Choosing your trainer
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Choosing an NLP Trainer is going to be your personal choice. In doing some research I sincerely hope you find this article useful.
- The quality - of your trainer will have a major impact on your experience of learning NLP. They should be qualified, which means they have been certified as NLP Practitioner, NLP Master Practitioner, and NLP Trainer with a reputable training provider.
- Experience - Look for someone who has been around for long, and someone who himself has taken the training over a period of years, and who has some relevant work experience. There are certain aspects of NLP training where the trainer's expertise is particularly important. One is the ability to give practical one-to-one demonstrations. This means that the trainer is able to work with an individual in real time with the rest of the participants observing and show how practical change works in action. Such sessions can be the high points of a course, and they require high awareness, sensibility, and skill on the part of the trainer. Asking people who have done the course about the success or otherwise of such demonstrations gives you an easy way to determine levels of skill and expertise.
- Their training style - needs to suit your learning preferences. Some trainers will be keen to demonstrate techniques while some will want to help you work more productively and successfully in business. Others will stress your personal growth and some trainers will emphasize the technical jargon of NLP and give you great lists of language distinctions, categories of questions and complex explanations in specific NLP language. It can be interesting but you don’t need it to be successful in using NLP to communicate well, develop your personal skills or effect change. The best NLP is simple, direct and elegant, so do not allow yourself to be bamboozled by technology if you want NLP for its practical benefits. This element may be one of the first things you notice about a trainer. Their style needs to suit your learning preferences. How do you learn best? Do you enjoy lightness and fun in your learning? Do you prefer a more serious process-driven approach? Do you like working with someone who gets you to think and be creative? Do you want a fast pace that gives you lots of content, or a steadier pace that allows you to integrate the learning more fully? You will learn best if you are comfortable with the trainer's style. You need to see them as a model of excellence. After all, you will probably pick up much of their way of being unconsciously, so it needs to be a model you approve of!
- Is your trainer interested in your learning personally? Do they go out of their way to make sure you are happy with the learning? When you speak to others who have studied with the trainer, what is their story? Did the trainer answer their questions helpfully? - have time for them? Did he or she seem to care about their progress and welfare? Was the trainer available when you were practising new techniques or between course modules? Could you speak to the trainer before the course?
- Are there multiple trainers available? Having more than one trainer available can be a major benefit. You will get a broader view of NLP, experience different and complementary approaches and simply the trainer/delegate ratio will be better which means you will get better support.
- What sort of follow-up and support is offered? In between modules, and when the training ends, is it easy to integrate the learning into real life? This can be the very time you come up with new questions and most need support. Does the support continue? The network of fellow participants can be a valuable source of support and new direction. Some training providers encourage such networking, by facilitating contact with your peers between modules.
- Then there is your own preference, ethics & values. So, check for online reviews, not testimonials, as most trainers put up the flashy ones. Go for authentic ones…like Google reviews where the trainer does not have any influence, just the trainee has. Most importantly see if you can get in touch with the trainer personally.
All said and done, speak to a few NLP Trainers, follow your intuition. Trust me, it will lead you to the right place. I did and my life changed. And I wish the same for you.
There are many programmes under the banner of NLP. For me NLP is not about power, control, fixing, money or mindreading… For me NLP is about grace, integrity, truth, respect, curiosity, learning, excellence, peace, fun, laughter, and love. Choose your training providers carefully… – Sue Knight