What it is and how women entrepreneurs can use it to erase self-doubt and other obstacles

The world of business and entrepreneurship has long been seen as a “man’s world”, but a lot of evidence has emerged to show that this is starting to change. We escape the lingering remnants of the wage gap, for example, by starting our own businesses. Or, we stay put in the corporate world and help young women by taking on a mentoring role.

That’s not to say it’s all good news, of course: many female entrepreneurs continue to face an uphill battle due to the inherent biases the business world has always had. And, perhaps even more important is the battle that women continue to wage against their own subconscious.

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In a nutshell, many of us have habits that we would like to change to better achieve our goals. Yet, no matter how hard we try, we seem unable to stay calm during sales presentations or avoid wasting time on Facebook.

We may tell ourselves we want one thing, but our unconscious brain thinks we want something else. This can create serious obstacles in our careers and personal lives. Fortunately, however, with the help of Neuro Linguistic Programming (or NLP), we women (and men) can take better control of our lives and achieve our goals. Here’s how:

First of all, what exactly is NLP?

At first glance, the words Neuro Linguistic Programming will probably inspire thoughts of complicated jargon that only a psychologist would understand. But its fundamentals are surprisingly simple.

In an email, Amy Curran, CEO of 2 Empower You, an NLP coaching program for women entrepreneurs and others, explained the concept to me saying, “NLP is a process that helps you develop a more coherent connection between your thoughts, your language and your external behaviors. .

“While there are many techniques we can use to coach someone,” Curran continued, “the end goal is to help you take full control of these unconscious motivators so you can achieve your bigger goals and become a stronger communicator.”

Still confused? A normal session is for the practitioner to learn the client’s personal story and then use that information to understand how the client – let’s say we’re talking about a woman – constructs her own reality. The NLP coach then tries to resolve the issues that arise from this belief, using mental exercises designed to change the woman’s way of thinking.

Medical News Today elaborated, reporting that “[NLP] works through the conscious use of language to bring about changes in someone’s thoughts and behavior…a central feature of NLP is the idea that a person is biased towards a sensory system, known as the preferred representation system name or PRS.

Related: “Eliminating Self-Doubt”: The Most Important Attitude Entrepreneurs Must Develop

Simply put, once women – or men, for that matter – understand their or another person’s PRS, they can use the basics of an NLP framework to build rapport with that other person, gather meaningful information and set meaningful and inspiring goals for action. objectives to obtain reliable results.

Meeting with an NLP practitioner can help an entrepreneur push past limiting beliefs and other mental obstacles so that the entrepreneur can formulate strategies to create the desired future.

The most common NLP techniques

NLP is not limited to a single set of techniques; coaches or therapists use a variety of methods to meet the unique needs of each individual. For example, the “swish pattern” encourages practitioners to visualize an action that leads to an undesirable outcome. For a businesswoman, it could mean the dread she feels about speaking up at a board meeting to make an important presentation. She might think nervousness and tripping over those slides will be the inevitable result.

But maybe not, with NLP: In an exercise described by Curran, our female entrepreneur mentally replaces her negative images with a positive, empowering outcome — like a visualization a standing ovation at the end of his presentation. NLP coaches often recommend repeating this visualization several times as a mental exercise to prepare your mind for success.

Cropping is another common NLP technique, and easily applicable to the business world. As Linda Bloom, a licensed clinical social worker, wrote in psychology today, “Reframing requires seeing something in a new way, in a context that allows us to recognize and appreciate the positive aspects of our situation. Reframing helps us use everything life gives us as opportunities to be exploited rather than problems to be avoided.

Reframing and visualization are just two of many NLP tactics that can be used to address your own subjective biases and learn more positive behaviors. Personalized strategies are created to ensure that you will be able to successfully integrate the new habits you desire.

How the principles of NLP can help women in their careers.

The mental exercises used in NLP are much more than a way to control your emotions. These techniques can have a direct impact on your business practices. For example, reframing a problem is often cited as one of the best ways to drive innovative and impactful solutions in the business world.

The principle of the “swish pattern” mentioned above shares many similarities with the visualization of success – a tool used by everyone from successful business owners to star athletes.

The key takeaway here for female entrepreneurs is that these simple practices can help you develop the right mindset to achieve your goals. By taking control of your subconscious, you can overcome the hidden obstacles that prevent you from successfully scaling your business.

By overcoming your mental obstacles, you can become a more influential or effective manager, or improve your ability to persuade in order to close a sale.

If you think you need help making these mental improvements, seeking the advice of an NLP practitioner can be extremely beneficial. The American Board of Hypnotherapy and NLP website provides a list of certified trainers. Sessions often start around $1,000 per hour. While it’s undoubtedly a big investment, there’s a reason why successful people from JK Rowling to Oprah Winfrey have used this training to take control of their own futures.

Ultimately, the personal benefits you can derive from NLP training will also improve your business results. By developing greater confidence in your own abilities and eliminating bad habits, you will improve your productivity and better position yourself to progress in your career.

So, yes, mastering your subconscious sounds like a lofty goal – but it’s far from impossible…

Related: 8 Mental Disciplines More Powerful Than Self-Doubt

By using proven NLP techniques, you can teach your brain to help you achieve your goals, rather than distracting you from them. Whether you’re a woman starting her own business or trying to climb the corporate ladder, this mental mastery technique will bring you that much closer to your desired results.