AUTHOR INTERVIEW
The context for NLP
Rapport talks to Dr. Paul Tosey
In November 2009, Palgrave Macmillan will publish
“Neuro-linguistic Programming: A Critical Appreciation
for Managers and Developers” written by Dr Paul
Tosey and Dr Jane Mathison of the University of
Surrey. Andy Coote spoke to Paul Tosey about the
aims of the book, its content, where it fits on the
NLP bookshelf and about the critical crossroads
that NLP faces today.
I
n July 2008, Paul Tosey chaired the first where it came from, how it developed and
International NLP Research Conference, where it could go.
run in partnership with ANLP, and Part 1 sets the scene, introducing the aims
his co-author Jane Mathison delivered a of the book and attempting to define NLP and 4. Technology: frameworks and techniques
challenging Closing Address on the possible where it is used. 5. Commodity: consumables and ‘self help
futures of NLP. This book comes from the products
same desire to connect the NLP community
We thought that
6. Professional Service: coaching, consulting
with the academic and research community and psychotherapy.
in a conversation that will benefit both. “We there was a big gap
had been wanting to write a book about NLP
in the market for a
As Paul explains, “Because many people
and we thought that there was a big gap in don’t understand that there are these
the market for a book that gave an informed
book that gave an
categories, dialogues that could be separated
opinion of the value and potential of NLP,”. out tend to get collapsed into a single one.
Paul tells me. “This book is not a book
informed opinion
Engagement with research could help to create
extolling the virtues of NLP or describing different, helpful dialogues.”
how to use it. We also wanted to explore and
of the value and
Part 2 attempts to track the streams of
confront the criticisms of NLP and to deal ideas and sources of NLP. As Paul tells me, “I
with them openly.” potential of NLP came into NLP in the 1980s during my PhD
As users and advocates of NLP themselves, I research through the connection with Gregory
wondered if that had made it more difficult for Paul and Jane have developed a useful Bateson. It intrigued me that the heritage of
them to achieve the distance and balance they model of the ‘Six Faces of NLP’ to explain NLP is often unknown to people in the field.
sought within the book. Paul admits that it was why there are difficulties in creating a simple, We wanted to look at the positioning of NLP in
tricky at times to keep that sense of balance, agreed definition. Paul explains, “The model its time including its history, the place it came
however, “knowing NLP experientially was an emerged late on in the development of the from and the culture of that time. NLP didn’t
asset. A lot of the criticisms came from people book. An earlier model just didn’t work and just land from Mars, it had a relationship to
who haven’t experienced NLP or who had a our feedback from readers told us so. The ‘six other things happening before and at the time.”
poor experience of it.” faces’ model just popped into my head one day To do that, the authors call upon a large
The book is aimed at “discerning people and it seemed to work quite nicely.” Using the cast of characters from the formative stages
who work in the field of human resource metaphor of an iceberg, the authors suggest of NLP, some familiar like Gregory Bateson,
development – trainers, facilitators, HR that the activities ‘below the waterline’ (1 –3) Virginia Satir, Fritz Perls and Milton Erickson
Directors and academics in the field.” I think, represent much more activity than the above and others less so including Frank Pucelik –
having read some of the manuscript, that it the waterline activities (4 –6). The faces, which who was involved in the development of The
has a much wider application but perhaps not, they explain in detail in the book, are – Structure of Magic - and Robert S. Spitzer “a
given the retail price, in this edition. 1. ‘Practical Magic’ – communication in action little-mentioned but important figure in the
The book is presented in four parts. They 2. Methodology origins of NLP” who encouraged and then
represent a narrative about NLP, what it is, 3. Philosophy: epistemology and presuppositions published Bandler in the early days. Part 3 was
48 | Autumn 2009 - rapport
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56