We get the question all the time – what is the difference between a ‘normal’ Coach and an NLP Coach? And, we’ve embarked on modelling coaches, both trained in NLP and not to really find the best answer to this question.
We’ve boiled it down to 5 skills that non-NLP trained coaches are missing.
And, these are not run of the mill skills – these are skills that are the key factor in creating a successful outcome with your clients.
Ready to know what you’re missing out on if you haven’t yet jumped on the NLP train?
Directly working with the unconscious mind
Most traditional Coaching programs work with the conscious, thinking mind of clients. Its mostly about identifying goals, strategies, tools and resources to help your client create a plan, stay accountable to the plan and eventually achieve their outcomes. With NLP, we do that – but we’re not so interested in the conscious mind. An NLP trained Coach will look beyond the thinking mind, tap into the unconscious patterns for modelling success, use linguistic patterns to create internal drive and motivation and success beyond what the conscious mind can even conceptualise.
Identifying and clearing unresourceful patterns, emotions, beliefs and thoughts
If a traditional Coach identifies a limiting belief, a negative emotion or an unresourceful pattern, short of asking some questions or helping with reframing or positive thinking, the only real option is to refer the client to someone who can help to change and clear these blocks. An NLP Coach is trained not only to identify blocks, but has an arsenal of tools to help beneficially clear, transform and eliminate these blocks. Some of the tools include collapsing anchors, parts integration, unconscious pattern change, submodality changes and other tools that not only identify what is creating blocks – but where the patterns come from and HOW to change the patterns and remove the blocks.
Self-Coaching skills
‘Apply to others’ is the general rule of most coach trainings; after all, you’re learning skills to use with others, are you not? But again, NLP is different. Yes, your NLP training will give you skills to use with others – but each of these tools can also be applied with yourself. You can coach yourself to achieve goals, remove blocks, build resources and get the most out of your life. After all, as a Coach, don’t you owe it to yourself and your clients to be a model of the work you do?
A systematic structure to go beyond your clients goals
The coach trainings we reviewed and the coaches we modelled that came from traditional coaching had a structure to connect their clients with their goals and create a plan for execution. None of them took into account what happens in a persons life, mind and body outside of the goal. From an NLP Coaching standpoint, an NLP Coach (specifically trained with the NLP Worldwide formula), will have the tools, strategies, concepts and knowledge about how to work with a persons whole being – body, mind and spirit. You will learn a coaching strategy that will take into account the patterns, beliefs, emotions and individual variables that will motivate your client and that will get them stuck. One goal effects a person’s entire life, and NLP takes this into account.
Sponsorship of the awakening of your clients
We’ve found that our clients, even when they engage our services for a straight forward goal, are actually seeing more than that. Too often, with traditional coaching the coach is working with the symptom or the simple goals of a client; which will be useful for short-term gain, but often will not awaken your clients to their true potential. NLP on the other hand, looks beyond what your client brings to you and offers you skills to help your clients awaken to their personal transformation and evolution.
All of this being said – a coach is just a coach, right?
Nope. An NLP trained Coach has so many rich layers of skills and tools to truly assist their client to fully belong, believe and become who they want to be, while uncovering layers from the present and past that may be beneficial as they grow into their true present and authentic self.
Personally, I know without my skills in NLP, I would not be nearly as effective with my coaching clients as I am. It is the awareness and use of working directly with my clients unconscious mind, their patterns, beliefs and internal motivation that helps them the most.
If you’re not yet trained in NLP – check out some of the resources from NLP Worldwide that will help you to know more about NLP, NLP Coaching and how to become an accredited NLP Certified Coach: