That NLP Bloke

17/10/2025

This post went viral over on Linked In- not sure how!
Over 320k impressions, 1250 reactions, 79 comments and 91 reposts

Some people will never get it/ you- move on!

Stop Trying to Convince Everyone Here's something I tell every small business owner I work with: Bees don't waste time trying to convince flies that honey tastes better than s**t. Read that again. As a leader, you'll knacker yourself trying to convince the wrong people to see your vision. You'll was...

01/08/2025

Didn't write this one- but mine is out today!

30/05/2025

Truth

11/04/2025

Spend loads of money- rush your learning, get high on a feeling and then try and figure out what you are doing.

Please do your research before booking on NLP training
It is an amazing and life-changing thing if taught well and with good ecology

The Hidden Dangers of Short NLP Training Courses

Are you considering NLP training to enhance your personal life or professional skills? Before you invest your time and money in a "McLearning" experience, let's talk about why these rushed, abbreviated training programs can be not only ineffective but potentially harmful.

At Change Working, I believe proper NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) education requires adequate time, practice, and supervision—because mastering mind techniques in five or six days makes about as much sense as becoming a surgeon after binge-watching Grey's Anatomy.

Why Short Courses Fall Short

Many week long "intensive" NLP courses promise full practitioner certification at premium prices. They're the educational equivalent of microwaving a gourmet meal—all the ingredients are there, but the results are... questionable.

Even more questionable are the £7 online 'courses'

Insufficient Integration Time

Genuine skill development in NLP requires:
Time for concepts to be absorbed (your brain isn't a USB drive)
Opportunities to practice techniques (beyond nodding enthusiastically)
Space for reflection and integration (sorry, overnight osmosis isn't real)
Supervised application with feedback (because "close enough" doesn't cut it)

When training is compressed into just five or six days, participants are so overwhelmed with information they leave looking like they've been hit by the NLP express train.

Lack of Supervised Practice
Developing competence in NLP techniques requires practice—lots of it. Short courses typically rush through demonstrations faster than a caffeinated auctioneer, leaving you with theoretical knowledge but practical skills that are about as solid as a chocolate teapot.

The Real Dangers
Beyond simply wasting your money (though we know you probably have plenty of that to throw around, right?), inadequate NLP training poses genuine risks:

Potential for psychological harm: Poorly applied NLP techniques can unintentionally trigger emotional responses in others. Often this is done as a 'demo' in front of a large audience with very little support afterwards. It's like handing someone a chainsaw after showing them a lumberjack TikTok and saying "Good luck!"

False confidence: Brief courses create the illusion of competence—the psychological equivalent of thinking you can perform heart surgery because you once successfully removed a splinter. This is creating a 'hyped-up' kinaesthetic (feeling) change that boosts endorphins temporarily so you sign up for the next overpriced master practitioner course when high on your own chemicals.

Ethical concerns: Without proper training in ethical application, you might accidentally become that person everyone avoids at parties because you're trying to "fix" them between appetizers.

The Change Working Difference
The INLPTA comprehensive 20 day NLP Practitioner program is structured to ensure genuine competence—because I believe in crazy concepts like "actual learning" and "real skill development."

When considering NLP training, remember that developing real skill requires appropriate time and practice. Choose a program that respects the learning process rather than one promising to turn you into an NLP wizard faster than you can say "weekend certification."

After all, if you could master complex psychological techniques in six days, wouldn't therapists just be handing out degrees at drive-thru windows?

Would you like to learn more about the approach to NLP training at Change Working and how it differs from these fast-food alternatives to education?

You can trust me, as I have been training NLP for 20 years and have hundreds of satisfied customers.

I believe in making the learning environment safe and collaborative- allowing for integration of learning

Please contact me for more information
Alan

11/04/2025

At risk of being a sheep- this is quite clever tech

04/04/2025

Language and attitude is very important- it really makes a difference to outcomes for people.

Much of the langauge around behaviours that may be seen as 'different' is out of date and unhelpful- it comes from a time when state and church were linked- and judgement and morality overruled kindness and understanding.

This is noticeable from Joe Public and professionals alike.

110 years ago, if you had Post Traumatic Stress- you could well have been called a coward and shot for desertion if you couldn't face the horror of war.

Language has improved in most cases since (though care can still be very poor)

Until 1967 in England & Wales it was illegal for a man to be gay- never women technically (1980 Scotland and 1982 Northern Ireland) and was considered a mental illness according to the DSM until 1973 and WHO until 1992.

In the UK at least language and attitude around this has dramatically improved in my lifetime.

The language around su***de has implicatons from when it was illegal in the UK to take your own life- this was only repealed in 1961!

'commiting' su***de implies commiting a crime at a time when someone needs safe connection and understanding.

Please see the below for an indication of better and kinder language to use, to be sensitive to people who are being/ have been affected by this.

Hopefully we can improve the language and be more confident to talk about this to people who have thoughts of su***de or need someone to listen well to prevent those thoughts or actions. Or for family, friends and colleagues who have been affected by somone who has died by su***de.

Thanks to Every Life Matters Cumbria for this in the supporting literature from the conference yesterday

24/03/2025

📢 Are you suffering from the perfectionist's trap?
You know, the kind of person who would rather die than submit something with a typo. The kind who would stay up until 3 AM "perfecting" a presentation that was already perfectly fine at 10 PM.
🤦‍♀️
Here's the dirty little secret about perfectionism that nobody tells you: it's not about excellence. It's about FEAR.

Perfectionism is just a clever little trap your brain sets so you can constantly "prove" to yourself that you're not good enough. It's gaslighting yourself, but with extra steps and fewer weekends.

Think about it:
The project that's 95% done but sits in draft for months because it's "not ready"
The business idea you haven't launched because "someone else is doing it better"
The email you've rewritten 17 times because the tone isn't "quite right"
What have these perfectionistic tendencies actually GIVEN you?

Besides anxiety, impostor syndrome, and a permanently furrowed brow?

The most successful people I know have embraced "good enough" as their secret weapon. They send the idea before it's perfect. They hit send on the email with the typo. They launch the service while others are still planning.

And guess what? The world doesn't end. In fact, it often rewards them for showing up while perfectionists are still tweaking in the shadows.

My mantra: "Done is better than perfect."

When you try to be a perfectionist, you never feel good enough
When you accept things are already good enough, it feels perfectly fine

What project are you sitting on right now that could be "good enough" to ship? What would happen if you released it into the wild with all its beautiful imperfections?

I dare you to be gloriously, productively imperfect today. ✨

17/03/2025

👂 **Two Ears, One Mouth: The Art of Listening to Understand** 🗣️

We’ve all heard the phrase, “We have two ears and one mouth for a reason.” But how often do we truly put it into practice?

Listening isn’t just about hearing words—it’s about understanding intent, emotions, and perspectives. It’s about pausing our own inner dialogue to fully be present for someone else.

Here’s why listening to understand is a superpower in both personal and professional life:
✅ It builds stronger relationships by fostering trust and mutual respect.
✅ It uncovers innovative solutions by embracing diverse perspectives.
✅ It diffuses conflicts by showing empathy and validating others' feelings.

💡 **Next time you're in a conversation, try this:**
- Ask open-ended questions to invite deeper insights.
- Refrain from interrupting—let others fully express themselves.
- Reflect back what you’ve heard to confirm understanding.

Listening is an act of service, a sign of leadership, and a gift we can all give. Because when we truly listen, we open the door to connection, collaboration, and growth.

Two ears- one mouth; use them in that proportion

🔗 How do you practice active listening in your daily life? Share your thoughts below!