What is NLP & Learning Techniques?

NLP stands for neuro-linguistic programming in other words, it is a method to change a person’s thoughts and behaviours so that they can achieve their desired goals.

When NLP is included as a key technique in coaching, it will provide the skills to enable the coach to pick up on small details to assess and implement strategies to change the behaviour and thought process of clients. This is often done via questioning techniques so that the coach can tactfully place the focus on the client to answer their own questions and therefore, come to their own conclusion. This can be a very powerful and emotive decision making process as there are often negative feelings attached to limited belief systems.

To enable a client to change belief systems can change the way they see the world and therefore, encourage and empower people to move out of their comfort zones.

Here is an example of a range of questions that focus on the outcome and can lead the client to find their answer(s):

1. What do you want – to have happen?

2. How will you know when you have it?

3. When, where & with who do you want it?

4. What will happen when you get it?

5. What resources do you have and need to get what you want?

6. What stops you from having it now?

7. What will having it do for you?

NLP often works alongside various learning models to help illicit the required information. For example, there is a universal generic learning model known as PACT. Its learning cycle stages are:

• Procure. New knowledge (theory) or ability (skill) is acquired.

• Apply. The new knowledge or skill is then practiced in some way.

• Consider. The results of the practice are evaluated and/or assessed.

• Transform. The original knowledge or ability is modified accordingly.

The PACT learning model doesn’t take into account though how an individual learns. For example, some people learn by doing and some are visual learners this can depend on previous experiences, education, social environment or the basic cognitive structure of a person. There are 3 recognised learning styles that I’m going to look at:

· Kolb’s learning style focuses on experiential learning

· Gibbs Reflective Cycle focuses on learning by doing and

· The VARK learning style which focuses on NLP techniques

I’m going to give a brief explanation of each below but have chosen one to look at in more detail. As this is about NLP, I have unsurprisingly chosen to focus on VARK.

Kolb

Kolb’s learning cycle proposes that we all learn from our experience in a cyclical way.

“Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience” (Kolb, 1984, p. 38).

Kolb’s theory works on two levels: a four-stage cycle of learning and four separate learning styles.

For example, a person can receive new information at any stage of the cycle but will need to complete the four stages for full learning to take place.

Each stage is as important and feeds into the following stage in the cycle so cyclical learning is processed, reflected and put into practice.

As I learn more about NLP, I can reflect on the new information and see how it fits in to my current knowledge. After processing this information, I gain clarity on the subject and draw a conclusion based on what I already know.

One of the most impressive people I have ever worked with stands out for me as one of the first questions I was asked is “how do you learn” “what’s the best method for you?”. Since then, I have worked with numerous people and only wish that some of these had that insight. I didn’t know how to answer the question but knew how I thought / felt and we created a learning method that suited us both. Being aware about this fact and opening up communication between us instantly created a level of professionalism and trust.

Kolb’s model further looks at the vertical and horizontal axis which represent how you feel and think. He believed that these were separate tasks and wouldn’t work together. He then further broke down the above cyclical model into the four learning styles: diverging and assimilating and converging and accommodating.

Gibb

Some people like to learn from experience but sometimes, it’s difficult to do this if they don’t think about how they can do it better; this is where Gibbs' Reflective Cycle is useful. You can use it to help people make sense of situations at work so that they can understand what they did well and what they could do better in the future. Through using context, feelings and a sense of realism, it is easier to evaluate, conclude and create an action.

This cycle has five stages:

1. Description 2. Feelings 3. Evaluation 4. Conclusions 5. Action

NLP

As we are looking at the power of neuro-linguistic programming, I will, unsurprisingly, be writing about this particular learning style in more detail. VARK is an acronym for:

· Visual

· Aural/auditory

· Read/write and

· Kinesthetic

NLP “encompasses the three most influential components involved in producing human experience: neurology, language and programming” (Dilts, 2016, para. 1).

NLP investigates the interactions between how neurological (mind) and linguistics (language) within an individual impact behavior (programming).

This learning style can be easily adapted for any individual. It is based upon the client completing a questionnaire and once this has been completed, it is important to adapt your method of learning dependent on the category / categories you fall under. Whereas most learners are uni-modal learners, it is possible for there to also be multi-modal learners who can get a high score in more than one learning style.

For example, if you are classed as a visual learner, it is important to use colours and underline key words to make learning more efficient. It is also important to use pictures, graphs and charts to learn.

Aural / Auditory learning can be more efficient when using the spoken word or listening to, for example, podcasts. It is important to discuss topics and explain new ideas.

Read or Write uses lists, handouts or books and advises the person to write notes.

Kinaesthetic use all of your senses. It is therefore useful to go on field trips, use your sense of taste and smell. Discuss topics with like-minded learners and add examples to notes to make them more relevant.

In summary, we know that knowledge is a powerful tool so when there is a method to help you find your learning style, it will in turn, help with your confidence, motivation and speed of learning. VARK is a questionnaire that helps your learning by suggesting the strategies you should be using. As a result of completing the questionnaire, you will be able to discover if you’re a visual, aural, read / write or kinaesthetic learner. This can only have a positive impact on learning. There are several methods to measure learning styles and the VARK questionnaire developed by Fleming and Mills (1992) is the most widely used one.

I would think kinaesthetic would be the most common style of uni-modal learning. I think this as to experience a situation, helps it stay in your consciousness for longer and uses language, visual and aural stimuli.

To look at this in more detail, I decided to complete the VARK Learning Styles Questionnaire as I wanted to know which category of learner I am. I’ve always thought I was a visual learner but I never tested this.

There are 30 carefully chosen questions in the in the VARK questionnaire I completed, as shown in appendix 1. There are 3 multiple choice answers for each question and I wrote down my answer of either a, b or c.

As previously mentioned, I have always said that I am a visual learner so expected to see this as my result. In the test:

· if you chose mostly A’s you have a VISUAL learning style

· if you chose mostly B’s you have an AUDITORY learning style

· if you chose mostly C’s you have a KINAESTHETIC learning style

My results were a total surprise. I scored:

· 4 A’s

· 9 B’s

· 17 C’s

My lowest score was for a visual learning score as I only scored 4.

I then scored 9 B’s so I have a higher auditory score than visual.

My highest score was for the kinaesthetic where I scored 17.

Through taking the VARK questionnaire, I have learned how using that if we use the available tools to learn more about ourselves, our confidence will grow and our journey of self-awareness and self-development will be easier. VARK is a really good tool that can help us look at the effectiveness of working in a team and focus on our learning style, emotional intelligence and why we behave and respond to situations the way we do.

Moving forwards, when asked what type of learner am I, I can say I’m kinaesthetic. They say that this is “Someone with a kinaesthetic learning style has a preference for physical experience – touching, feeling, holding, doing, practical hands-on experiences. These people will use phrases such as “Let me try”, “how do you feel?” and will be best able to perform a new task by going ahead and trying it out, learning as they go. These are the people who like to experiment, hands-on, and never look at the instructions first!”

This is a very accurate summary of the way I communicate with others and this is what I thought a visual learner was. This emphasises how important it is to use tools such as the VARK questionnaire as soon as possible to find the best learning methods that suit your personality.

To gain coaching experience during this course, I am hoping to work with some students and this exercise would be very beneficial for them. Providing yourself with a better understanding of how you learn, is an extremely useful exercise so that you know how to summarise data in a way that will help you remember it.