BASIC NLP
INTRODUCING NLP
Outcomes 4: Creative Planning
By Caitlin Collins
I
n this series on ‘Introducing NLP’ we’re 1. Label three pieces of paper, Dreamer, 3. Taking an idea you want to work with
following a thread on which to string some Realist, and Critic, and set them out on the in this exercise, step into Dreamer and
of the basic ideas and practical exercises floor. Add a fourth place, Observer, to one side. assume your Dreamer stance. Let your
of NLP. Under the umbrella theme of setting imagination fly! What might it be like if...?
outcomes we’ll be looking at how NLP can help 2. Anchor the three main places in the What’s important about it? What could
us to discover what we want and then achieve following way. it lead to? What is enticing you forwards?
it. Now we’re going to engage in some creative i) Step into the Dreamer position. Remember How would it look? Feel? Sound? Taste
planning that could well be called ‘How to or imagine a wonderful dream you’ve had. and smell?
Manage your Inner Critic’; instead, it’s better Notice your stance: it may help to look up and
known as the Disney Planning Strategy. far away, and to smile; notice how happy and 4. Move into Realist. Design an action plan
It’s said that Walt Disney was a whiz at excited you feel. to bring your dream about. What steps will
planning. He understood very well the common Then step off the Dreamer position and you need to take to realise your dream?
human tendency to shoot a dream before it has break your state by distracting yourself: imagine
a chance to flap its fuzzy little winglets! Walt painting your front door pink! 5. Move into Critic. Analyse and question
came up with a way to control the over-zealous ii) Step into the Realist position. Recreate the plan. (Not the dream the plan. Never
inner critic, while still allowing it to express its a state in which you were efficiently planning criticise the dream.) How achievable is it,
extremely valuable critical faculty. I’ve no idea something. Notice your stance: look straight as presented? What might the obstacles
if this is literally true, but apparently Walt used ahead; try imagining holding a clipboard and be? Might there be any unwanted
three rooms for planning. His staff would dream pen! Then step off the Realist position and consequences? What advice would you
up ideas in the first room, move to the second break state: give your front door purple stripes! give the Realist planner? What would need
to develop a realistic action plan, and go to the iii) Step into the Critic position. Recreate a to be different about the plan for you, as
third to present the plan to others who would state in which you were analysing a situation, Critic, to be OK with it?
look for flaws; then they would go to and fro considering implications and consequences,
between the second and third rooms until the alert to possible problems. Notice your stance: 6. Move back and forth between Realist
plan had got past the critics. NLP innovator try tilting your head and narrowing your eyes, and Critic, changing stance as you change
Robert Dilts has developed an elegant exercise as though pondering. Then step off the Critic place (you may like to deliberately break
with universal application based on Walt’s position and break state: a spotted front door state in between the two places) until you
model. Here’s how you do it! might startle the neighbours! have negotiated a workable plan.
7. If at any point you need a fresh
perspective on the process, step outside
the system to the Observer position and
comment on what’s going on. Advise
yourself on how you could make better use
of this planning process.
The Disney framework can also be useful
in meetings. Allocate stages in the meeting
for each of these steps. Appreciate the
value of your critics, but keep them under
control and insist on their criticism being
constructive and aimed only at the plan,
never at the dream. Watch out for people
who favour one of the three positions:
encourage them to contribute at the right
stage and restrain them from destabilising
the process by jumping in at other times!
Caitlin Collins: www.naturalmindmagic.com
cait@globalnet.co.uk
8 | Summer 2009 - rapport
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