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The Meta Model

The use of language encompasses a continuum from the extremely general to the very specific.

The knowledge of these patterns is useful once we've identified what we want the process of language to accomplish.

NLP is most successful used at the level of process first and foremost, rather than the content level. Often times our natural tendency is to place interpretive labels on behaviors, ideas or attitudes, to offer opinions or advice based on our own subjective observations. When we focus on content, we begin to place our own interpretations on other people's labels and run the risk of losing rapport or having an ineffective interaction (as we come from a non- existent position when our maps do not match).

Our first step is to notice in what situations we begin to habitually place our own subjective interpretations on other people's words. The next step is to determine what we want to accomplish with the next words we speak.

Using general language that allow us to match a person's subjective inner experience allows us to pace that person easily and effectively. Nominalizations, unspecified nouns and verbs can also be used to lead in a way that allows us to gently point someone's thinking in a desired direction.

On the other hand there are many situations, such as information gathering, where it is important to understand as specifically as possible, exactly what makes up the representations of a person's subjective experience. This can be most useful in persuading a person to another point of view (in sales, management, therapy or family situations). In these situations we need to have a very specific understanding of what the things are that they want or need are, and how they plan on implementing them (or at least their representations of such) to give us the key to dovetailing our mutual outcomes.

So what we need is a great deal of flexibility in recognizing when the ambiguities occur, both in our own speech, as well as that of others.

And once we recognize the pattern of ambiguity, we need to respond appropriately, in a way that clarifies the meaning behind the speech.

Go to Meta Model Patterns and Responses..

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