Alternatively they could have asked an open question: “How do
you feel when you think like that?”One way to help embedded commands or questions be
received as such is to mark them out in some way in the way we
present them. For example, we might pause before and after
the embedded command or mark it out with a raised eyebrow
or a hand movement. If our marking out is subtle it will be
perceived but not consciously detected. The appropriate use of
embedded commands and questions can be a graceful way of
collecting information and a respectful form of influence. I know
that with a little practice you can...
Embedding a quote in a sentence can be a very powerful way
of getting a message across by bypassing any conscious
resistance. For example, you might describe a conversation with
one of your clients to another client by explaining that the first
client had found it difficult to delegate responsibility. You might
then explain that you said to her: “You will only realize your true
potential when you learn to let go of control.” You have in effect
said what is in quotes to the person you are talking to now, but
you have avoided taking responsibility for the message. The
effect of this is that they cannot dispute the story and the
likelihood is that they will take in the quote as if it applied to
them without being able to challenge your right to offer it to them
personally. This can be useful if you are dealing with someone
whose preference is to dispute and mismatch what others say.You may have wondered while reading this how you can use
these language patterns in your everyday work.
The previous sentence is a classic example of hypnotic
language. It is a fact that you are reading this (unless someone
else is reading it to you or you have found some other way of
taking in the information in this sentence). And I have linked
with that fact a response that I would like you to have, that is,
wondering. And I am suggesting that you wonder about how
you can use these language patterns in your everyday work.
The question I have posed is how you can use these patterns.116 NLP AT WORK
Embedded quotes get the
message across