NLP or “the study of human excellence"

Petrovici Mihaela Amalia

“Vasile Alecsandri“ University of Bacău, Romania

NLP – science and art of personal efficiency

NLP is a science because it resorts to methods and to a modality of scientific approach;

NLP is art because it deals with human being that cannot be worn out totally through some formulas and models, no matter how integrating they are.

NLP proposes models and strategies that can be applied in interpersonal communication that focuses on influencing and making the other person’s behaviour efficient and, implicitly, optimization of interpersonal report.

Thus a rational way of understanding the self, the world, the relationships and the ways of thinking and individual action develops.

NLP represents the research of the way of functioning of the thinking, the language and the behaviour.

NLP is a method of modelling mental of thinking, acting and feeling. This phrase contains three simple ideas and at the same time fundamental.

The term programming refers to the ability that each of us has, namely the ability of producing and applying a wide range of behavioural programs.

The term neuro defines our way of thinking, a way which will help us become capable of using the inner resources. Our thoughts are reflected in everything we do, often in ways that we are not aware of, but which send the ones around us information about what we want, think and are.

The term linguistic focuses on the language each of us uses. This structures our experience and reflects our own manner to think and perceive the events, representing the mirror of our personality, in comparison with that of our counterparts.

A result of browsing the three stages, NLP defines and operates with the system of the five basic senses: visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, olfactory and gustatory, encountered in specialized literature under the name of VAKOG system.

NLP allows us to identify the language that is characteristic to senses, which is hidden in the interlocutor’s dominant communication channel, with an attentive and fine analysis of words and phrases that he uses, taking into consideration the visual elements (to see, to look, to watch etc.), auditory (to listen, to hear, to speak, to resound etc.), sensitive or kinaesthetic (to touch, to feel, to pat etc.), to which, some researchers add other elements, such as the olfactory-gustatory ones (flavour, savour, taste etc.) or neuter (to understand, to know, to believe, to prefer etc.)

Applications of NLP methods in major fields

The fields in which NLP can be successfully applied are numerous, the best known being business, education, health, psychotherapy, sport etc. In the following lines, we will refer to some of them, namely business, education and interpersonal relationships, but also public relations, fields in which NLP may lead to notable results both on the personal and professional plan.

Applications of NLP in business

Being successful in business implies knowing how to choose and to apply those methods that prove to be useful and, especially, efficient for a certain situation. Being successful in business implies identifying the representational system a person thinks in at a certain moment, guiding after the physiological modifications associated with thinking. The mind and the body are parts of the same system. Thinking reflects at the body level, through mimics and gestures, and the way we use these elements affects our thinking. In this context, speaking each one’s language becomes a sine qua non condition.

Applications of NLP in interpersonal relationships

The representational systems are very important in interpersonal relationships because they represent the secret of understanding the other. The persons who think in images want palpable proofs of affection, such as: gifts, flowers, letters etc. For the persons who think in sounds, the words and tonalities that the others use are extremely precious, a mild or affectionate tone is exactly what they need. Consequently, an auditory person can hardly forget somebody’s words when upset because he treasures words and the way these are used. In turn, the kinaesthetic persons have other preferences. For these persons, the proofs of affection manifest through gestures and touches, and their lack can inoculate them the feeling that they are not loved and, so, they will feel rejected. For these persons, a touch or a kiss can represent a love proof, much more relevant than receiving gifts or an oral confirmation.

Applications of NLP in public relations

Neuro-linguistic programming represents a general strategy of persuasion, which can be applied in particular to public relations, being a win-win situation. Promoting a trademark, product or brand, the image of a person, institution or organisation convincingly are just a few examples in this regard. The identity and particularities of those you communicate with, the message sent, the place and time of communication, the techniques used, as well as the final objective of communication represent reference points for an efficient communication. Creating a climate favourable to communication and the affective resonance of the people who communicate are also important factors for establishing a productive dialog. The sensory representational systems are very important in public relations because they represent the secret of understanding the other, elaboration of an efficient communication and, implicitly, achievement of the envisaged objectives. Improving communication, you improve the chances of success of the relationship.

Conclusions

Neuro-linguistic programming promotes the interpersonal relation as an important step in setting an efficient communication. The quality of a good interpersonal communication depends on the quality of the relationship that is developed between the two interlocutors, on the harmony that sets, on their permanent adjustment of behaviours. We can improve the relationship with the others if we determine what the other’s person main sensory language.Our point of view is that the relation created through communication has a higher importance than the message itself, because the quality of the relation between the interlocutors gives quality to communication. To this regard, neuro-linguistic programming proves to be a highly useful instrument that can be applied successfully in this case.