009 - Representational Systems

NLP In Action - Mike Sweet - 10 Minute Coach - Rapid Practical NLP

This is Episode 009 of the NLP In Action podcast and this session is all about representational systems, sometimes called rep systems in the world of NLP. Rep systems are yet another corner stone of NLP and without them, you will literally be in the dark.

A representational system, can be defined as particular senses we use to describe our experience of the world. There are 3 main and 5 overall representational systems for the purpose of this explanation. These are Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic, Olfactory and Gustatory Aka V.A.K.O.G in the vast majority of cases only the first 3 are used. With all practice, do what's necessary and then add in later once you have mastered the most relevant and useful steps.

Start to notice these representational systems in a persons choice of words. NLP calls these "predicates". This is meant to imply something relating to the representational systems used.

People will have a dominant or sensory preference that you'll be able to pick up in their language. The reason you'd want to know this is that it makes connecting with people far easier. Communicating in a person's sensory preference is a great rapport builder and I'm sure you've heard people say, "we were just on the same wavelength". There are a number of reasons for this but sensory preference matching is a great step in the right direction. Talking "their way" makes commInication flow as they do not need to swap over rep systems internally in an effort to make more sense of the communication.