Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) can offer many benefits, it can be used treat phobias, psychological disorders and enhance performance in all aspects of life. A practitioner of NLP can teach self-help techniques to someone who has an issue that they want to resolve or they can teach techniques to improve performance in sports, business and education.

NLP was developed by Richard Bandler and John Grinder in California during the 1970s, Bandler and Grinder studied and tried to emulate the habits of successful therapists, it is said that they were heavily influenced by the work of Virginia Satir, Fritz Perls and Milton Erickson. Satir and Perls were two very successful therapists, Erickson was a hugely successful psychiatrist and is thought by many to be the father of modern hypnotherapy. Erickson made it possible to hypnotise virtually anyone with Ericksonian hypnosis.

Some people think of NLP negatively, they think it is as a means of manipulation. Many NLP techniques are used by advertising agencies, politicians and salespeople in this post we are going to look at some of the beneficial ways NLP can be used. Bandler invented the term Neuro-Linguistic Programming, he describes it as being about freedom. Bandler also says that NLP is not therapy but a learning process. NLP is not about regression to traumatic events as much therapy is, NLP is more about solutions.

Anchoring

Imagine being able to have confidence, courage or relaxation on demand, is there a state that you would benefit from having on tap? Maybe you have to speak in public or there is someone you would really like to talk to but you are too scared to approach him or her. Anchoring can give you the desired state whenever you need. The definition of an anchor is an external stimulus that triggers a particular internal state or a response. We all create anchors all the time whether they are good or bad, certain song or smell may bring back a memory and any negative or positive feeling that we associate with it.

How to Create an Anchor

To create an anchor recall a time when you have felt the desired state, really try to visualize your self and the events as if you were there, try to feel the feeling that you associate with that positive memory. Once you are in the desired state and feeling that feeling as strongly as possible you can set your anchor. The anchor can be set by touching a certain point on your body, somewhere like your elbow or the back of a knuckle might work well. You can also associate the anchor with an image so when you want the state you can just visualize the image. Anchors need to be different from normal everyday movements, sounds or images. Make sure you regularly reinforce your anchors to keep them effective.

Rapport

If you want to be popular and get on with the people in your life it is important that you learn how to build rapport. Building rapport enables you to create new relationships and maintain old ones, NLP can help you forge strong connections with people socially and in a business sense. Rapport needs to be built instinctively, it is not a technique that you can learn and then apply only when it suits. Through learning and using NLP techniques constantly you will be able to build rapport with everyone that you interact with.

How to Build Rapport

If you watch two very close friends or lovers closely you will notice they have very obvious raport, they will interact with each other rhythmically, their body language and communication will be in unison. NLP provides us with a way to imitate rapport through what is known as mirroring and matching, through mirroring and matching we can easily build rapport with someone we have just met.

Mirroring and Matching

You can mirror and match by taking on the person you are speaking with by mirroring their posture, behavioural styles and by matching their breathing. We the person you want to build rapport with goes to take a drink you take a drink if they change the way they are sitting you change the way you are sitting. It is important not to be too obvious when you are mirroring and matching them if they catch you they may think you are trying to mock them or that you are just weird.

This post was written and supplied on Behalf of George Hutton from mindpersuasion.com, follow his Facebook page here.