Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a model of communication that explores the relationship between language, thought, and behavior. NLP was founded in the 1970s by Richard Bandler and John Grinder, who studied successful therapists and communicators in order to understand how they achieved their results.
NLP is a practical method for achieving goals, solving problems, communicating effectively and modeling excellence using the language of the mind. It is in effect a “users manual for the mind”
Two definitions from the founders illustrate this
“The strategies, tools and techniques of NLP represent an opportunity unlike any other for the exploration of human functioning, or more precisely, that rare and valuable subset of human functioning known as genius.“
John Grinder (co-creator of NLP)
“NLP is an attitude which is an insatiable curiosity about human beings with a methodology that leaves behind it a trail of techniques.
Richard Bandler (co-creator of NLP)
NLP posits that the way people communicate with themselves and others is shaped by their subjective internal representations of their experiences, which are stored in their neuro-linguistic systems. This means that the words, images, and feelings that people associate with their experiences can affect their behavior, thoughts, and emotions.
This subjective representation or model can be adjusted to produce positive effects such as removing limited beliefs, developing new skills and a creating a whole host of personal development benefits. Tony Robbins a proponent of NLP techniques encapsulates this approach perfectly.
“What we can or cannot do, what we consider possible or impossible, is rarely a function of our true capability. It is more likely a function of our beliefs about who we are.”
The development of NLP has extended far beyond its initial therapeutic field has been applied to a wide range of fields, including psychology, coaching, therapy, sales, and education with excellent results.
Please feel free to explore the material on this website to discover more.
