NLP At Work : The Difference That Makes the Difference in Business

ENSURE YOUR

OUTCOMES FIT WITH

WHO YOU ARE AND

WHAT YOU WANT TO BE

TAKE ACTION

influence you want to have. Another way of thinking about it is

to consider what added value you will bring to those bigger

systems by achieving what you want.

Peter had achieved great success in developing a professional

presentation style on a training course. When the group

commented on how impressed his team back at work would be

with his new skills, he responded, “You must be joking. I’d stand

out like a sore thumb if I used this style back at work.”

Having these skills did not fit with the person Peter

considered himself to be at work. There was little likelihood that

he would ever use them.

Check out your outcomes with the kind of person you are or

want to be. If they don't fit, forget them—find ones that do.

Only by doing this will you ensure that every part of you is

rooting for your success.

Ultimately, all goals are about how you are developing as a

person. You might get so locked into thinking about shorter-

term outcomes that you lose sight of what it is all about for you

personally. Keep in mind the kind of person you are and the

kind of person you want to become. In this way you will make

sure that what you achieve is a fit for you as a person.

“Whatever you can do or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness

has genius and power and magic in it. Begin it now!”

Goethe

What action steps will you take? What steps are realistic for

you? I see so many action plans on company appraisal forms

that have grand statements such as:

❏ Improve managerial effectiveness.

❏ Develop better communication.

❏ Build an effective team.

This sort of statement is “pie in the sky.” Vague statements like

these are expressions of intent and tend to stay just that,

intentions. To really test your commitment to your outcome,

be as specific as you can about what your next steps will be.

278 NLP AT WORK