by The International Regulator of Coaching and Mentoring CIC (IRCM CIC)
Using Google to search the initials ‘NLP research’ results in a large number of articles on Natural Language Processing. Which was first studied in the 1950s and is one of the fields of artificial intelligence. Eventually finding recent research about Neuro-Linguistic Programming. The conclusion of the research published by researchers from the Henley Centre for Coaching at the Henley Business School was ‘Given this review. We have no hesitation in coming to the view that coaching psychologists and those interested in evidence-based coaching would be wise to ignore the NLP brand in favour of models, approaches, and techniques where a clear evidence base exists.’
With two distinctly different uses of the NLP acronym: Neuro-Linguistic Programming was originally created through the collaboration of two people in the 1970s as a model of how people communicate, interact with themselves, and interact with others. Although it has become hugely popular over the past four decades, this recent review has concluded that benefits of NLP as practiced by coaches is poorly supported by research evidence.
As with all newly defined industries, the tools, techniques, models, and skills develop over a period of time. If you take the legal profession, the Society of Gentleman Practisers in the Courts of Law and Equity (1739/40, described as the first law society in Great Britain), and although its relationship to the modern Law Society of England and Wales (1825) is unclear; it was many decades until the ‘societies’ defined and finalised the standards, ethics, and practices of their industry.
It is for this reason that although the recent reviews query the benefits of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, the IRCM CIC has concerns about the methods used by the coaches to learn the tools, techniques, models, and skills of Neuro-Linguistic Programming.
Source: iCN Issue 36 (Using NLP in Coaching); pages 31-33
About International Regulator of Coaching and Mentoring
The International Regulator of Coaching and Mentoring CIC (IRCM CIC) is the only approved, independent coaching and mentoring regulator, which focused on helping all consumers of the coaching industry make better-informed decisions. In providing support to the Consumers, the IRCM CIC encourages all genuine coaches, mentors, and organisations to REGISTER, work within the internationally recognised Codes of Conduct, and participate in the discussions and decisions about the future of the coaching and mentoring industry.
