GRINDER AND BANDLER’S NEURO LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING (NLP) FILTERING THEORY
Use to remind you that what you say (transmit) is not always what is heard (received).
John Grinder and Richard Bandler suggest that our brain’s perception of events may be different from reality. This action is described as a filtering process that helps us to create the interpretations upon which we base our actions.
There are three filters (Deletion, Distortion and Generalisation) that are important because:
Deletion prevents our brain from having to absorb the mass of sensory information that we are exposed to every second and removes information that we consider irrelevant.
Distortion allows us to fit an event or occurrence into a framework of pre-existing knowledge. It changes our interpretation of events to fit our existing understanding.
Generalisation enables us make a judgement based on something similar that we may have experienced previously.
HOW TO USE IT
- Using communication techniques such as NLP depends on building a rapport with the other person. Start by finding common ground and then maintain a good rapport through effective use of language, gestures and tone.
- One of the key pillars of NLP is the belief that the meaning of your communication is determined by the response you get and not what you meant. Therefore take great care in how you frame each communication.
- Decide on what it is you want the other person to do as a result of the communication. This is the outcome you want.
- Put your message over as clearly, accurately and unambiguously as you can.
- Use verbal and non-verbal communication, e.g. body language, to emphasise particular points.
- Look for clues that indicate whether the person understands what you are trying to communicate.
- Use the feedback you get to identify if they are deleting, distorting or over-generalising the information you have communicated to them. Correct such misunderstandings during the conversation.
- If at first you don’t get the response you wanted, try a different approach.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
- Do I listen actively to what my staff say?
- Do I seek to be understood not just heard?