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Published:
January 26, 2026

Neuro-linguistic Programming For Dummies

Overview

Change your behavior with neuro-linguistic programming

Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is a psychological, practical, results-focused approach to understanding the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behavior, and how they shape the everyday reality that people experience.

Neuro-linguistic Programming For Dummies walks you through the fundamentals of NLP, helping you gain insights into how and why you—and others—think, communicate (both verbally and non-verbally), and behave; often the result of early experiences, emotional conditioning, and unconscious beliefs formed over time.

Understanding the patterns that you operate daily enables you to consciously do more of what works for you to create the results you want in your life and less of what gets in the way of your success. With this deeper understanding about yourself, your goals become more tailored to who you truly are—and more achievable as a result.

By understanding how others operate, you can adjust the way you communicate to create deeper rapport and exercise greater trust, influence, and clarity.

Inside:

  • Effective, straightforward strategies to increase self-awareness, build confidence, and become a clearer communicator
  • Techniques that, when combined with other forms of health- and self-care, can help you find relief from phobias, anxiety, and depression
  • Clear descriptions of the central models and assumptions that underpin NLP

Perfect for therapists, business coaches, counselors, and other helping professionals, Neuro-linguistic Programming For Dummies is also a must-read for busy executives, managers, entrepreneurs, and employees doing their best to navigate contemporary life.

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About The Author

Romilla Ready is a Breakthrough Coach, trainer, and author. Her flagship programs help people transform stress into strength and build empowering, fulfilling relationships.

Kate Burton is a recognized international executive coach who works with senior leaders at companies like HP, KPMG, and Microsoft.

Sample Chapters

neuro-linguistic programming for dummies

CHEAT SHEET

Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is about increasing your options instead of being restricted by your experience and saying, "this is the way I do things, and this is how it has to be." To benefit from NLP, be bold, and open yourself up to questioning and challenging your norms.Taking personal responsibility to empower yourselfWhen you blame other people, you give away your power.

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Articles from
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You can find yourself paralysed into inaction for fear of making mistakes and being taken to task. Sadly, mistakes are one of life's certainties, especially if you decide to live your life to the full and take risks. When you're afraid of doing something, it's worth asking yourself whether you are stopping yourself from doing something because you're afraid of how someone reacted previously; are you allowing a past experience to affect your present thinking; are you allowing yourself to stay anchored to a past event where you saw yourself as a 'failure' and are reliving negative feelings?
Rapport is one of the four pillars of Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP). When someone likes you it's easier for you to get your message heard and understood, and also for you to influence them. When people like you, they're more open to being persuaded by you, willing to help you and to want to be around you, whether in a business or personal setting.
Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) can help you achieve a more healthy, less stressful lifestyle. If you lead a busy life, constrained by commitments and deadlines, finding time to do the 'important but less urgent' things can be difficult. Financial planning, house renovation, and meeting up with old friends can all be put on the back burner.
As you navigate your way through an average day you're faced by a constant barrage of questions: shall you do this or that, go here or there, speak to this person or that one, buy this brown loaf or that white roll? Some decisions are obviously insignificant — hey, splash out, have a wholemeal sandwich today and a white bap tomorrow — but life-changing choices take more careful thought.
Here are some ways in which neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) can enable you to seize the positive aspects of your life and enjoy life so much more: Believe that 'behind every behaviour is a positive intent'. Taking this NLP pre-supposition on board will change your view on any encounter with a 'difficult person'.
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) recognises that people use unconscious patterns of behaviour as strategies to get through life. Becoming aware of these patterns is very useful so that you can do more of what works for you and change those that get in the way of your success. If your strategy for dealing with mistakes is to dwell on their negative consequences, you can change this pattern of behaviour by viewing them as feedback rather than failure.
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is about increasing your options instead of being restricted by your experience and saying, "this is the way I do things, and this is how it has to be." To benefit from NLP, be bold, and open yourself up to questioning and challenging your norms.Taking personal responsibility to empower yourselfWhen you blame other people, you give away your power.
Don't drive through your life with one foot on the brake because you're trying to live up to other people's expectations. Taking personal responsibility and really motoring is so much easier when you understand who you are at your core and what you want to achieve in life. You can take action when what you do allows you to live your life with purpose and makes your soul sing.
Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) shows you that the meaning you attribute to an experience is dependent on the way you unconsciously code the pictures, sounds, and feelings associated with that experience. You can discharge the negative impact of a past event by changing the coding of the mental pictures, sounds, and feelings that are evoked when you think about it.
When you blame other people, you give away your power. You allow them to affect your environment, behaviour and well-being, the results you achieve, and how you feel. Blaming others is incredibly debilitating because it takes control away from you, making you feel powerless and helpless. Taking personal responsibility is wonderfully freeing and empowering because you recognise that you decide how to feel, how to react to circumstances, and what you choose to do — or, indeed, not to do.
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Frequently Asked Questions

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