November 9, 2024

Lightdiodes

The Techno Universe

Neurolinguistic Programming – 15 Protocols to Master Modeling Technology

It has come to my attention that many neurolinguistic experts are propagating NLP in the form of its applications. While this is not a bad idea, because it definitely is more commercially viable, it creates confusion in the marketplace.

How many of you actually saw that NLP was a motivational training program? Or maybe, it was something to do with pop psychology? In reality, NLP is none of these. It can be literally everything you wanted to be. And that is why, this article was written to help make clear the fact that NLP is all about modeling someone’s expertise.

Now, I’m not talking about modeling as in catwalks. What’s more specifically important for the process of modeling mastery is understanding how the human psychology works. I need to know what’s going on inside your mind. The only way for me to do this is to observe your behavior, listen to your language use, and also the kinds of reactions you have in relation to the rest of the world around you.

Various protocols in modeling. Each of these protocols will help define how you process the model itself.

1 Awareness: develop sensory acuity, modeling models.

We first need to be aware of the things around us, especially of patterns of behavior in our models. This can be done by using sensory training systems. In fact, there are more senses (including infrared sensing, vestibular sensing) that contributes to our reality. Without a proper training system, you would be less intuitive, less flexible in your responses, let along create change in others.

2 Recognition: Identify and recognize role models and results

How do you know who your role models are? Start looking. Perhaps you will even find some role models right under your nose because you didn’t consider them as such. Just remember that anyone who is achieving some result better than you can be considered a role model.

3 Outcome: Why is it that you want to model after this person?

This is an important question. Your outcome, values and what is important to you will drive you to learn how to do this so that you are committed to it, rather than having a skill half-baked.

4 Triggers: What gets it started?

Every human behavior is triggered off by the external surroundings and mediated by internal processes. To get a complete modeling blueprint, you must have awareness of the triggers that initiated those processes. They are sensory in nature and are part of a domino effect of mental processes we are not really aware of.

5 Chunking: What are the parts of this model?

In understanding chunking, a model often does not give you clear directions in terms of what to do unless you control the responses. You must know how to break the overall strategy into parts in order to have a logical flow of ideas and processes. Without this, you have lots of ‘content’ but no ‘context’ that you can have a clear application on.

6 Sequencing: How do the parts connect? Do I see anything missing?

As with any process, you need to ensure that the mental blueprints are connected properly. Without the correct flow between chunks of the mental blueprint, you often end up with gaps and have to speak to your model again.

7 Metaphor: What metaphor is this model like?

This is something I might do to get a richer map of the experience. A model who is able to provide a deeper, richer map will give me finer distinctions of their mental blueprint. So, it’s different “being a good golfer” compared with a “champion of the green”.

8 Contrast: How does this strategy of excellence compare with a mediocre one?

You need to sometimes make comparative explorations. If someone is good at cooking, what is it benchmarked against? If you have comparative data, ask the model to analyze that and find out what the difference is between this level of performance compared with his/hers.

9 Evidence: How do I know I’m doing it right?

In NLP, we talk about evidence procedures. Everyone has a map of the world that filters information. You simply need to filter it correctly (i.e. are all the things that need to be present in my strategy) to know you are “good” at doing this skill.

10 Stakeholders: Who are stakeholders involved in this?

This may be an odd question, but it points to the NLP concept of ecology. Who is important in the modeling process? After all, sometimes, you have systemic involvement that enhances performance of some kind (e.g. team spirit, a supportive spouse, etc).

11 Stakeholder evidence: How do they know I’m doing this right?

Again, this is an evidence procedure that is based on an ‘external’ outsider’s viewpoint. You may not always get this because the individual might not have external feedback. Still, it is useful to be able to get some input if you can.

12 Barrier: What obstacles might there be?

Obstacles are stoppages toward the completion of a strategy. Identifying these will give you awareness of the level of flexibility you need to execute the strategy effectively.

13 Feedback: What do I do when I meet these obstacles?

This is a follow up on #12 where you need to have substrategies that enable you to stay on your path toward your outcome.

14 Exceptions: Any exceptions to the model? Counter examples?

This question will give you possible segue out of the current model. It can offer some shortcuts or conditional factors that allow you to reach your goal faster.

15 Installation: internalizing the model

This part is all about putting the model’s blueprint into your unconscious. Just as language is unconscious, you want to turn the new model’s behavior into something so effortless that you reach a level of expertise.

Again, whatever is mentioned here is merely the surface of the overall map. To gain more expertise, you definitely need someone to guide you and demonstrate the finer elements of modeling.