Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Explain
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is an ideal tool for the business environment because it offers tangible solutions to common problems faced by businesses today. It has credibility because it is based on research into how successful people achieve their results and it works – from helping to identify innovative ways to achieve targets to managing change within an organisation.
Businesses often discover NLP without realising it – they just know from experience that courses given by particular trainers have great effect in the workplace as their techniques encourage more effective learning, influence, communication, motivation and performance as well as tools for managing change and increasing creativity.
One such company is Blitz Games based in Leamington Spa who are the brains behind many X-box, PC and Play Station games, ranging from Bratz Dolls to Reservoir Dogs.
Caroline Cheshire, Senior HR Co-ordinator at Blitz Games explains, "Our Company’s success relies on the skills of our staff so we encourage them to identify their own needs throughout the year as well as in their twice-yearly performance reviews. Our Chief Technical Officer found an advanced presentation skills course extremely beneficial as he is required to explain our products, technology and processes to customers. He was so impressed by the techniques taught that we arranged for the same trainer, Ellen Gifford from The Learning Path, to share the same techniques on an internal course for everyone else who is required to give presentations."
Blitz’s success in its field means that it has undergone remarkable growth and recently appointed its 200th employee. Recruiting a large number of staff in an industry where competition for skilled staff is fierce, the company needed to ensure the calibre of employees remained high and that their interview process was standardised.
Sixty employees learnt NLP-based interview techniques with The Learning Path which help them to look beyond a person’s ‘interview persona’ to ensure that they fill vacancies with the best candidates. All interviewers can now determine what motivates applicants and whether they have the attention to detail, project planning or overview appropriate for the role for which they are applying.
"To get the best out of our people, we need to give them training by people who understand our business – both in terms of our products, and in the way our games are developed," Caroline continues. "We recognise that people learn in different ways – some visually, some auditory and others kinaesthetically - so it was paramount to find a company that could deliver the most appropriate tools for our needs in a manner that took this into account."
Many other courses, ranging from 'Getting the best from yourself and others' to 'Believe to achieve' have been given by The Learning Path as a result of the company's performance reviews performed twice a year.
Feedback from all the courses is impressive. Art Direction Manager, Steve Thomson, attended a three day Business Practitioner Course and says, "There were a few specific things that I needed guidance on, in particular public speaking, something that I have had very little experience with and was very nervous at the prospect of doing. The course gave me a great set of tools that really helped me through my preparation and this August I presented my first ever talk at an industry conference. This went very well and I actually enjoyed doing it! Ellen is a wonderful teacher, very relaxed and not afraid to speak from personal experience when explaining through an issue."
Many businesses discover that helping employees with techniques to improve their confidence encourages a 'can do' attitude within the company and lets people be more creative without being worried about what other people think of them:
"Nothing else I have ever done professionally has had such an amazing impact on me...inspiring and insightful. It will aid our company’s success and my personal goals – I want MORE!" Anne Thomas, Co-Founder & Business Development Director, Wapple Net
"I have really enjoyed thinking about what makes me tick and what techniques I can apply to getting my dream! Something that has surprised me: that there are no boundaries if I truly believe in myself!" - Bal Jacob, HR Manager, Warwickshire Police
"It is brilliant. Of all the courses that I have done, this is the most powerful for changing behaviour!" - Mick Grant, Project Manager, BECOME
Founder of The Learning Path, Ellen Gifford is finding that more and more companies want their whole company or a team of people, for example the sales team, to experience NLP training. "As Blitz discovered, when several people in a company have had the same training, they can all 'sing from the same hymn sheet'. They understand each other’s motivations and communication becomes more effective as managers and colleagues can tailor the way they express themselves to the leaning styles of other members in the team.
"Everyone goes to work with their own ideas and experiences influencing the way they think, speak and act. NLP helps both employees and managers become aware of these habits and patterns, see how they are limiting their own and their company’s success and understand that changing aspects of these can change dismantle the barriers to success, developing them into a 'can do' organisation, able to manage difficult situations with customers, organisation change and team dynamics."
"We have a real mix of corporate customers – from sales, teaching, hostage negotiation, sport, health, technology and design - which goes to show that NLP is versatile and can be applied to every business situation!"