_NLP Precision Model (BEST)

7/30/2019 _NLP Precision Model (BEST)

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Coaching and NLP 18th

April 2007 Humanistics Consultancy and Development 1

The Meta-model (1) The Precision Model

The precision model is a chunked down version of the Meta-model. Grinder workedwith this more in a business context.

The model is made up of 7 categories and each has a response:

Fuzzy Nouns Who / What ....... speci fi cal l y?

Vague Verbs How ...... specif i call y?

Comparison Compared t o w hat?

Opini ons Accordi ng t o w hom? Who says? What w ould happen ....?

Universals A l l ? Everyone? Every t ime?

Rul es What w ould happen of you did? (didnt )?

Di st ort i ons Cause Effect - How does x make you y ?M ind Reading - H ow do you know ?

I nterpret at i on - How does x mean y?

Fuzzy Nouns - We respond to nouns as the names of things. A chair is a chair isn't it?

Yes, if all we need to know is that it is something to sit on. However, it may be ofsignificance to know what kind of chair it is - an arm chair, rocking chair, kitchen chair, orstool. Some very expensive mistakes have been made, making the wrong assumption.

Statement Response

I need a new job What job specifically?Costs have gone up Which costs in particular have risen?They just don't seem to care anymore Who specifically doesn't seem to care?

Productivity is the key What in particular needs to be produced?

Vague Verbs - Similarly with verbs we can make assumptions about what the other

person means, when there is a range of possible meanings.

Statement Response

I need to improve customer relations How specifically will you improve them?I will prepare the report for you How will you prepare the report?

Morale is not what it should be How, in particular is morale not what it should be?

Comparisons - These are usually indicated by the addition of erto the end of words

better, nicer, bigger, faster, cleaner. If the person communicating misses out what it is'better' than, the field is wide open for miscommunication. You will also spot the words -too, more, less.

Statement Response

This is too expensive Expensive? Compared to what?

The results have been better In comparison with what?The costs are 30% higher Higher than what/when?


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Opinions as Facts These are statements where the speaker is expressing an opinion as if

it were fact. These are value judgements and are formed from a fixed way of thinking.Gently challenging this can bring new possibilities into the conversation.

Statement Response

This is the right way to do it According to whom?Its bad to be inconsistent Who says?

Universals - are indicated by words like all, every, always, never, no one. They may or

may not be true. However, it is often useful to question them.

Statement Response

All of the figures are wrong All? You mean every single one?

I always feel nervous Always? Was there ever a time when you weren't?No one can understand him No one?

Rules - When we hear words like should, shouldn't, must, can't, ought, they imply ruleswhich have to be obeyed (there's another one!) By questioning the basis of these rules we

can open up new possibilities.

Statement Response

We should do this now What would happen if we didn't?

I can't do that What would happen if you did?(What stops you?)

We mustn't miss this opportunity What will happen if we do?

DistortionsCause & Effect - How does x make you y ?

Statement Response

If he ever leaves me I'll be so sad. How would him leaving you cause you to feel sad?

Mind Reading- How do you know ?

Statement Response

He doesn't like me How do you know he doesn't like you?

Interpretation - How does x mean y ?Statement Response

His being late means he doesn'tlove me

How does his being late mean he doesn't love you?

Courtesy of Derek Jackson of the Northern School of NLP (www.nlpand.co.uk)


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The Meta-Model (2)

Note there are different versions of the Meta-model the model below is that of theNorthern School of NLP. Other versions subdivide patterns and have additional patterns.

DISTORTIONS

Pattern Statement Response

Lost PerformativeWhere the authoritybehind the statement ishidden

It's bad to be late. Its wrong to smoke Who says? According to who?

How do you know it'swrong/bad?

Mind Reading She doesn't like me How do you know shedoesn't like you?

Whats your evidence?Cause & Effect

Statement implies that Acauses B

They make me angry How do they do that? Because?

Complex EquivalenceWhere a means or isequivalent to b

She was late for work thatmeans she isnt interestedin the job

How does her being latemean shes not interestedin the job?

GENERALIZATIONS

Pattern Statement Response

Universal QuantifiersWords like: always, all,

everyone, never, no one

I always get lost Everyone laughs at me

Has there ever been a timewhen you didnt get lost?

Everyone?Modal Operators ofpossibility: words like

can't, won't

I cant do that They wont do that

Have you ever been ableto do that?

What would happen ifthey could?

Modal Operators ofnecessity: words like

must, have to

I must do this He should have done that What would happen ifyou didnt

DELETIONS

Pattern Statement ResponseNominalisations - Where a

verb has become a noun She values her freedom What about being free is

important to her?

Unspecified Verbswheresome detail of the action isnot specified

He rejected me How specifically did hereject you?

Comparative I'm a better person Better than who?Simple Its not there Whats not where?Unspecified Referential

Index No one loves me Who doesnt love you

Documents

_NLP Precision Model (BEST)