Performance objectives and measures of job success often
seem to contain this kind of comparison:Abstractions take the action out of life. As a language pattern,
an abstraction immobilizes the owner of the words.
Abstractions are a way of taking a verb, an action word, and
turning it into a noun, an abstract thing. This is called
“nominalization.” In doing so you take away the action. You are
probably very familiar with examples of this such as
communication, discussion, relationships, action, empower-
ment—and even abstraction itself.
To test for an abstraction, if you can put “ongoing” in front
of the word—ongoing communication, ongoing relationship—
it is probably an abstraction.
The way to challenge an abstraction is to question to find
out who is doing what and how. For example, if someone says
“It was a difficult conversation,” your question could be, “Who
was talking to whom and how was it difficult?” If someone says,
“We have problems with our communication,” “How do you
want to be able to communicate differently?” would be a way
of introducing the possibility of the speaker’s beginning to
move forward to a way of developing new skills.An “opinion as fact” statement occurs when the speaker
expresses an opinion as if it were a truth by deleting the fact96 NLP AT WORK
COMPARISONS
ABSTRACTIONS
OPINIONS AS FACTS
That was a brilliant report.
My presentation was a
disaster.
The company is doing well.
We are going to build a better
world.
We want to be the best
company.Compared with what?
Compared with what?Compared with what?
Better than what exactly?Compared to whom?Fewer customer complaints.
More sales leads.Better management
communication.Fewer than what?
More than what or than whom?Better than what, precisely?