An Easy Guide to NLP


Many of the lessons implemented in the Diplomatic Planner are centred around the core elements of NLP. NLP - short for Neuro Linguistic Programming, is a set of behaviour and techniques that reflect patterns of excellence, body language and nonverbal communication.

Here is a quick guide to what NLP is and some of the benefits of learning about NLP techniques.


1. Communication with others and yourself

NLP focuses heavily on language and communicate to produce favourable results for yourself and others. By understanding how we communicate both verbally and silently, we are able to learn about social cues and read between the lines. These cues are particularly important in international relations as we may work with those who we are unable to communicate with, be it cultural and language difference, dangerous social circumstance, meetings and negotiations where dialogue may be sparse, or even at interviews with interlocutors, the community, lobbyists or the media.

2. Positive action over positive thinking

NLP is more than just positive thinking. It also about taking action and producing results. If you are interested in understanding communication cues and body language, chances are that you are interested in what information the other person has to give. NLP helps to facilitate these engagements by providing tools in understanding how to read communications and assessing key facial features and emotional structures.

3. Thoughts, feelings and actions

NLP techniques combines strategies in understanding and deciphering thinking, feeling and doing. All such actions provide some sort of information that the other person is consciously or subconsciously communicating. Communication is more than just words. To change results, you change behaviour. To change behaviour, you change your thoughts and feelings. Learn to understand these innate cues for the purposes of building a bigger picture and assessing hidden environments.

 4. Individual, interpersonal and systems of excellence

While NLP is a framework for self-development, it is also focused on improving interpersonal skills and improving results in a system. Behavioural change can be tricky for an organisation, particularly in changing how individuals work within a system. NLP techniques can help facilitate change management as overall organisational restructure that is needed by many governments. That just don’t know it (or don’t want to believe it).

5. Expediting results and duplicating success

Changing mindsets and behaving is about spreading success and reaching a goal. If you are able to train a toxic individual, imagine the level of calm that will be spread across an office or project.

6. In practice rather than theory

NLP technique are very practical rather than being theoretical. NLP is largely about modeling and tuning results and therefore has an applied approach to its techniques and strategies. As a result, much of NLP is about practicing and doing, rather than sitting and learning, making it an active engagement of self-development.


If you are interested in taking up NLP, consider taking part in the Diplomatic Leadership Training.