My hairdresser, Joy (quintessencehair.com), told me the theme for this year could be “no more wait in 2008”. By that she meant to convey was that the time has come for both my businesses, Noble & Associates Consulting, Inc. and Noble Finances to be outrageously successful.
But, my first interpretation of her remark was “no more weight in 2008”. I like many other people need to shed some excess pounds. For many, the race is on to fix the body. Every January, there’s a big surge in the number of people at the gyms. Some turn to over-the-counter weight loss remedies and others head to the commercial weight center such as Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem and the like. The more enlightened might turn to Overeaters Anonymous (OA). It’s based on the same principles as Alcoholic Anonymous. So, OA has a 3 pronged approach, which treats overeating as a threefold disease – physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual.
Most would agree that lasting success with the battle against the bulge requires at least a mind and body cure. There are bi-modal techniques which focus on the healing mental / emotional triggers as a means to healing or slimming the body. Examples are psychoanalysis, acupressure, acupuncture, hypnosis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT).
I actually attended a NLP workshop a number of years ago. NLP encompasses multiple techniques which are used to accomplish quick changes in behavior. There was a lady in the NLP class who was claustrophobic. In 5 minutes the lady was able to go into a closet and close the door and be happy about it. I saw that with my own eyes.
With NLP, the mind/body connection is studied, documented and utilized to make changes. One example is eye movements. Eyes moving up tends to means you are visualizing or accessing an image. Moving eyes to either side indicates you accessing sound data. Down to the right can mean you’re accessing a feeling. NLP uses eye movements and other physical cues as an indication of how people learn best – hearing, seeing or doing. And our language often reveals our preferences. For instance I worked for a boss who often used the phrase “I hear you”. What do think his preferred learning style was?
Knowing the NLP principles, allows me to notice when these techniques are used in other arenas. NLP is now being incorporated into sales training workshops. Kendall SummerHawk, a marketing and branding guru / coach, indicated that she is certified in NLP. Kendall uses NLP in her workshop to quickly help participants get over writers block.
I’m always working on generating more profitable business. People buy from those they know, like and trust. To the extent that I can get in sync with their body language the more comfortable they feel with me. It’s not manipulation, it’s about caring enough to pay attention, to observe and to adjust. This improves the experience of the prospect, friends or family member.
I have many years of experience as a business analyst. My company, Noble & Associates Consulting, Inc, specializes in business analysis. And what does a business analyst do:
- We listen,
- We interpret or analyst the situation, data or system,
- We compile and document.
Good business analysts, and for that matter good managers, sales people, business people, people in general already listen. If we want to add value to our relationships and effectiveness, we need to add the NLP techniques of conscious seeing and feeling to our repertoire.
Sandra Noble
NOBLE FINANCES
NOBLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC
In the United States we celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14th. For many, it’s a day to remember romantic love relationships. It’s marketed and promoted by candy, florist, greeting card and other retail businesses as a reason to give gifts. But, it’s just good to celebrate love in any and all of it’s forms.
