observed, listened to, and transcribed each therapist at work. Richard even notated the language and tonal patterns of Milton Erickson like a musical score.
Ultimately, Richard and John grasped each practitioner’s strategy. Then, they used their work to formulate a complete methodology with new applications, not only in its original form of therapy, but also in coaching, learning, business, sales, law, and the arts, to name a few!
Dr Richard Bandler summarises NLP as the study of successful behaviours, both internal and external.
Having modelled the “three wizards” successfully, the co-founders of NLP modelled the successful behaviours or strategies of people from the worlds of sport, creativity, business and beyond.
Consequently, NLP has become commonly known as the study of excellence.
So, what do the letters NLP stand for?
N=Neuro
Neurons – Information messengers linking the brain; the rest of the nervous system
L=Linguistic
Language – Words and phrases that give meaning to our experience
P=Programming
Coding – Training the brain, a bit like a computer!