by Conrad Slater (United Kingdom)
NLP modelling was first unveiled by Richard Bandler and John Grinder when they worked on why some people excelled at a particular task or function and their thought processes, behaviour and belief systems related to these functions. It can be stated that if someone can do something with a high level of achievement, then it can be taught to another person, by using a range of NLP modelling strategies.
Sports people are a good example for this as they are coached using as a series of strategies to allow them to see and work towards a specific result or winning an event. These strategies are not set for the sports industry, they can be used with similar results in business or other work-related activities. The key is the person who using the strategies must engage in them and have trust in the person who is coaching them. Rapport is not enough; the NLP coach must be able to display that they have a good understanding of the type of work or business the client works in. This will ensure a better rapport process with the client and the results will be obtained at the correct speed. One would not expect an Archery Coach to be able to develop the skills of a Horse Dressage rider.
The basis of modelling is similar for all coaching and these techniques have been created and designed with the point of getting to the desired outcome and allowing the client to discover the path towards the final result.
Stage 1
This is where rapport and trust, is most important. The coach at this stage must discover what the outcome or the target the client is looking to reach towards. It is a key stage to allow the coach to collect as much data about the client and their business or work and what the present status quo is.
It is also a point where the coach can discover what the client has tried in the past and if anything has worked or not been useful. Once this fact-finding meeting has been finalised the coach can create a strategy or series of strategies to assist the client further in their quest for excellence.
Stage 2
Spend time working the model out. Consider speech patterns, Nonverbal communication, what they eat, how do they view the world around them, the kind of experiences they may have, the success they achieve, how they handle failures. Create a detailed mural of the good habits and positive processes.
Good examples of these questions are –
- Where and when do you do it?
- What specifically do you do?
- If you were going to teach me to do it, what would you ask me to do?
- What skills do you have that enable you to do this?
- How did you learn how to do this?
- What do you believe about yourself when you do this?
- What do you believe about the person you are doing this to?
- Do you have a personal mission or vision when you’re doing this?
- How do you know that you are good at this?
- What emotional and physical state are you in when you do this?
- What happened for you to be good at this?
- Who else do you recommend I talk to about this?
- What happened for you to be good at this?
Source: iCN Issue 36 (Using NLP in Coaching); pages 11-13
About Conrad Slater
Conrad Slater
NLP Master Practitioner
Member of the Complimentary Medical Association UK
Owner of Red Cube Strategies – NLP and Coaching for Sales and Marketing professionals
https://redcubestrategies.wixsite.com/website
https://www.the-cma.org.uk/Practitioners/Conrad-Slater-4293/