NLP IN ACTION – CASE STUDY 3
These case studies are examples of how NLP works in practice. In case study one, Adrian, we concentrate on the results of an NLP coaching session. In case study two, Notini, we give an example of how a specific technique (Logical Levels of Alignment) can be used. In the third case study about Paul, we give examples of how NLP can be used in a purely conversational way to effect transformation and growth.
Case study three
The client is a man in his early twenties who has a clear vision of where he wants to go and what he wants to achieve. However, he is frustrated and handicapped by the people around him who make promises and then fail to deliver. We will call this client Paul.
NLP has many definitions. One of them is “the art of conversational change”. As Paul spoke, his language was full of information about how he was structuring his model of reality. In the first session with Paul, we concentrated on making him aware of what was going on under the surface structure of his problemò this was expressed through his language.
Paul would say: “I know they don’t realise the importance of what I am doing!”. Some of the questions we asked him were: “How do you know that?” and “What would happen if they did?”. These questions caused Paul to reflect on assumptions he was making. What was his source of his information?; was this something he had some specific evidence for? And if it was in fact something that he had some specific evidence for, what could he do to get his message across in a way that allowed his listeners to realise the importance of what he was doing?
The question “What would happen if they did?” led him to explore the actual actions he needed to see – and part of this was the realisation that what he needed to see was action, as opposed to just hearing a promise. This in turn led him to understand that he was expending a lot of energy worrying about when people were going to take action, instead of acting himself by moving on to prospects who might take action rather than just talking about it.
His language was full of statements that indicated that he was at “effect” in his life, rather than at “cause”. Being at “effect” has the result of us feeling like helpless victims, whereas being at “cause” means that we have choices and are in control, not necessarily of what happens in life, but of how we respond to what happens in life. Paul would make statements such as, “They make me so frustrated!”.Our response would be: “How does what they are doing cause you to choose to feel frustrated?” This question led back to his realisation that it was within his power to move on to people who would produce the goods, rather than wasting time and energy on people who were making promises but not delivering.
Paul said, “They never do what they say they will do!”. We would ask him, “Who are they specifically?” Has anyone ever done what they said they would do?” or “What would happen if they did?”. All these questions served to shift Paul’s thinking from negative examples into positive examples. This kept his mind on specific positives instead of drowning in negative generalisations.
Through the use of NLP coaching questions Paul was able to realise that he had some recurring patterns that he was affecting his thinking and behaviour. Once he became aware of these patterns he was able to choose to do something different.
All the above questions come from an NLP technique called the “Meta Model”. This is a model that is designed specifically to challenge woolly thinking. It is very easy to slip into habitual ways of thinking where we distort, generalise and delete information. Using the NLP Meta model questioning technique, we can aid our clients to obtain an understanding of the assumptions they are making about any given situationò we also help them to clarify what they are doing and where they are responsible for their own results.
If you are interested in finding out more about this model of questioning with a purpose, it is advisable to attend an appropriate workshop on the subject. The questions we use are just examples of ways that you can explore a client’s model of reality, and help your client to adjust their thinking. It is the process behind the questions that is where the magic lies – the questions I have used are just the tip of the iceberg.
Glossary:
“Meta Model – a model that identifies language patterns that obscure meaning in a communication through the processes of distortion, deletion and generalization, and specific questions to clarify and challenge imprecise language to connect it back to sensory experience and the deep structure.” NLP Glossary in Introducing NLP, by Joseph O’Connor and John Seymour, Mandala Press, 1990.
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