Why learn NLP – what are the benefits?
Some applications for NLP
When they first come across NLP many people wonder
Should I learn NLP?
What’s in it for me?
Will it be useful in my life?
The answers are many. But usually people learn NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming because it gives them the tools and the insights to…
- Feel more in charge of their thoughts and moods
- Communicate more effectively and influentially
- Develop themselves – and acquire the tools to live a more fulfilling life.
NLP is what you make it
If you use NLP to enhance, say, your interpersonal skills then that is NLP – for you.
The same applies if you use it to
- Empower your children and help them develop self-esteem
- Be a more skilful life coach
- Sell products or services – ethically or unethically
- Grow your business or develop your managerial abilities
- Seduce people
- Be an empowering leader
- Be a more effective therapist
- Be better in your chosen sport
- Con people out of their money
- Motivate people with whom you live or work
- Help people overcome fears and phobias
- Improve your results as an educator
- Contribute to your community
- Improve your game of golf, sailing, basketball, etc
- Become a better friend to yourself or others.
Whatever you use it for and however you use it determines what, exactly NLP means for you and what you get out of it.
Some key applications of NLP
Real NLP is generic.
It’s not just for business or selling or therapy or coaching. That’s why on Pegasus NLP courses you learn generic NLP through an in-depth immersion in NLP skills, attitudes, and insights.
This means that your NLP can then be used anywhere.
Here are a few articles to explore the use of NLP in different life areas:
Management
NLP is an near-indispensable tool for adapting to and utilising the changes in the role of the manager or team leader today. NLP in Management
Life Coaching, Mentoring, Appraising and Counselling
NLP grew out of the study of effective therapy and is the ideal add-on for just about any coaching or therapeutic approach. Here at Pegasus we specialise in Clean Communicating through NLP as a means of assisting people in a way which enables them to find their own solutions. NLP & Coaching
Relating with others
NLP enables us to better understand what it’s like to be the other person and how best to communicate with them. So it’s excellent for enriching and deepening relationships at home, socially and at work. NLP in Relationships:
Your inner life
We learn some great insights and skills at school and college such as mathematics, history, science, art, etc. But the missing bit is quite important, too i.e. how to manage your own thoughts and moods. Applying NLP in your personal life and your personal development is one of its most valuable applications. NLP & Yourself
Selling
The experienced salesperson knows that in the long run it’s relationships, repeat business and recommendations which produce success – and makes you the preferred supplier. NLP skills enable you to improve how you (1) develop mutually beneficial relationships with customers, (2) identify their needs and motivation and (3) match products with motivation. NLP & Sales
Career
It used to be sufficient to be good at your job to advance your career. That’s changed. Now you additionally need to (1) be a skilled communicator, (2) be able to network with and motivate colleagues and (3) be able to market and sell yourself. That’s where NLP skills come in. NLP & your Career
Sport
The critically important role of mental attitude in sport is now widely accepted so whether you are an enthusiastic amateur or a professional sports person NLP has tools which can be applied to give yourself the edge. NLP & Sport
The many applications of NLP
To many people the range of applications for NLP is surprising and even confusing.
It seems strange that the same process can help you relate better with your loved ones, enhance your professional performance, improve your golf or tennis game, and enable you to teach your child to spell or study.
However, as you soon discover when using NLP, there are no really limits to the range of applications for NLP or the areas in your life which can benefit from it.
It is universally useful because it provides you with the means to improve your overall effectiveness – rather than offering specific skills to achieve specific results (such as a meditation technique to calm yourself or an assertiveness technique for communicating).
Do whatever you already do well – even better!
With NLP you learn to think about improving and developing rather than ‘fixing problems’. You learn to look for newer and more creative approaches to life’s challenges rather just trying to fix what is not working.
And, especially as you progress through a programme such as our NLP Core Skills training, you will find that you can use NLP simultaneously in a number of contexts.
For example, at the same time as you using NLP to make your life goals more realistic you can also be using it to
boost your darts or cricket or windsurfing performance (and enjoyment)
learn a foreign language
teach your child how to better get along with class mates
have more fun in your life.
You learn precise step-by-step methods for improving how you
think
use your five senses
understand people
relate with people
and do whatever you already do even better.
So there are unlikely to be limits to the range of applications for your NLP or to the areas in your life which can benefit.
Should I learn NLP?
As I said at the beginning I can’t claim to be objective in this – I have been using NLP in my work and in my personal life since 1979.
And, based on my experience in doing this, I would heartily recommend that you embark on the journey of getting to know yourself and others better through becoming skilled in NLP.
(1) First of all, remember that you cannot develop real NLP skill from books – anymore than you can learn to swim or drive a car from a book or video or audio tape. NLP is not an intellectual thing. It’s behavioural – it is about what you do, not about what you know. So you need to learn it in a hands-on manner and with the assistance of and feedback from Certified NLP Trainers.
Yes, books do have a part to play — they are excellent for developing your knowledge and your skills after you have attended a hands-on NLP training
(2) Next I suggest that you begin by comparing the two main groups of NLP training provider
- The ‘fast track’ approach in which you acquire NLP ‘qualifications’ and certificates in a few days – see our not-unbiased views on these courses here
- The full-length, full-syllabus approach used by Pegasus NLP and a handful of other training providers. These programmes are longer (usually 120 hours) but are more thorough and certification is based on demonstrated skills rather than merely on attendance.
(3) Now make a shortlist of two or three training organisations whose approach, experience, and thoroughness appeal to you.
(4) Finally use our 7-point check list, to assess the information on their website and in e-mail or telephone communication with them to determine who best meets your criteria.
The Pegasus NLP Newsletter
Most articles on this site originally appeared in The Pegasus NLP Newsletter – which has been published continuously since January 2001.
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