Craig posted recently about his observations of NLP meta-model violations as we (reluctantly) watched Big Brother with his wife and mother-in-law.
This reminded to post a few NLP exercises I use when put through similar predicaments (how many meta-model violations were there in this sentence?).
1. Practice Listening To Sensory Predicates
There’s nothing like a good reality show to help you hone your predicate-identifying skills. You can practice this NLP skill anytime you hear participants narrate personal stories. Practice identifying which modes they go in. You’ll even be able to start calibrating as well, identifying the external cues they give for each sensory mode they enter.
2. Practice Hearing Meta-Model Patterns
When you’re learning NLP, you MUST practice this skill. Reality shows rock for this. Not only can you detect meta-model violations, but you can also pay attention to the specific patterns the participants use. What presuppositions come up? Which modal operators pepper the conversation? How detailed or broadly do they describe events? How much do they specify their verbs and nouns?
3. Practice perceptual positions
This is probably the most overlooked NLP skill you can practice while watching reality shows. You’ll be amazed at how much you can learn when put in a powerful third position as you are when watching such a show. In a sense, you find yourself in a classic God-like position, all-seeing, all-knowing and all-judging. (Actually, not quite all-seeing; you see whatever the network editors want to show you. Makes me wonder… Does God get edited footage of what’s going on in the world as well?) What decisions do you make when you’re in third position? Remember, third position affects the way you perceive yourself as well. What happens when YOU put yourself in your own mental Big Brother?
Do you practice any NLP skills while watching TV? Which ones?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice tips and tricks. I have to try this soon.
Thanx for this post.
Really useful post. Thanks for it.