The FREE Model Of NLP — Perception Academy
Would you like a framework for how to apply all of the skills, processes, patterns, models of NLP & Neuro-Semantics?
If yes, you’re going to really enjoy this article where I will present the F.R.E.E. model of NLP.
I developed this model and have been using this model for years in order to better understand how to apply this rich and robust field.
In my experience there are two main reasons why people come to develop the skills of NLP.
Either they want to apply the tools and skills with themselves for personal development and personal growth or they want to apply it with others for increased influence such as enhanced sales, leadership, and/or coaching.
Regardless of your primary intentions in learning NLP this article where I break down the F.R.E.E. model will let you know where you are in terms of applying each aspect of NLP, if you skipped any steps, and what your next step of development will be.
The acronym FREE breaks down to:
F — Flexibility
R — Rapport
E — Expand
E — Evolve
Let’s dive a little deeper into each of these variables and explore how they fit together…
This first step in applying any new NLP skill or model is to become flexible in applying the tool to yourself. This means always apply to yourself first. For example if you are learning the ‘new behavior generator’ pattern of NLP — have you applied it to yourself first? When you do you will understand experientially how that pattern works inside of someone’s neurology. If you are working with someone else and you haven’t applied it to yourself first you will be extremely handicapped in your capabilities in facilitating change and growth in someone else. You will also be incongruent in that you aren’t practicing what you are preaching.
Or if your unconscious pattern is to speak quickly relative to others, do you have the behavioral flexibility to slow down your voice when appropriate? If not, flexibility is your next step for growth.
Are you able to build rapport with people? The ability to build rapport using the NLP models 100% depends on your level of personal flexibility. Can you pace them, meet them where they’re at, match them, mirror them, etc.
Not only does personal flexibility give you a richer understanding of the world and more resourcefulness and choice in how you respond, but it will allow you to connect with a wider range of people than ever before. As I like to say, you can build rapport with anyone, anywhere, independent of them…. the only caveat is your level of personal flexibility.
With personal flexibility we open the potential for rapport, and with rapport we now have the right and capability to expand the mind’s of others. Finally we have reached the space where we can authentically influence whether in sales, leadership, and coaching.
We can use NLP patterns at this step, we have made it to the ‘lead’ in the pace, pace, pace, lead or whatever other tool you are going to use to open up their perspective.
If you have done the rapport step authentically you may very well realize that you are the one who needs to expand your mind at this step and open yourself to be led rather than leading someone else.
Now that you have earned the right to lead and expand the minds of others the final step is to facilitate our personal evolution by choice rather than by chance. This is a piece that is missing in a lot of NLP & Neuro-Semantics does a good job of reconnecting this piece which is the larger framework of Self-Actualization.
You can help people to change and expand their model of the world but if you’re helping them to change the question is, is this change aligned with their higher evolution? Is it aligned with their self-actualization? If not we could expand someone’s mind in a way that does not open up the highest evolution for us and for them. This leads to lower quality changes that may or may not stick or be resilient.
So this is an overview of the F.R.E.E. model and I hope it serves you on your journey of mastering NLP & Neuro-Semantics. I trust that this framework will support you in becoming more flexible in yourself so that you can build rapport with a wider range of people, increase your capabilities to expand the minds of others and that facilitates an evolution that is aligned with our highest and best potentials.
What are you learning from this? What are you taking away from this? Do you have any questions, comments, or feedback? Feel free to leave them here and I look forward to connecting with you.
Originally published at https://perceptionacademy.com.
