When NLP was conceived as a theme in the 1970s the founders decided to give the topic the name Neuro-Linguistic Programming.

NLP in the form of neuro linguistic programming describes the natural learning process (also NLP). And the name probably doesn’t do justice to the full breadth of the subject but it served the original purpose – to intrigue people and produce excitement to learn more about themselves.

Learning more about NLP originally meant taking an NLP Training course. These courses were delivered by the founders and provided people with incites into their thinking and behaviour. Meaning that they could assess what they are doing and change for the better.

The natural learning process

The natural learning process is conducted in humans by the brain and nervous system (the “Neuro”). As we experience life on planet earth we humans take on information through our senses, this information is collected, collated and ordered unconsciously so that we can relate it to past knowledge. A meaning for that information and thus the experience can then be assumed and be conscious to us, this is the “linguistic” part.

This process is repeated for all information received throughout life and as similarities are noted unconsciously by the brain, so familiarity with our environment takes place. This allows us to form an idea of meaning without consciously processing the full information being received.. The result is that we develop a model of our environment – referred to as our model of the world. New information received is fitted in to this model by nature of its structure – conditioning or “programming” results.

Summary

Neuro Linguistic Programming describes the way that humans learn and condition thinking and behaviour

What do I get from learning Neuro Linguistic Programming? Learn about yourself, improve your awareness so that you can change/evolve for the better.

Confusion in the title

As the subject developed and NLP produced a model for therapy, business and performance excellence so the name remained and the subject matter within NLP expanded to produce a holistic personal development program.  This program became known as NLP Training.

NLP & NLP Training became two of the most searched for terms in the context of psychology when the internet came about and became part of modern life.

So, we now have Neuro-Linguistic Programming as a methodology for personal development and NLP Training as a career for trainers, coaches, therapists, teachers et al.

I remember in the early 1990s going into a bookshop to search for a book on personal or professional development. I searched and searched and eventually found a shelf with the appropriate label on it. Upon the shelf I found one book. One book!

The book was based on NLP but it didn’t mention the name. Maybe the author was afraid of being associated with a body of knowledge which had such a strange name?

Interestingly, 50 years after its creation the name still causes some confusion. Most people who describe NLP will describe what it means to them after their training rather than what it actually is!

As a career?

The founders gave their students some excellent material for their training courses, they provided what they called a “Methodology and a trail of techniques.” Methodologies from elite performers in business, art and sport were broken down and installed, conditioned or ‘programmed” into participants.

Evidence showed (and still shows) that people learning NLP professionally could to a greater or lesser extent replicate and produce the excellence that they observed and studied.

This allowed trainers to replicate methodologies and pass on the methodology so that it could be widely used by professionals and wannabe NLP professionals alike. People can make money from learning NLP – this lead to it becoming a viable career and a viable subject to study.

In the present day

In the present day NLP Trainers, NLP Master Practitioners and Practitioners are licensed by various associations and their trainers.

Interestingly the subject with the strange name became a thing in the world and some reports show that more people take NLP and NLP related courses than any other personal development courses.

Because as we go about our lives do we actually pay attention to who & what we are, what we do and what is unconscious in our thoughts?

There is a need in the world for NLP. Who wouldn’t want to investigate their thoughts and actions to improve and get more of what they want from life? NLP is here and here to stay.