NLP Representational Systems
Have you ever wondered why some people get along so well and hit it off right away and other people when introduced have an awkward silence, or maybe more particularly why are some people be able to get along with anyone they meet. You might start, if you haven't already, by reading Building Rapport Part 1. Our Building Rapport Part 2 post (coming soon) will include part of the answer to this question. For now we want to introduce the idea of Representational Systems that will become a part of the foundation for how to connect deeply with others.
A brief word on NLP models. Everything we present on the topic of NLP is just a model. Very often there is good science to go with it, but these models were primarily built based on observing and experimenting with what worked in real situations with real people. Then models were build to allow others to assimilate the skills and produce the same results. It's very important to understand and not get too caught up in whether something is literally true, but rather whether its useful (or not) in achieving the desired result. The way to determine that is to test it. Nothing you will read in the next 100 or probably 1000 postings on this blog is of any use at all if it isn't used and tested out there in the real world - away from your computer.
The model we are talking about right now is called Representational Systems (or lets say "rep systems" for short).
Building Rapport – Part 1
Defining rapport can be somewhat elusive, but most people have an experience of really connecting with another person. You just feel in sync with them. Maybe you finish each other sentences or know what they are going to do or say just before or as they are doing it. You can talk and carry on a conversation for hours and the time just flies past. Most people have experienced this at one time or another, but few people are able to generate rapport with everyone, on demand, whenever they want.
What is it that generates this kind of rapport between two people and do you have any choice of it being present, or is it just fated that some people will have rapport with one another and others won't?
