By Dr. Justin Kennedy (South Africa)
This is not an article singing the NLP song, but rather to show where it went wrong. So what is it about NLP that is a phenomenon? The answer lies in understanding what NLP really was trying to do and where it had no clue at all. So let’s start with a definition: NLP has shown to be an effective style of thinking that provides challenges to oldthought patterns.But sadly since the 1970’s NLP has not tried to keep up with developments in neuroscience, linguistics, CBT and computer programming, so it flails. Yet somehow some coaches still find NLP to be a cool tool.
I was first exposed to NLP via Tony Robbins, who blew my socks off! I left formal academia and became an NLPer. After being in a coma, I realised I could not NLP myself back to normal brain function by ‘’Training my brain to change my mind’’. I learned that the ‘neuro’ in NLP was sadly missing. The emotional brain functions from the limbic system and Dopamine had me fall in love with NLP. I had to go back to mainstream psychology and put in the heavy lifting to complete my doctoral thesis where I learned that if I wanted something valuable, there weren’t NLP quick fixes; not saying that I don’t apply NLP especially when working with phobias but it just isn’t the Holy Grail.
Source: iCN Issue 4 (NLP in Coaching); pages 41-42
About Dr. Justin Kennedy
Dr. Justin Kennedy is the CEO of Sherpa Coaching Africa and holds the position of Professor of Organizational Behaviour and Regional Dean of Africa at UGSM-Monarch Business School, Switzerland. At the University of Pretoria he teaches Neuroscience Coaching as part of the Neuroscience Research Group Management Committee
