He wasn’t just serving coffees and pastries for around a minimum wage. He was a performer who liked people. Chatty, smiling and engaging – even with surly customers. Cups were sometimes spun on his fingers, cream dispenser flipped in the air. He had attitude.
She wasn’t just a supermarket till cashier – unlike the cashier she’d just taken over from. She was a people person – who very efficiently worked the belt and got the customers moving. Chatting with everyone – even making eye contact. She had attitude.
He isn’t just a car garage owner – he’s passionate about his customers and their cars. He explains things, won’t give in with a tricky problem, offers you a lift home if the work’s likely to take long, and always seem to have time for a friendly chat. Attitude. Continue reading
I recently had the interesting experience of, in one week, having an extended chat with two people. One of them was much more interested in telling me about their world and their views than in hearing what I thought. The other was more interested in what I was talking about and what I was interested in… Continue reading
No less than three people (friends, relatives, colleagues) – in one day (today, that is) have said to me that they felt ‘stressed’ and they each described their experience in different ways (1) overwhelmed by everything (2) buckling under the pressure and (3) really stressed out.
Most of us, in such a situation, feel a natural urge to alleviate their pain and help them out.
So we run into the nearest (remaining) telephone both and change into our Superman/Superwoman outfit and move Into Advice Giving Mode. Now as Super-Helper we begin telling them how to run their lives! Continue reading
The NLP rapport creating techniques do not actually create rapport. But they do get things off to a good start.
Rapport is ‘created’ by, or develops out of, how you and the other person are relating with one another moment-by-moment; and especially by the non-verbal indicators of yours and the other person’s agendas. If these agendas are based on a win-win approach (see the previous article in this series) and are supported by mutual respect (in a forthcoming article) then the techniques will definitely smooth the way and speed things up.
If you merely rely on the techniques things may get off to a good start but are unlikely to produce enduring rapport. Continue reading
Toward the end of every Pegasus NLP course the question arises of how to keep the momentum – the buzz of enthusiasm – going afterwards, when you’re back in the world of everyday home life and work life.
It’s easy to stay focussed and enthusiastic while at the course. You’re in a wonderful cosy ‘NLP bubble’ learning, mixing and chatting, or even living with (an option on our courses for those who want a full-immersion experience of NLP) like-minded and enthusiastic people – a great way of learning and wiring-in the material. Continue reading
Time for change
Back in the mid 70’s I got fed up earning quite good money but with little job satisfaction. I was in charge of the new computer department for a large firm in the City of London. This was before I encountered NLP so I didn’t know about living life according to one’s values – I just knew I wasn’t feeling fulfilled and that too much of the ‘quite good money’ was being spent on ‘things and events’ i.e. on compensations for not living a fulfilling life!
Anyway, I decided to take a sabbatical and do something for fun while I decided what to do next with my life.
So for nearly year I indulged my passion for motorcycling by working as a despatch rider (or motorcycle courier). That year of sitting in the saddle for up to 12 hours a day and in all weathers put paid to my passion for motorcycling and so I again changed direction.
An uncomfortable lesson
I taught myself to make and market my own gold and silver jewellery (long story, there, and for another time). My jewellery making career got off to an enthusiastic start but quickly became financially disastrous – until I met a great mentor.
I’d arrived, unannounced, at his jewellery shop in Watford (in Herts, UK) and wanted to sell him my designs. He briefly looked them and said ‘Look, I’m busy – I haven’t got time to talk with you now but if you call around to my home we can look at them’. He gave me directions and next evening I called to meet him and his family.
His opinion of my work wasn’t flattering. Nor was his opinion of my presentation. Nor, especially, of my sales’ approach! Continue reading
She didn’t dither nor mess about. She got straight to the point. She wanted information which she knew she had a right to and she expected me to give to her!
Her email arrived today via our web contact form and read: ‘I am actually getting fear of closed spaces I want to treat myself and help my followers in my sports profession.. many undergoing these symptoms.’
That’s it – exactly as it arrived (apart from her contact details, of course. No attempt to create rapport. No real information. No reason for me to respond. )
The pe2000.com website
The message came via our pe2000.com website which provides free information about how we can manage our emotions and deal more effectively with anger, panic, fears, phobias and so on. Most of the information is based on my experience and observations from working with individual clients as a psychotherapist and with groups as a stress management trainer since 1984. Continue reading
In relating with other people many of us unintentionally sabotage the rapport we are trying to create! We are so desperately anxious to get along well with someone and to create a good impression that we simply try too hard. As result we come across as nervous, tense, jumpy, pushy, preoccupied, or bossy – or a confusing mix of all of these.
We are trying to impress rather than to communicate. And because we are not at ease with ourselves we cause others to feel ill-at-ease. Continue reading
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