NLP – The World of Neuro-Linguistic Programming

NLP – The World of Neuro-Linguistic Programming

Posts 1-4 of 4
  • Oleg Ilyenko
    Oleg Ilyenko
    The company name is only visible to registered members.
    NLP self-study
    Hi everybody,

    I interested to know if it's possible to study NLP to some degree alone (with books, online material, etc.). My main goal is to better understand and control myself (bad habits, mood, etc.) and improve my communication skills (better understand others, better rapport and influence, etc.). I'm new to NLP. I read several articles and books (currently reading NLP: The new technology of achievement). I am software developer, so I don't want to become professional trainer or coach, just want to learn it for my life and work (even if my main communication happens with computers, I still need to communicate with other people :). Most of valuable knowledge about my profession I received through self study. So I trying to apply this pattern to other areas - namely NLP. But it feels somehow wrong.

    Can you, please, tell me to what extent can I learn NLP all by myself and how I can continue my study (should it be private lessons, seminars, courses, etc.)?

    Thanks in advance.
    • 13 Apr 2011, 4:24 pm
  • Michael Match Luther
    Michael Match Luther    Premium Member   Group moderator
    The company name is only visible to registered members.
    Re: NLP self-study
    Hi Oleg,

    I'll try to answer your question from my perspective and may give you some hints, might be valuable ones, let's see.

    Oleg Ilyenko schrieb:
    I interested to know if it's possible to study NLP to some degree alone (with books, online material, etc.). Although NLP is not primarily designed to be learned by books but by personal experience, you might get at least some initial (!) ideas about the method as well as some possible application scenarios.

    My main goal is to better understand and control myself (bad habits, mood, etc.) and improve my communication skills (better understand others, better rapport and influence, etc.). Since there are already numerous books on the market dealing with communication from several perspectives, I'd say NLP is just one of these methods; which means, you'll get some first hands-on impulses. Since you are fluent in English I'd recommend some literature from the US or from the UK, which actually are pretty straight forward - eg.: Seymour/ O'Connor: Neurolinguistic Programming, or the "NLP for Dummies"-book (forgot the author, you'll find it via Amazon). You might also find some of Robert Dilts' books worthwhile to read.

    I'm new to NLP. I read several articles and books (currently reading NLP: The new technology of achievement). I am software developer, so I don't want to become professional trainer or coach, just want to learn it for my life and work To me the most precious point of NLP was and still is: Once "infected" with NLP you might become a professional communicator - with others as well as with yourself.
    Having said this, learning to communicate you might initially get some hints from books - ways more effective you'll find the "live approach" ... where communication is not just a written word but a real competence; and your peers eg. in a seminar are living people which provide you with sth valuable you will not get from a book: With feedback.
    Another point you mentioned was rapport - which is also about good relations between (real) people. You might be in a good rapport with a book, yet if your goal is to be in rapport with people ... a seminar (with people) might indeed be of more benefit for you.

    (even if my main communication happens with computers, SInce one of the originators called NLP the "software for the brain", I guess this is your place.

    I still need to communicate with other people :). Welcome on board ;-)

    Most of valuable knowledge about my profession I received through self study. So I trying to apply this pattern to other areas - namely NLP. But it feels somehow wrong. Might work - however, since you mentioned above that "habbits" could be one interesting issue, may I cordially say, that one of the most stunning points of NLP is ... to go beyond old (personal) patterns (well, at least beyond patterns which are NOT working ;-) ).

    Can you, please, tell me to what extent can I learn NLP all by myself and how I can continue my study (should it be private lessons, seminars, courses, etc.)? As it is with many things in life: A book could be a good starting-point, especially for getting motivated. Personally I'd recommend to join a course after this first step in order to get the most out of it.

    3 impulses for that:
    1) Given to your profile you are living in Hamburg - hence, you might wanna have a look on the website of Thies Stahl (http://www.thiesstahl.de); he is giving courses both in German and English.
    2) I also know an organization which is doing NLP-courses in Russia; if this is of any interest for you please let me know and I can provide you with more details.
    3) Hamburg isn't that far away from the UK, and there you find many great NLP-offers, even every once in a while from some of the originators of NLP (like John Grinder, Richard Bandler, Robert Dilts, Judith de Lozier and others). If this of interest for you, go to http://www.nlpconference.com where you find not only information about the UK-NLP-conference (happens in November each yeear in London; stunnig event, might be a good start) but also many links to NLP-trainers in the the UK.

    Thanks in advance. My sincere pleasure, hope you might find some useful stimuli amongst the many words.

    All the best in your endeavour, and if you have additional questions please feel free to ask

    warm regards
    Michael
    • 13 Apr 2011, 10:07 pm
  • Oleg Ilyenko
    Oleg Ilyenko
    The company name is only visible to registered members.
    Re^2: NLP self-study
    Michael, thank you very much for the informative answer!

    Yes, I agree with you about books. They attracted my attention to the NLP and gave me impression about what it is. Though I still doubt that I completely understand what it really is. For example in "NLP: The new technology of achievement" chapter four "Discovering your mission" clashes with my interpretation of what NLP is. It brings more... philosophical content. It doesn't mean that I find it bad, just something different from what I imagined. But as first presupposition says: the map is not the territory :) So I trying to scout this territory at the moment.

    I think I need to try courses. It's all about people and communication, so I also don't believe that I can master it all alone. Seems that NLP-Practitioner price barrier is pretty high, but I hope it worth it.

    There is one another question that bothers me. What place does NLP has in psychology? Are there other psychology branches similar to NLP and how are they differ from NLP? As far as I understand there is also traditional clinical psychology and it's dominating. It was amusing to read Wikipedia page about NLP. During this read comparison with software development methodologies came to my mind. At the moment there are also two main branches of it: methodologies like waterfall - big and dominating, you generally plan for several years upfront (and hope that everything will work according to your plan - most time it doesn't :) and agile movement - relatively new and more flexible, it's more from-practice-to-theory approach, where you generally plan for next iteration (week or two) and do not make any big decisions upfront. I see NLP more agile in this perspective compared to traditional psychology... more ad hoc and more from-practice-to-theory. Though I may be wrong in this respect. (sorry for bothering you with such details, but it's part of my map and I'm not sure how to describe it better :).

    Best regards,
    Oleg
    • 14 Apr 2011, 12:09 am
  • Michael Match Luther
    Michael Match Luther    Premium Member   Group moderator
    The company name is only visible to registered members.
    Re^3: NLP self-study
    Hi Oleg,

    Oleg Ilyenko schrieb:
    Michael, thank you very much for the informative answer! Pleasure's all mine.

    Yes, I agree with you about books. They attracted my attention to the NLP and gave me impression about what it is. Though I still doubt that I completely understand what it really is. Stay curious - or as a good NLP-friend of mine from the States used to say: "But wait ... there is more" ;-). You're just at the doorstep.

    For example in "NLP: The new technology of achievement" chapter four "Discovering your mission" clashes with my interpretation of what NLP is. Here are the good news: That certainly would happen again - watch out ;-)

    It brings more... philosophical content. It doesn't mean that I find it bad, just something different from what I imagined. Which means you just encountered a new map ... welcome to the NLP-world ;-)

    But as first presupposition says: the map is not the territory :) So I trying to scout this territory at the moment. And after a while you might find yourself like Alice in wonderland: There's always sth unexpected round the corner (actually even for guys who are involved in NLP since decades ;-) ). So: Be prepared for the unprepared.

    I think I need to try courses. It's all about people and communication, so I also don't believe that I can master it all alone. Seems that NLP-Practitioner price barrier is pretty high, but I hope it worth it. My hint would be: Take a moment before you enroll in a course and 1) think what is it you'd like to get out of it; that might help you to focus. And if you are not in a hurry 2) take a look around; since there are so many NLP-institutes out there it could be worth to visit some trial courses or at least some information evenings in order to get a feeling about the trainer, because this is the person you have to spend some while with.

    If money is an issue you might be interested in a course called "Volks-Practitioner"; this is a Practitioner offered for a low budget price (rumor has it that it's about 100,- €) - which is the good part. The flip side of the medal: There are quite many people within the course (heard some numbers like 70 or even more), and the certificates are not recognized by the bigger organizations. However, if it's "just" for you (without having the demand of a paper which the bigger organizations would acknowledge) it might be an option. A while ago there had been a bigger discussion here in the group with a huge number of Pro's and Con's; I would not like to contribut to this, just give you the hint, since it is one (of many) option(s).
    The name of the trainer I forgot but you can either look it up in this group or in case of no success ask me again and I'll find it out.

    There is one another question that bothers me. Excellent question - which still moves (and will move for some additional time) the worlöd of psychology.

    What place does NLP has in psychology? Are there other psychology branches similar to NLP and how are they differ from NLP? Well, the answer might depend on your perspective (or map as, the the NLP-people would say). Given the map of "serious" (ie. old school) psychology, the answer might (still) be: No place at all ;-). Given the NLP-perspective the answer might be: An important place as a hands-on model and method for change and self-development.

    As far as I understand there is also traditional clinical psychology and it's dominating. It was amusing to read Wikipedia page about NLP. ;-)

    During this read comparison with software development methodologies came to my mind. At the moment there are also two main branches of it: methodologies like waterfall - big and dominating, you generally plan for several years upfront (and hope that everything will work according to your plan - most time it doesn't :) and agile movement - relatively new and more flexible, it's more from-practice-to-theory approach, where you generally plan for next iteration (week or two) and do not make any big decisions upfront. What an astucious metaphore. Great. Am sure that even the old-day-of-NLP-guys would rejoice in that.

    I see NLP more agile in this perspective compared to traditional psychology... more ad hoc and more from-practice-to-theory. May I say: This your place, I am sure! Welcome on board.

    Though I may be wrong in this respect. (sorry for bothering you with such details, but it's part of my map and I'm not sure how to describe it better :). Off the top of my head I'd say: Excellent perception, specifically for a "Rookie" ;-) (no disrespect!).

    And again: Nothing to feel sorry for; I really enjoy this coversation and I'm curious what your next step i.r.l. will be towards NLP. Keep me posted - and feel free to keep on questioning.

    Sunny rg
    Michael
    This post was modified on 14 Apr 2011 at 09:35 pm.
    • 14 Apr 2011, 9:34 pm