While still a foreign topic for many people, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is gaining broader awareness and curiosity. Even Hollywood has made some references to NLP in shows such as Criminal Minds and Leverage. Yet - these references do not share the depth of what is possible when you interact with this mind/language/body/technology.
NLP is a blend of visualization, linguistics and positive thinking. It is designed to give individuals more choices and a greater degree of control in their lives while fostering transformation and a sense of personal empowerment. NLP is a great tool many coaches use with their clients.
Using an NLP process with your clients to create a Circle of Excellence will increase self confidence and have your clients feel much more resourceful in solving problems or dealing with stress.
Typically, a coach will offer this process to a client through a series of visualizations during coaching where they connect to past times in their lives when they experienced great success and felt most confident and empowered. The client is asked to "re-live" 2-3 amazing moments in their life and really connect to all of the feelings they felt at that time. The client gets to visualize the event and experience the feelings they had and place them into their "circle" of excellence. This "circle" is a metaphor that stays with them wherever they go and can be accessed at any time.
I had a client who was facing a huge presentation to the directors at her company. Her fear and anxiety were around her confidence in both the content she had assembled and her ability to deliver the presentation in a way that the directors would readily support implementation of the project. We agreed to have me take her through the Circle of Excellence process.
- She visualized her "circle" as a black hula-hoop on the floor in front of her.
- She recalled a time in 1st Grade when she was asked to use a picture-only storybook and to "make up" her own story that would align with the pictures. She had done such an amazing job creating her story that the teacher had her take the book to two other classrooms and to stand in front of the class and share the story with them as well.
- I invited her to step into her circle and to allow herself to re-experience that event in her life - while in her circle, she described the experience in detail - and most importantly - how it felt. She described it as a little scary in a good way and being immensely proud and excited. I also had her squeeze her fist tightly to "amplify" those feelings.
- We did this for 2 additional events in her life where she added descriptions of feeling confident and on target.
- As she continued to visualize her circle, she noticed it had changed to colorful confetti splashed atop a purple background. I've had some clients tell me they could also hear their favorite song playing softly or that the circle was "dancing a few inches off the ground".
- I had my client pick up and fold her hula-hoop and put it in her pocket knowing it would be with her anytime she desired to be more confident; that she could take 5 minutes to pull it out and step back into her circle, close her
eyes, tighten her fist and bring forward those feelings of confidence, excitement and pride! - We then completed our coaching session with future-pacing her presentation knowing she would have her circle with her.
Of course, she rocked her presentation and her project was not only implemented in her division, but also company wide.
The tools of coaching are amazing and with a solid partnership between coach and client, the unimaginable moves to possible and then comes to fruition!
NLP is just one of the many skills and tools taught in our ICF Approved
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Certified Professional Performance Coach, contact me via email at Ginny@SourcePointTraining.com or 800-217-5660 ext. 101. If you know someone you think would make a great coach, feel free to forward this email to them with your invitation to check it out!
