NLP Training: John Grinder Review
John Grinder and Carmen Bostic St Clair’s 5 day coaching certification by Michael Beale
A Useful Guide to NLP for Coaches
I was lucky enough to attend John and Carmen’s 5 day (plus one day’s accreditation) coaching seminar in Croydon on the 26-30th November 2004 with about 50 delegates. I was particular interested in this particular seminar because in addition to John being an NLP co-founder both John and Carmen have a track record in business coaching. I was also looking for any ideas to improve our own coaching master-class in January; so they had my full attention.
It was a great learning experience which is a reflection not only on John and Carmen but also on the NLP Academy and the other delegates. Having five days to model John was great; having five days to practice coaching with open feedback was also great. Unlike the ‘new code’ seminar I stayed for Carmen’s sessions. What follows is my recollections of some of the key points as I remember them; I’m not claiming they’re accurate and they’re not comprehensive but I hope they’re useful.
As a preamble I’ll say that all learning in the context of coaching is experiential; what’s important is noticing (hearing and feeling?) what works. I’ll also quote John quoting Gregory Bateson, “The logic of unconscious process is profoundly different from the logic of conscious process; it’s the collision of these two processes which is the basis of creativity and art.” For the sake of this article I’m concentrating on some of the conscious logic; use your experience or come to the next seminar to fill in the rest!
Headings
Two types of coaches Some characteristics of excellent coaching Coach’s purpose Phases of coaching Bostic–Grinder Coaching Model The purpose of tasking Some neat exercises AccreditationTwo types of coaches
Some coaches are experts at what they do and their feedback against what works is invaluable; some aren’t and therefore have to manage the process – which in a different way can be a significant advantage
Having knowledge of the context or being an ‘expert’ can give additional rapport
Some characteristics of excellent coaching
It’s a learning process for both the coached and the coach
You do not build a dependency
Set up an agreement that the person coached may be asked to do a task without understanding the reason why
Nothing happens without rapport – defined in this instance as having the full conscious and more importantly the unconscious attention of the individual being coached
Effective change occurs at the level of ‘state’ rather than ‘behaviour’.
Explanation can hinder change
Coach’s purpose
Elicit Define Refine Challenge Facilitate, assist but not (necessarily) give solutionsPhases of coaching
Gain rapport/contract Establish frame Elicit information Create action plan Get commitment Follow upBostic-Grinder coaching model (as a guide)
Elicit information Working goal Is goal ecological for coach or client? Goal’s intention How many ways can this be satisfied? Graphically or spatially represent options If the client were to choose X, would they commit to an action plan Negative and positive consequences of X Sensory representations of X Test – summarise and check congruency Commit to action to plan (could use Smart goals) Commitment (could use unconscious signals)The purpose of tasking
A task set by the coach which will provide a counter example to the clients limiting belief/value
For example a man shy of talking to women could be asked to complete market research in a women’s store; the task could be a game or a specific NLP technique
Some neat exercises in 3’s
Client talks too much – how many pattern interrupts can you use?
Client doesn’t know what he/she wants – how many interventions can you use?
Client doesn’t want to explain content – agree a metaphor with client; discuss options and solutions using the metaphor
Coach and observer work as one – Observer tells the coach which technique (or part of a technique) to use in real time and the coach executes it. The observer is responsible for ‘strategy’ the coach for ‘execution’.
Accreditation
In 3’s the client and coach were briefed separately, the observer wrote a brief report on what happened. Results collated with John and Carmen’s observations. Delegates were either accredited or had to come back to demonstrate proficiency in something they hadn’t shown proficiency in yet.
After thoughts
A great learning experience; I recommend John (and Richard) to anyone who wants to develop their NLP attitudes, modelling skills and techniques.
The oddest thing was listening to John tell a story that I normally associate with Richard; I’m sure the voice was the same…..
See Also: Team Build for Team building ideas, games and workshops