Neurolinguistic programming: influencing techniques for project managers

Lysa Morrison of LMA Training & Consultancy delivered a session entitled Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) Influencing Techniques for Project Managers. Neuro-linguistic programming is an approach to communication, personal development and psychotherapy created by Richard Bandler and John Grinder in California, United States in the 1970s.

Lysa showed us that by recognising ‘preferences’ in people’s language and behaviours you can understand what is important to them, connect better with them, use language that matches their preferences, motivate them and increase the likelihood that a Stakeholder will see things from your perspective. All very important to a Project Manager!

Lysa made us look at Motivational Traits in more detail by setting us a task; we were to imagine that we were getting a train for a business meeting. She asked us to think about whether we would arrive 30 minutes, 15 minutes, 5 minutes before the train’s arrival time or hurtle on the platform just as the train arrives. We were asked to stand up and move to a section of the room that denoted our choice (anyone remember Runaround with Mike Reid?) and then explain why we’d made our choice. Much hilarity ensued but a very strong message about understanding people’s behaviour and how that can influence the success of your project was demonstrated.

Sian Church
Chair, North East branch