Neuro Linguistic Programming: A New Mantra for Professional Success

I attended a seminar by Dr. Keshab Nandy on Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) which was quite interesting. Thought sharing some thoughts on this concept, quite new to India, would be interesting. To make things simpler, let us understand what Neuro-Linguistic Programming is. The basic hypothesis of NLP is that the words we use during our communication reflect an inner, subconscious perception of our problems. If these words and perceptions are wrong, as long as we continue to use them and to think of them, the underlying problem will persist. In other words, our attitudes are, in a sense, a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The literal meaning of the three words are:

Neuro - refers to the brain and neural network that feeds into the brain. Neurons or nerve cells are the working units used by the nervous system to send, receive, and store signals that add up to information.

Linguistics - refers to the content, both verbal and non-verbal, that moves across and through these pathways.

Programming - is the way the content or signal is manipulated to convert it into useful information. The brain may direct the signal, sequence it, change it based on our prior experience, or connect it to some other experience we have stored in our brain to convert it into thinking patterns and behaviors that are the essence of our experience of life.

Our experiences and feelings affect the way we react to external stimuli. Our brains interpret the implications of people, animate & in-animate objects entirely differently. In processing the information, our brains use our experiences (good and bad), our biases, our opinions, our value systems, etc. to convert it into useful information that we can use. This is the reason why we see varying results/outcomes from people with similar education, training, background, and years of experience which otherwise should have been similar. NLP is a science that has helped inceptors like Richard Bandler and linguist John Grinder to learn the secrets of effective people as well as understand what makes them perform & accomplish their goals. They realized that communication (verbal language, body language, eye movements, and others) played a key role in ensuring effective excellence personally & professionally. These two individuals were able to make out patterns of thinking that assisted in the subject's success. The two theorized that the brain can learn the healthy patterns and behaviors and that this would bring about positive physical and emotional effects. What emerged from their work came to be known as Neuro-Linguistic Programming.

How does NLP help:

• NLP uses self image and attitude towards illness to effect change and to promote healing.
• What you're doing isn't working, you should try something else that will work for you, a NLP therapist will help you identify that ‘something else’.
• The person who is most likely to do well responds to changing (or unchanging) circumstances appropriately. NLP will help you gain that attitude.
• Finally the NLP theories have been hugely successful in the west since the concept is is much more interested in getting results.