I found this post today about Obama’s use of NLP.
While I’d be very excited if Obama had studied NLP and its uses, I’m not sure I could infer this from the passages quoted in that post.
In his Denver acceptance speech, Obama used the phrases “that’s why I stand here tonight,” “now is the time,” and “this moment” 14 times. Paces are connected to the lead by words such as “and,” “as,” “because,” or “that is why.” For example, “we need change” (who could disagree?)…and…that is why I will be your next President.”
Techniques of trance induction include extra slow speech, rhythm, tonalities, vagueness, visual imagery, metaphor, and raising of emotion. Hypnotists often have patients count. In a speech after the primaries closed, Obama said: “Sixteen months have passed (paused)…Thousands (pause) of miles…(pause)…Millions of voices….”
If you’ve ever listened to Martin Luther King’s speeches (those happened before the advent of NLP), you’ll find that he uses very similar linguistic structures.
In my opinion, great orators who use those structures aren’t necessarily students of NLP. I’d venture to say that students of NLP would do well to model great orators who use those structures.
Impactful communication has existed for a long, long time. Way before NLP was tagged by Bandler and Grinder. Napoleon never studied NLP. Nor did deGaulle. Nor did Hitler. But all of them were captivating orators, who knew how to use language and intonation to penetrate their listeners’ psyche.
Personally, I think it a much more effective use of one’s time to study great orators’ speeches than NLP patterns.
Obama probably thinks the same — but then again how would I know…
About Martin Messier
