WHAT IS IT?

NLP is a philosophy and educational tool, which is designed to teach people how to become happier and more effective. It teaches people how to think and communicate in more useful ways. It explores HOW we think and HOW we behave. It allows you to discover what's going on when you are doing something well and not doing something well. It allows you to find out how other people do things effectively. It shows you the difference that makes a difference.

NLP is fast becoming one of the most sought tools of human enhancement and performance improvement that has ever been known. Science Digest describes it as 'the most important synthesis of information available today about human communication'. People have used NLP to improve their lives in many different ways.

WHO INVENTED IT AND HOW?

In the 1970's, two researchers from California, Richard Bandler and John Grinder studied the most effective communicators around and found that these people used particular patterns, which revealed how they were so successful. These patterns became known as NLP.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

NLP works through understanding how the brain works, how language affects the brain in specific ways and how to structure your communication and thinking to get the results that you want. Through understanding the ways in which people think and how to alter this through using language, NLP practitioners can assist people to control their emotional state, change any unwanted habit or behaviour and communicate more effectively with anyone.

We learn to automatically and naturally think, communicate and behave in certain ways. Some of these ways are useful and some are not. Through understanding how we learn, change and improve, it is possible to develop new habits of thinking, acting and communicating that make us happier and more successful.

HOW DO WE USE NLP IN OUR COACHING?

We use NLP in our coaching to help our clients:

• change unwanted behaviours
• improve personal performance
• feel more confident
• get more focused
• improve business performance
• be at their best and achieve their goals
• to enhance their communication skills
• build stronger and more resourceful teams/staff members.
• improve their leadership skills.
• to draw on their inner resources.
• to identify those strategies/activities that do not support who they see themselves capable of becoming.

If you are considering some training in NLP, as a useful life skill, Getbusyliving highly recommend The Irish Institute of NLP. Please visit their website for more information. www.nlp.ie

WHAT IS COACHING?

Coaching is the process of working with people enabling them to reach their full potential. It is a discipline which deals with helping people get themselves from where they are to where they want to be. The Coach supports the person through their questions and offer perspectives on challenges the person may face.

People that coaching will benefit will be people who are stuck in a present situation in life. They may be successful at what they do but find themselves wanting to excel even more and push through challenges that they face. They may be confused over where they are going in life or seek to improve their ways of handling people. A coach will help them to discover more about themselves and to make significant progress in their lives.

Coaching is a powerful human relationship where trained coaches assist people to design their future rather than get over their past. Coaches help clients in creating various ways for them to achieve their goals. Coaches recognise the brilliance of each client and their resourcefulness to discover their own solutions when provided with support, accountability and unconditional positive regard.

HOW DOES COACHING WORK?

As your current situation in life is the residual outcomes of your past thoughts and behaviours, a good Coach will be able to identify those limiting beliefs, thinking and attitudes that do not serve you in getting what you want from life. They will work with you to develop more useful thinking, beliefs and attitudes which will lead to new actions and behaviours which will lead you to be at your best and getting better results in your life.

The Coach will also help you clarify useful actions and behaviours to achieve your desired outcomes and provide you with feedback when necessary. The Coach will challenge you to be all that you can be.

As developing new thinking and new beliefs (and overcoming old limiting beliefs) are such a key part of personal change, your coach should be appropriately qualified with skills such as NLP.

HOW DOES COACHING DIFFER FROM THERAPY AND COUNSELLING?

A Coach should never claim to be a therapist unless they have the appropriate therapeutic qualifications to help people with therapeutic problems.

The coach avoids any sort of diagnosis or offering any cure. They only work to help their client clarify their circumstances and plan their future successes. While 'therapy' looks into the 'why' of the underlying issues in the past, Coaching is only interested in the 'how' of a more effective life in the future.

Coaching is more of an equal partnership between Client and Coach. The coach is there to ask questions and contribute ideas which help the client make progress. The client is responsible for the results. The coach is responsible to help the client stay on track. Coaching is about directness, straight talking, accountability and challenge.