Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) is one of the most powerful and appropriate tools for the Coaching process. NLP studies three areas  that justify its name:

Neurology:  The mind and how we think.

Linguistics:  How we use language and how it affects us.

Schedule:  How we structure and sequence our actions to achieve our goals.

A Coach with a solid background in NLP can understand the reality of how a client thinks, identify thought patterns that generate failure, and can use language very precisely to help him achieve his goals.  

NLP emerged in the mid-1970s in the United States, with the work of John Grinder, a professor of linguistics, and Richard Bandler, a psychologist. They started by studying people who stood out for being excellent communicators in order to decipher the standards of excellence present in their communication. Later  “modeled” what was essential and began to teach these skills to others. So it's about being able to distinguish exactly what works better and what doesn't.

NLP still studies how we structure our subjective experience – how we think about our values and what we believe, how we create our emotional states, build our inner world and give it meaning. NLP is the first field of psychology that deals with the inner subjective world,  from the premise that a fact in itself is not more important than the inner meaning we give it. Each has a unique and peculiar way of interpreting an event. When we alter the emotional inner meaning of an event, the mental structure reorganizes itself almost immediately.

What characteristics of NLP contribute to Coaching?

Speed : NLP techniques take effect quickly.

Simple techniques : However, with profound results.

Pay close attention to how goals, beliefs, and values interact.

Empathy and trust as a foundation for a good relationship during Coaching.

Pragmatic approach: if it's not working, do something different.

(*) Source: “Coaching with NLP” Andrea Lages & Joseph O'Connor. (adapted).