Mind Tools News

Acuity World – Applying NLP in Leadership, Sales and Business in Denmark

One of the most rewarding aspects of participating in the global NLP training community is witnessing how our shared methodologies are applied in diverse professional contexts around the world. During a recent visit to Orlando, USA, I had the opportunity to reconnect with my Danish colleague, Henrik Wenøe—a fellow NLP Master Trainer certified by the Society of NLP—who has dedicated his work to the thoughtful integration of NLP in leadership development and professional sales.

Henrik is the founder of Acuity World, a Denmark-based training institute that focuses on supporting individuals and organizations in developing their capacity for Personal Leadership and Personal Selling. His aim is not merely to teach NLP techniques, but to make these tools truly applicable in the everyday realities of modern business—particularly in B2B contexts where long-term relationships, adaptability, and authentic communication are essential.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 22, 2025 3:34 pm No Comments

Eye Accessing Cues

What are in NLP Eye Accessing Cues?

In NLP Eye Accessing Cues give subtle information about the thoughts of the person you are working with. The information below does not say it is ‘always’ this way, but rather that you should check whether reliable information is provided. Hence there are cases known of people where the response in accessing cues is different (Remembered and Constructed reversed).

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 13, 2025 8:00 am 3 Comments

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Gathering Information (Deletion)

Gathering Information is the First part of the Inverse of the Meta Model. Remember that the Meta Model is used to recover Deleted information. Here we are going to discover the Four parts it is been made of. Now in the Meta Model we learned to ask the questions to discover what has been deleted by the client. In the Milton Model we, as the NLP Practitioner, we are utilizing to deliberately delete information and provide suggestions with it. This part, Gathering Information, is the most useful and most powerful of the three chunks of information. So study it closely, in the end it will make the utilization of the Milton Model only easier.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 13, 2025 7:00 am 1 Comment

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Behaviour

Leadership Mirror Neurons and Behavior

This article is about Leadership Mirror Neurons and Behavior. A mirror neuron is a neuron that fires both when an animal acts and when the animal observes the same action performed by another. The neuron “mirrors” the behavior of the other, as though the observer were itself acting. Such neurons have been directly observed in various species. In humans, brain activity consistent with that of mirror neurons has been found in the premotor cortex, the supplementary motor area, the primary somatosensory cortex and the inferior parietal cortex. Many scientists believe they are important in imitation and language acquisition.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 13, 2025 7:00 am No Comments

mind tools personal development neuro linguistic programming nlp responsible use of the meta model training

NLP Meta Model

Responsible use of the Meta Model

Responsible use of the Meta Model is one of the foundations we learn people in our Trainings. As NLP as a technology constantly develops and evolves, we constantly update our knowledge by training at least once a year directly with the Society of NLP. It is critical to know the difference between asking questions to clarify your own understanding of someone else’s model, and asking questions to challenge their model. Even if I do, I always want to know when I have moved from one to another. Even if the line seems very gray, you can tell when you have made this shift. One mode is purely about gathering information and your subject will sense this. The other mode is about expanding and challenging their model of the world and this can be confrontational.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 13, 2025 7:00 am 1 Comment

Influence

The Power of Influence and Seduction

In our coaching practice we receive a lot of questions about the power of influence and seduction. Well, let me be clear about that, the power of influence and seduction is never to be about to underestimate. From birth on we start to flirt around the world and influence by yelling and screaming when we need food, drink or other things. At that very moment we are not aware how we do it, but we manage to do it. We do know precisely how to tune in to mom and dad to get the things done at the frequency they act the fastest. At a sudden, as a grown up, we start to think all kinds of things with the goal we want to achieve. Troubling the outcome big-time. This article is about the twofold, influencing and seducing from the power within.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 13, 2025 6:00 am 1 Comment

NLP Coaching

The behaviours below are based on what I have learnt during my 20+ years career in business and during my career as an executive coach and agent of change and progress. When coaching anybody the below coaching behaviours, applied consistently and with integrity, will help you to gain rapport, to explore and understand “the model of the world” of your interlocutor. We like to be acknowledged and understood.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 13, 2025 6:00 am 4 Comments

NLP Deletion

The first part of the NLP Meta Model is Deletion. In NLP Deletion occurs when we selectively pay attention to certain aspects of your experience and not others. In NLP, Deletion means we overlook or omit certain sensory information. Without deletion, we would be faced with much too much information to handle in our conscious minds.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 12, 2025 12:00 pm 4 Comments

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Generalisation

NLP Universal Quantifiers

What are in NLP Universal Quantifiers?
Generalizations that preclude exceptions or alternative choices are in NLP Universal Quantifiers. NLP suggests that these are virtually never an accurate representation of the objective state of things. There are almost always exceptions to any rules. You use Universal quantifiers to eliminate objections and therefore, perhaps, objectivity.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 12, 2025 12:00 pm 1 Comment

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Ambiguity

NLP Ambiguities

In NLP Ambiguities come in a variety of flavors. Phonological Ambiguity, Syntactic Ambiguity, Scope Ambiguity and Punctuation Ambiguity. Ambiguity or vague usage of language, literally means lack of specificity. You can utilize these patterns by taking advantage of everything in the listeners experience. You can use both internal and external environments to support the intention of the speaker. While working with a client, the door to your working room mistakenly opens. Instead of getting frustrated and annoyed, you start to utilize your environment.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 12, 2025 12:00 pm 6 Comments

Awareness Predicates

Did you realize that your unconscious mind already has begun learning about Awareness Predicates? Sounds silly right? Yet your unconscious mind does. Now it is only the trick to continue these learnings and incorporate it in your knowledge of presuppositions and the Milton Model. Do you realize consciously now that you are reading this? Awareness Predicates are used to provide an ‘instruction’ to the listener. Have you noticed the attractive writing style in this article to keep you reading and learning at the same time?

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 12, 2025 12:00 pm 1 Comment

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Indirect Elicitation Patterns

NLP Negative Commands

Do not think you are going to learn more in this great blogpost about NLP Negative Commands. Negative Commands are commands given in negative form. The positive instruction is generally what is responded to. A little example for starters to warm up. “Don’t think of pink elephants.” In this example you have to think about the color pink or an elephant, or both to understand what is being told. The explanation of what is happening here is fairly simple. Negation does not exist in the primary experience of sights, sounds and feelings.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 12, 2025 12:00 pm 1 Comment

NLP Deletion

NLP Lack of Referential Index

What is NLP Lack of Referential Index?
Any unspecified noun, where it is impossible to identify the representative entity from the immediate context of its usage is called in NLP Lack of Referential Index. I.e., it is unclear as to whom or what the noun makes reference to. Unspecified nouns are nouns (the person/being or thing part) where you don’t know who or what they are specifically talking about. NLP calls this a lack of referential index. Don’t you love these terms? Not knowing who or what the person is talking about can result in misunderstanding. You (or they) tend to fill in the gaps with your (or their) own ideas and will walk into a mind read. In other words we have to guess and then act on that guess.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 12, 2025 11:00 am 2 Comments

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Generalisation

NLP Presuppositions

What are NLP Presuppositions?
Simple! In NLP Presuppositions are basically – “What is the person assuming to be true, underneath what they are actually telling me?”. Presuppositions are not necessarily true, but even if the are not, by holding something not-yet-true as being true, we can help to bring that to fruition.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 12, 2025 11:00 am 2 Comments

NLP Deletion

NLP Unspecified Verb

What is the NLP Unspecified Verb?
A verb that deletes specific information in any way as to how, when or where is called in NLP Unspecified Verb. Unspecified Verbs are verbs (the doing part) in a sentence that don’t fully describe the action taking place. They don’t give enough information to let you know what is going on for them. People usually fill in the gap with their own experience – called Mind Reading. When people use unspecified verbs, all it means is that they do not have the descriptive way of representing what they mean and/or understand.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 12, 2025 11:00 am 2 Comments

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Inverse of the Meta Model

Mind Reading

I know, you know you have already learned a lot about Mind Reading in the Milton Model. Mind Reading is the phenomena where you act as if you truly know what is going on in the listeners head. Mind reading statements send the person that you are communicating with into a mild form of confusion at the conscious level. They will ask themselves: “How to they now, I know?” It creates a bit of confusion. And as a result the conscious mind is given something to think over. That is exactly you want to achieve. Make the conscious mind busy to seep in instructions to the unconscious mind. Now you reading this will think: “Is it that easy?” Yes it is!

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 12, 2025 10:00 am 1 Comment

Mastering

Mastering the Meta Model

Mastering the Meta Model will come only after you have learned about all the major patterns and begun to recognize them in the language people use at a conversational pace. It may seem or have seemed difficult to reach this level, but it does not need to be. Recommended is to make a conscious effort during your social conversations with friends and family, to recognize, not to challenge, as many Meta-Model patterns as you can. Start by intending to recognize only one or two patterns, consciously, in each conversation. Some people like to make flashcards with each pattern, which say “Today I am going to listen for Lost Performatives.” Eventually, try as you might to only pay attention to one or two patterns, you will be hearing more and more.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 12, 2025 6:00 am 1 Comment

NLP Comparative Deletion

In NLP Comparative Deletion is any statement wherein a comparison is implied or given. But where one side of the comparison is omitted. When you accept a statement without understanding what’s behind it, you get stuck. Many “self esteem” issues come from deciding someone is better or more worthy at a general level rather than questioning the standard. “Better at what specifically?” If you don’t know what the standard is, how can you improve or disregard it?

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 12, 2025 6:00 am 2 Comments

NLP Deletion

NLP Simple Deletion

What is NLP Simple Deletion?
Any statement with missing of deficient information is a simple deletion. In NLP Simple deletions are where part of the meaning are left out or lost. You can notice them in sentences with it and that. Also when referring to missing descriptions (adjectives) – as in “Please give me the report.”, can be challenged with the question “Which report do you want, specifically”. Assuming that you know which category or thing the person means can get you into trouble. You think you know which report the boss wants when she says “Get me a report on it straight away”. Filling in her request blindly and delivering the report will result in a mind read, cause you have to fill in the information for “it”. Mind reading fills in the deletion gaps.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 12, 2025 6:00 am 2 Comments

Inverse of the Meta Model

NLP Inverse of the Meta Model

The first part of the Milton Model is called the inverse of the Meta Model. The Meta Model is a set of language patterns that can be used to describe an experience more in full. The Milton Model is the opposite of it. It allows you to be “artfully vague”. In the scope of being able to be artfully vague, it allows you to sound very specific and at the same time the suggestions given are general enough to be adequate for the experience of the listener. Where the Meta Model gives you a way to recover specific information that is deleted in any sentence, the Milton Model is the opposite. The Milton Model allows you to provide information in which all specific information is deleted. This requires the listener to fill in the deleted information provided by the Milton Model. How easy can your life be?

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 12, 2025 6:00 am 2 Comments

mind tools personal development neuro linguistic programming nlp representational system kinesthetic

NLP Kinesthetic

In NLP Kinesthetic is one part of the Representational System. In NLP Kinesthetic break down into two general parts; Internal and External. Examples of Internal feelings are feeling happy, grateful and joy. In conclusion you will find legions more. Examples of External feelings are; feeling the wind on your skin, feeling the sun on your skin. So every feeling that comes from the inside is called Kinesthetic Internal and every feeling that comes from the outside, we call in NLP Kinesthetic External.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 11, 2025 4:25 pm 1 Comment

mind tools personal development neuro linguistic programming nlp representational system olfactory

NLP Olfactory

In NLP Olfactory is one part of the Representational System. An example is: “Smelling how great that apple-pie smells!”. Or maybe a more nasty one: “It smells like dogshit!”. There are legions more. Just say only think about food and the smell of it and a legion of examples will popup.Olfactory is relating to smell or the sense of smell.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 11, 2025 4:00 pm 2 Comments

NLP Meta Model

NLP Meta Model and Rapport

Guess what, usage of the NLP Meta Model and Rapport can be dangerous! The Meta-Model can easily reduce or break rapport. Actually it requires that the subject you are talking with break or reduce rapport with you by themselves, by tuning out the world and searching in their minds. By tuning out the world, they are reducing sensory contact with you while they do lots of deeper and deeper searches through their internal experience to answer your questions.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 11, 2025 4:00 pm 3 Comments

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NLP Representational Systems

NLP Visual

In NLP Visual is one part of the Representational System. In NLP Visual breaks down into two general parts; Internal and External. An example of Internal Visual is remembering how many chairs there are in your living room, remembering your favorite movie. There are legions more.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 11, 2025 4:00 pm 4 Comments

mind tools personal development neuro linguistic programming nlp representational system audio auditory

NLP Auditory

In NLP Auditory is one part of the Representational System. In NLP Auditory break down into two general parts; Internal and External. An example of Internal Auditory is remembering how your favorite song sounds like, remembering your favorite family member talks. There are legions more. Just say only the alphabet inside your mind and you have a great example of Auditory Internal.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 11, 2025 4:00 pm 3 Comments

mind tools personal development neuro linguistic programming nlp representational system gustatory

NLP Gustatory

In NLP Gustatory is one part of the Representational System. In NLP Gustatory breaks down into two general parts; Remembered and the actual taste. When you associate yourself with your favorite dish, really think about what taste you like, your mouth start watering and be careful not to start drooling. And there is the actual taste. Imagine you eating your favourite dish, how would you feel? In NLP Gustatory is all about taste and the sense of taste.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 11, 2025 4:00 pm 1 Comment

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Ambiguities

NLP Embedded Commands

In NLP Embedded Commands are used rather than giving direct instructions, the NLP Practitioner embeds the directives within a larger sentence structure. You can start now to imagine the power of Embedded Commands, especially now you can begin to relax and learn even more. Embedded commands often are used in a larger sentence structure to deliver them more smoothly and gracefully. The listener will not consciously relaize the directives that have been given to him or her.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 4:01 pm 2 Comments

mindtools personal development neuro linguistic programming nlp milton model nlp generalize limits of the speaker's model

Inverse of the Meta Model

Limits of the Speaker’s Model (Generalization)

Limits of the Speaker’s Model is the Third part of the Inverse of the Meta Model. Remember that the Meta Model is used to search for and reveal Generalized information. Here we are going to discover the Two parts it is been made of. Now in the Meta Model we learned to ask the questions to discover what has been generalized by the client. In the Milton Model we, as the NLP Practitioner, we are utilizing to deliberately generalize information and provide suggestions with it. This part, Limits of the Speaker’s Model, is the least significant of the three chunks of information. So study it closely, in the end it will make the utilization of the Milton Model only easier.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 4:00 pm 2 Comments

Milton Model

Presuppositions

We have learnt in the Meta Model that Presuppositions are basically – “What is the person assuming to be true, underneath what they are actually telling me?”. Presuppositions are not necessarily true, but even if the are not, by holding something not-yet-true as being true, we can help to bring that to fruition. Now the presuppositions in relation to the Milton Model. Presuppositions are the most powerful of the language patterns, when used by a communicator who presupposes what she does not want to have questioned. A general principle is to give the person lots of choices and yet have all of the choices presuppose the response you want.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 4:00 pm 6 Comments

mindtools personal development neuro linguistic programming nlp milton model nlp distortion distort semantic ill formedness

Inverse of the Meta Model

Semantic Ill-Formedness (Distortion)

Semantic Ill-Formedness is the Second part of the Inverse of the Meta Model. Remember that the we use the Meta Model here to reveal Distorted information. Here we are going to discover the Three parts it is been made of. Now in the Meta Model we learned to ask the questions to discover what has been distorted by the client. In the Milton Model we, as the NLP Practitioner, we are utilizing to deliberately distort information and provide suggestions with it. This part, Semantic Ill-Formedness, is very powerful. So study it closely, in the end it will make the utilization of the Milton Model only easier.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 4:00 pm 3 Comments

Milton Model

NLP Subordinate Clauses of Time

Before you start to read this article we just want to make sure we are talking about NLP Subordinate Clauses of Time. After you have finished reading this article we are sure you are more educated about this subject. So while you are reading this article we want you to start to realise you are using this Milton Model pattern already a lot and on an everyday basis in your life. Aren’t you? We want to discuss something with you before you complete reading this article. Do you want to sit down while you are reading this? A trained and well educated NLP Practitioner will know what we written down prior to this sentence.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 3:00 pm 1 Comment

Embedded Questions

NLP Embedded Questions

I am curious to know what you would like to learn from reading this blogpost. In NLP Embedded Questions are a powerful way to ask questions covertly, get a response and the listener not realizing that the question was not asked directly. So at this moment I am wondering what you want to learn next? Basically this technique comes down on the fact that the listener or receiver of this message does not refuse the question, because it is embedded within a statement about the speaker’s curiosity. This is very easy to learn theory about Indirect Elicitation Patterns and in specific about Embedded Questions. I am wondering how much you are going to exercise this technique, now.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 3:00 pm 1 Comment

Commentary Adjectives and Adverbs

We have gone over Adjectives and Adverbs in our previous blogposts. So that may not be any difficulty anymore. Now, in specific we are coming to Commentary Adjectives and Adverbs. Before you continue to read, we want you to know that the examples we are going to provide you proudly contain several kinds of presuppositions.. And combining all the techniques learnt will make it only more powerfull than you could imagine. Practice these examples and come up with your own. The more you practice, the more you become perfect in it. That is the goal we are aiming for.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 3:00 pm 1 Comment

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Indirect Elicitation Patterns

NLP Conversational Postulates

Did someone ever asked you something like “Do you know what time it is.”? And you told them the exact time? Welcome to NLP Conversational Postulates. The most logical answer to this question is either Yes or No. Conversational Postulates typically elicit a response, rather than a literal answer. So, can you give me some more examples of Conversational Postulates now? I think you can. It depends rather now on if you provide a response or a literal answer. Are you reading this?

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 3:00 pm 1 Comment

Adverbs and Adjectives

Adverbs and Adjectives presuppose that something is going to happen. Adverbs and adjectives add information to a verb (doing word) or noun (naming word) respectively. If I were to say “Johnny is running quickly”, “quickly” would be the adverb as it is adding more detail or qualifying the verb “to run”. The question is how will the experience be? That is the question, you, as an NLP Practitioner needs to investigate. Adverbs and Adjectives is a wonderful part of the Milton Model that helps you do your work easier and quicker. It only needs some planning. For you to experience the information below.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 2:00 pm 2 Comments

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Inverse of the Meta Model

Universal Quantifiers

Words such as all, every, always, nobody, etc. are Universal Quantifiers. Universal Quantifiers usually indicate overgeneralization. Remember we are in the land of, Trance, Hypnosis and the Milton Model. So the usage of Universal Quantifiers should be applied in such a way. Where the Meta Model learns us to reveal deleted, distorted or generalized information, here we are going to use Universal Quantifiers to be specifically vague and provide the listener ways that produce trance as well as other outcomes. Every word you are reading here can assist you in going deeper and deeper into a beautiful trance. And so should we utilize Universal Quantifiers.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 2:00 pm 1 Comment

Change of Time Verbs and Adverbs

Change of Time Verbs and Adverbs is a great article about helping you deeper understand the concept of presuppositions and the Milton Model. It helps you to quickly and easily change the perception of your client. In proper use of it, you are able to provide some kind of an embedded command to your client. It helps you presuppose something by using Change of Time Verbs and Adverbs. Take the following example: “You can continue to relax.”. It presupposes that you are already relaxing. Another one: “Are you still interested in doing business?”. It presupposes that you were at some point interested in doing business with me. Now we have provided you some examples already, let’s take a closer look on how to apply this technique. Here we go!

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 2:00 pm 1 Comment

Meta Programs

NLP Meta Programs

In NLP Meta Programs are a process by which one sorts through multiple generalizations simultaneously. As such, Meta Programs control how and when a person will engage in any set of strategies in a given context. Here are key take aways for you:

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 2:00 pm 2 Comments

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Inverse of the Meta Model

Lost Performative

Lost Performative are Evaluative statements. The person making the evaluation is missing (lost) from the sentence is called Lost Performative. Lost Performatives can be a very effective way of delivering presuppositions. We will work this out in our example section.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 2:00 pm 1 Comment

Distortion

NLP Mind Reading

In NLP Mind Reading is when you assume you know what another person thinks or feels in a given situation. And I know what you are thinking right now! Because you never completely or fully do, even if you think they or feel is a close representation of what another person thinks or feels. So, by its definition, any assumption about another person’s feelings or thoughts is mind-reading.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 1:00 pm 2 Comments

Indirect Elicitation Patterns

NLP Indirect Elicitation Patterns

Indirect Elicitation Patterns are very useful in getting specific responses indirectly, without asking for them. Again, in the Meta Model we scope for information that is sent to us as the listener to be as complete as possible. The Milton Model is the opposite of it. In other words we as an NLP Practitioner or Master Practitioner plan our outcome very well. Where Direct Elicitation can result in much resitance or authority, in NLP Indirect Elicitation Patterns help you soften the communication. Using them results in a desired response indirectly. In other words, you are asking for an outcome without making it obvious that you are asking and there is a desired outcome. Fun, right?

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 1:00 pm 2 Comments

Distortion

NLP Complex Equivalence

What is NLP Complex Equivalence?
In NLP Complex Equivalence is a conclusion. It bases itself on a static belief that gives some conditions. The outcome will always be the same. NLP suggests that this is a close view of potential possibilities. It provides opportunities for learning, growth and change. Often, complex equivalences are used in the process to chunk up (or generalising) inappropriately. To make summary judgments that do not apply as widely as a person is implying.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 1:00 pm 1 Comment

Distortion

NLP Lost Performative

In NLP Lost Performative is any value judgement or opinion. The source of the judgement or opinion is absent. So often beliefs and opinions pass down from person to person. Eventually to the point where the belief or opinion is no longer relevant to the person offering it or contextually appropriate. Lost performatives are when someone is talking about a personal belief, but presents it as though it was a universal truth. We then accept it as true without questioning it as we would if we heard it as someone’s personal opinion.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 1:00 pm 1 Comment

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Indirect Elicitation Patterns

NLP Analogue Marking

In NLP Analogue Marking doesn’t have to do much with language patterns, but the more how you use your voice. In our experience it doesn’t hurt to become fully in control of your voice as it makes you bring our message to your client more easy and more smooth. A lot of the techniques we explained in previous blogposts are even more powerful when you apply Analogue Marking. Analogue Marking means that you set the directive apart from the rest or the sentence with some non-verbal analogue behavior.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 1:00 pm 2 Comments

NLP Distortion

In NLP Distortion is the second part of the NLP Meta Model. NLP Distortion, or Semantic Ill Formedness, occurs when we make shifts in our experience of sensory data by making misrepresentations of reality. Let’s start with a well known story of NLP distortion in Eastern philosophy. It is the story of the rope and the snake. A man walks along a road and sees what he believes to be a snake and yells, “SNAKE!”. However, upon closer investigation he is relieved to discover that it really was only a piece of rope.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 12:00 pm 1 Comment

Distortion

NLP Nominalization

In NLP Nominalization is a verb, representing a process, which turned into a noun or an event or a concept. This is something that is more easily dealt with as a verb/process, than a noun/event. We naturally nominalize things all the time. It is a nominalization, “if you cannot put it in a wheelbarrow.” First of all, people nominalize things to try to get a handle on the, or to be more easily able to refer to them in simpler terms.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 12:00 pm 1 Comment

NLP Generalization

The third process in the NLP Meta Model is NLP generalization, also directed to Limits of the Speaker’s Model. Where we draw global conclusions based on one, two or more experiences what we call the process of NLP generalization. At its best, NLP generalization are one of the ways that we learn. We take the information we have and draw broad conclusions about the world based on one or more experiences. At its worst, generalization is how we take a single event and make it into a lifetime of experience.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 12:00 pm 2 Comments

Distortion

NLP Cause and Effect

What is NLP Cause and Effect?

In NLP Cause and Effect is simple to explain. This language pattern indicates a causal relationship between one element or phrase and another. Because something causes or leads to something else, or makes something else occur. Cause and Effect statements are often heavily associated with beliefs and rules. Some keywords to listen for: “IF … THEN …” (even if the “THEN” part is implied), or, “WHEN … I/THEY/IT …”

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 12:00 pm 3 Comments

NLP Meta Model

We invite you to consider several things about the NLP Meta Model as you explore the next pages. First, learn both how the NLP Meta Model is used for wonderful results and also how it can be misused, both are being discussed.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 11:00 am 12 Comments

Monkey Management

Monkey Management is all about Managing your zoo. What is a Monkey? A monkey is not a project or a problem it is only the next step to create progress in activities of your subordinates. Monkeys like food and preferably bananas. Tend to see the bananas as being food for thought and drivers for progress for the monkeys. So one thing you as a manager need to have is a lot of bananas in store to keep the monkeys satisfied.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 10:00 am No Comments

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Hypnosis

NLP Milton Model

The NLP Milton Model. You’re about to discover what made Milton Erickson the modern day legend that he is until now. And you are about to discover how powerful the NLP Milton Model is. Have fun reading and practicing! Before we dive into Erickson’s magic language patterns, let’s answer the question: “Who was Milton Erickson?”.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 10:00 am 7 Comments

Milton Model

Ordinal Numerals

First promise me something. As you are reading this article about Ordinal Numerals, make sure you read it through the end. Second, promise yourself to practice this stuff a lot. Third, make notes and grow your own library of this stuff. Because if you complied with the first, second and third hint, you already know that the fourth is not that hard. Incorporate it in your knowledge-base of the Milton Model, specifically the Presuppositions. Questions?

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 10:00 am 1 Comment

Coach

Becoming an NLP Top Coach

According to Wikipedia, the definition of a Coach and Coaching as a profession is “Coaching is a form of development in which a person called a coach supports a learner or client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance.” People utilize a Coach to achieve goals, to have a sounding board, to discuss and work-out. The application of Coaching is legion. Coaching practices exist for a wide range of applications. Think about Coaching for Businesses, Dating, Life-Coaching, Financial Coaching and legion more.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 10:00 am No Comments

Enjoy

Enjoy Fulfilling Relationships

A lot of people, if you ask them, have on their list to enjoy fulfilling relationships. Logical. We humans are social creatures and so want to be with other people to enjoy a great and quality time. Yet what makes a relationship work so it becomes fulfilling and enjoyable for all involved? Well, first of all being open and honest to each other makes a hell of a difference. It comes to your emotional intelligence. Deepening your ability to live your life in balance and at the same time not to lose yourself only by the benefit of the other.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 9:00 am No Comments

Effectiveness

Improve Focus and Effectiveness

The decision-making process in business and your personal life is an important part of your success. Critical thinking involves the capability to think rationally and fair-minded. You must have the ability to employ thinking reflectively and independently. Do you know that your brain can’t tell the difference between something imaginary and something real? In other words, if your imagination is vivid enough, you can trick your brain into experiencing the positive emotions that go along with a positive memory or mental image.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 9:00 am No Comments

Milton Model

The use of Or

Now I know the title of this article sounds like a bad version of the Wizzard of Oz, but we are here for the The use of “Or” in presuppositions which is part of the Milton Model. Some of you reading this article have kids. And by the way, having kids is not to be ashamed about. Yet continue reading this article you will discover something very familiar. Lets start with an example. Did you ever had difficulties making your kids do homework? Here is the trick. If you ask them “Please do your homework.” the answer is “No” or “Later” or whatever response they are giving you. Logical, because a kid is honnest in their response. Now, just for the demonstration of it, refrase the question and ask something like: “Do you do your homework before or after dinner?”.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 9:00 am 1 Comment

Chunk Size

NLP Meta Program Chunk Size

Do not bite-off more than you can chew is an old saying. The NLP Meta Program Chunk Size let’s you understand the hierarchy of it and as well how to recognize and use it. Let’s start with a description that will make you clear what the NLP Meta Program Chunk Size is all about. Imagine the Earth, the earth is divided by land and oceans. The land is divided by continents. Continents on their turn are divided by countries. A country has cities. Cities have roads and homes. One of those roads leads to your home. Your home has rooms. This room has stuff in it. At least this room has walls. These walls are made of something solid. This solid part contains carbon. Now if you agree or disagree your room has stuff in it, it is ok. The demonstration we make here is that there is a sort-order from world view up until the smallest particle we are able to recognize.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 9:00 am 1 Comment

Communication

In is Out! A Try-out in If you like to the out-side-in.

In is Out! What is in yesterday is out today. Not only with food, yet many aspects in life follow this principle. Last year’s clothing what was in, is out now. And on the other hand what comes out now may me in tomorrow. So we organize our lives by in and out and it is a merry-go-round of inside-out to the outside in.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 8:00 am No Comments

Find

Find your Life Purpose

Find your Life Purpose is easier said than done. Many people struggle with this question. Being on the verge of being burnt-out or even worse, being bored-out. Years ago, we asked ourselves, how can we create a system that evaluates and makes the necessary changes to get us on course to where we wanted to be. When we started to develop this system around 6 years ago we were suffering a bad performing business, money-sucking employees and bad food.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 8:00 am No Comments

Admire

Model abilities of successful persons you admire

For most of my adolescence and young adulthood, I fantasized about being a musician. A rock star, in particular. Any badass piano song I heard, I would always close my eyes and envision myself up on stage playing it to the screams of the crowd. People absolutely losing their minds to my sweet playing on the piano. This fantasy could keep me occupied for hours on end. The fantasizing continued up through college, even after I dropped out of music school and stopped playing seriously. But even then it was never a question of if I would ever be up playing in front of screaming crowds, but when.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 8:00 am 1 Comment

10 Reasons

10 reasons to learn NLP with Mind Tools

There are many reasons why so many people have already joined us and graduated in this comprehensive and advanced NLP Practitioner Training Program with Mind Tools. When we started to learn NLP by taking the NLP Practitioner’s Course, we thought we knew what to expect. It was a psychology/personal development program that can be utilized to help others with specific problems that they may have. But learning NLP ended up being so much more than that. We did not realize we would be plunged deep into the inner workings of the mind, exploring all aspects of how our brains compute different scenarios, and how we deal with them.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 7:00 am No Comments

Ask the Right Questions

Learn the Art to Ask the Right Questions

Learn the art of asking the right questions. You want to feel good, right? You want to love a carefree, happy and easy life, to fall in love and have amazing sex and relationships, to look perfect and make money and be popular and well-respected and admired and a way to the point that people part like the Red Sea when you walk into the room. I want that, you want that – it’s easy to like that. Yet is it easy to be like that? Learn to Ask yourself the right questions.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 7:00 am No Comments

Certification

NLP Certification

Did you see the advertisements online? Advertisements about NLP Certification? Double, Triple even Quadruple NLP Certification in a small amount of time. Hilarious! If you are in the “game” of getting certifications fast, we suggest you invest in a good color printer and start printing all the certificates you want. It is much cheaper to buy a printer! You are able to print them on demand. And basically it will show you nothing but the print. Mind Tools does not believe in getting the most of certificates out of a single training. We do believe in quality training as we have learnt from Dr. Richard Bandler and the Society of NLP.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 6:25 am No Comments

Awareness

NLP Self Awareness – Use your Brain for Change

Enrich your emotional intelligence and greater empathy and listening skills. Improve your critical-thinking skills and decision making. Learn to get in touch with yourself instantly. Yet, how do you learn self-awareness? Or even more abstract if the first question already dazzled you, how do you teach self-awareness? How do you become more self-aware? I know what you’re thinking right now. “How the fuck do you learn, teach and experience self-awareness?” But seriously, it can be taught and practiced like anything else.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 6:00 am 2 Comments

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Gathering Information

Unspecified Referential Index

The Unspecified Referential Index is a very fancy combination of words that basically mean that the noun being talked about is not specified.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. May 6, 2025 6:00 am 1 Comment

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Chunk Up

The NLP Meta Model Chunked Up

Now you have learned all about the Meta-Model and how to learn more about the Deep Structure of people’s experiences, you will probably want to use what you know about the Meta-Model to help people find more behavioral options for themselves. This is a great intention and you are recommended you do so as you start to have fun with it already. Also remember that you are working with changing minds here. And this remark is meant in both ways. One – The minds you are working with will be changing all the time, almost just by virtue of your asking certain questions in certain ways. Two – you are working to directly change minds.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. April 26, 2025 11:00 am 1 Comment

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Elicitation

NLP Strategies

NLP Strategies – Let’s start with NLP first. NLP is a meta discipline. That is, it is a discipline of disciplines. It is the study of the structure of subjective experience and what can be calculated from that. Now a strategy is a high level plan to achieve one or more goals under certain conditions. For example, the specific strategy is traveling trough at least two representational systems. To remind you, the Representational System consists out of our Five Senses. Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Olfactory and Gustatory. Combining these two we come to NLP strategies. For example: You have learnt in our NLP Practitioner to use your five senses, to generate and maintain rapport. All useful tools to execute a strategy.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. April 26, 2025 11:00 am 3 Comments

Anchor

NLP Anchoring

Let’s do some magic in action. Let’s provide you the secrets of NLP Anchoring. In this article you will learn all about what Anchoring is and learn about how it is discovered. Furthermore you will learn about Anchors in your Daily Life and how the Marketing Industry is using anchors to gain your interest.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. April 19, 2025 3:00 pm 1 Comment

NLP Rapport

In NLP Rapport is the presence of trust, harmony and cooperation in a relationship between people. Rapport is created and maintained on different levels. Guess what, the usage Rapport can be dangerous! Asking the wrong questions can easily reduce or break rapport.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. April 19, 2025 1:00 am 18 Comments

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Away From

NLP Meta Program Direction

The NLP Meta Program Direction has two parts and is simple to remember. Language that is recognized as “Away From” and “Towards To”. To clarify this last statement, take a look at the following example: “I was suffering from a lot of pain, but now I sincerely become better.” In this sentence you are able to recognize a few things. “I was suffering” so the conclusion is that there is no or less pain now. This person, language technically seen, is moving away from pain. And, “Now I sincerely become better”. The conclusion you could draw here is that this person is moving towards a better health. So in working with Clients in Coaching for example, you are able to recognize the direction where this person is moving Away From and Towards to.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. April 19, 2025 1:00 am 1 Comment

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NLP Practitioner

NLP Representational Systems

The utilization of the NLP Representational Systems enables us to classify, to scan for, particular language. As a result you discover that one person likes to talk in visuals, the other in auditory. The moment two people have a conversation and use the same representational system, the chance of getting into rapport with each other is much bigger than they do use different representational systems.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. March 22, 2025 3:00 pm 1 Comment

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Ambiguities

NLP Syntactic Ambiguity

In NLP Syntactic Ambiguity is unexpected vague and does not ‘follow the rules’. Improper pauses, rambling sentences and incomplete sentences. All of which ultimately force the listener to ‘mind read’. “Hand me your watch … how quickly you go into a trance.” So, Syntactic Ambiguity is where the function (syntactic) of a word cannot be immediately determined from the immediate context. Take a transitive verb, add “ing” after it and place it before a noun.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. March 22, 2025 2:00 pm 1 Comment

mind tools personal development neuro linguistic programming nlp what is nlp

Attitude

What is NLP

A lot of blogposts about NLP or Neuro Linguistic Programming start explaining about the literal meaning of NLP. Neuro stands for your Neurology, Linguistics stands for … Not a bad way to start. Yet to keep things interesting, let’s start this blogpost a little different, at least differently as other blogposts have started. Ask yourself this question. ‘Were you born with a User Manual for your brain?’. Probably the answer is ‘No’. Once you were born out of your moms belly and the naval cord was cut, you where there. Two eyes, one nose. Two hands and five fingers each. You were planted on Mother Earth. On your own. And the remarkable fact is that you already knew that very moment how to make a sound, how to move your muscles, how to breathe, without a question. Your life has started.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. March 21, 2025 3:00 pm 2 Comments

NLP Meta Program

NLP Meta Program Time

First of all, remember that it is not important to work with definitions. We train with Dr. Richard Bandler and the Society of NLP. It is far more important to understand the concept of Time and NLP Meta Programs on a context level, than drilling yourself into hard-coded definitions. Our message is here: Learn to observe and to listen to your client. Time is something we as humans have made up. We made it up to measure the rotation of the earth. Various sources have declared various ways of how we came to the time as we use it now. In NLP we handle time in three big chunks of Time.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. March 21, 2025 3:00 pm 2 Comments

Coach

NLP Life Coaching

It will be nice if we have a personal NLP Life Coach. We all need that mentor, guidance counselor, outside advisor or personal life coach. First of all, your personal NLP Life coach helps you how to see the world around us. Many times we have our blinders on and can only see one small piece of the pie. Coaches have the ability to see things from 30,000 feet while the best you can do is live on the runway of life. Individual Coaching can add many benefits to your life. At Gateway to Knowledge we have specialists in Individual Life Coaching. Even the best in the world use coaches. Michael Jordan, Bill Gates, Brett Favre and many others all have benefited from having individual life coaching. Many people do not even understand what it is. Individual Life Coaching is much different than counseling.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. March 21, 2025 3:00 pm No Comments

Communication

NLP and Communication

How much do you believe this is a competency you can develop with practice? If you want to develop even more your communication capability please read below. My intention for this blogpost is to give you some information that will help you increase your persuasion capability by focusing the attention of your interlocutor that might show resistance to your ideas, towards your desired direction/objective. Many people I interact with in my professional capacity desire to become better and more elegant in using persuasive language in order to increase their influencing capabilities. The language we use has a major impact on our neurology and how we feel.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. March 21, 2025 2:00 pm 1 Comment

mind tools personal development neuro linguistic programming nlp milton model nlp scope ambiguity

Ambiguities

NLP Scope Ambiguity

In NLP Scope Ambiguity is a part of the Milton Model. Scope Ambiguity is simple to recognise. Take the following example “They went with the charming men and women”. Were there only charming men? Were the men and women charming? In other words, the scope of reference in this example sentence is not clear at all. It provides room for interpretation. And as a lot of the Indirect Elicitation Paterns do, please do note that this particular part, the Scope Ambiguty, has the same effect. The brain needs to think and relate to the environment to place all the information in the right context. In other words, we distract the brain a little bit to allow us to bring in other information. How easy can your life be as an NLP Practitioner?

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. March 21, 2025 2:00 pm 1 Comment

Anchoring

NLP and Anchoring for Effective Leadership

In the fast-paced realm of leadership, maintaining control of your emotions is vital. Whether you’re communicating with your team, brokering a deal, or facing high-pressure decisions, remaining calm, assured, and attentive is key. Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) offers leaders a powerful tool to reprogram their mental and emotional states by creating Anchors.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. March 3, 2025 10:28 am No Comments

nlp nested loops

NLP Nested Loops

NLP Nested Loops is a technique that creates trance and enhances the hypnotic phenomena. It helps you to bypass the conscious mind and access the unconscious mind more easy. In this article you learn what NLP Nested Loops are, what techniques are at your disposal and how to create your own hypnotic, spellbound story that will bind your audience to your story. Let’s get started!

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. February 22, 2025 3:00 pm No Comments

Causal Modeling or Linkage

Causal Modeling or Linkage is the simple technique of implying that there is a cause-effect relationship between something that is happening and something the coach wants to happen. It invites the client to respond as if one thing happened and indeed caused the other.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. February 20, 2025 4:00 pm 1 Comment

mind tools personal development neuro linguistic programming nlp submodalities

NLP Auditory Submodalities

NLP Submodalities

In NLP Submodalities, the special sensory qualities perceived by each of the five senses. For example:

Visual submodalities include color, shape, movement, brightness, depth etc.,
Auditory sub-modalities include volume, pitch, tempo, etc.,
Kinesthetic sub-modalities include pressure, temperature, texture, location, etc.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. November 27, 2024 1:21 pm 1 Comment

Public

Public Speaking Tips

You might be quite often in position to speak to different audiences. As a leader you intend to influence them so they take action that will result at some point in meeting the strategic intents of your enterprise. I thought to share with you some proven strategies that I myself learnt from others (great further resource: Owen Fitzpatrick). They will help you to take your rhetorical competence to the next level so that you will persuade even more people. They are used regularly by Barack Obama, one of the best speakers today…

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. February 21, 2024 2:00 pm 1 Comment

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Indirect Elicitation Patterns

NLP Phonological Ambiguity

In NLP Phonological Ambiguity is best described as words that sound the same but have a different meaning. Utilising Phonological Ambiguities forces the brain to think for a moment. It needs to interpret the context of the sentence and place the ambiguity of the Phonological Ambiguity in the right context. As a result the sender of the message made the receiver of it think for a second or so. Take the following example sentence: “I watch you which maybe is a good thing.”. Several things happen in this sentence. Let’s do a little bit of dissecting this sentence. I can be Eye. Watch can be looking or relate to a clock. Which can relate to a Choice or a Female Wizard.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. February 21, 2024 2:00 pm 1 Comment

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Ambiguities

NLP Punctuation Ambiguity

In NLP Punctuation Ambiguity or Siamese Sentences is part of the Milton Model. Punctuation Ambiguity is a bit harder to detect than the previous sets in the Indirect Elicitation Patterns. Punctuation ambiguity is identified as where you use a sequence of words which is the result of an overlap of two well-formed Surface Structures sentences sharing a word or phrase. In other words, take two sentences, one that ends with the same word as the second sentence begins. For example sentence one: “I want you to notice your hand” and sentence two: “Hand me the glass”. Now comes the trick. Make sentence one and two as one sentence and remove the “Hand” from the second sentence. You will get “I want you to notice your hand me the glass”. Simple right?!

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. February 21, 2024 2:00 pm 1 Comment

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Gathering Information

Nominalizations

Words that take the place of a noun in a sentence but are not tangible are Nominalizations. They can not be touched, felt or heard. Nominalizations are used as nouns but they are actually process words.When you use a Nominalization, a large part of information is deleted. Nominalizations come very helpful in hypnosis and hypnotic inductions. They allow you to be vague and require the listener to search trough their experience for the most applicable meaning. By using Nominalizations you can give useful instructions and being protected at the same time of saying something that will violate or runs counter to the listener’s internal experience.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. February 20, 2024 4:00 pm 1 Comment

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Gathering Information

Unspecified Verbs

Words like move, change, fix, do, experience are Unspecified Verbs. Now keep in mind that no verb is completely specified. Yet verbs can be more or less specified. When you use relatively unspecified verbs, your client is again forced to provide meaning in order to interpret the sentence. Remember that we are in the land of the Milton Model and the usage of this technique is to be specifically vague. So Unspecified Verbs are fully in line here as they offer only a vague description of an action or happening.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. February 20, 2024 3:00 pm 1 Comment

Deletion

Deletion. In the Meta Model we have learnt about Deletion. In sense of the Meta Model we have learned to reveal the deleted information in a statement made by the client.

Mind Tools Co., Ltd. February 20, 2024 3:00 pm 1 Comment

What is NLP Cause and Effect?

Ownership of Information

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