NLP Exercises

With all the instruments, formats, and strategies that one can, through NLP, learn, one should not forget a fundamental method that is also known and recognized outside the NLP community: Practicing.

There is a reciprocal relationship between NLP and practicing: On one side, a Training consists predominantly of NLP exercises, just as NLP exercises should be conducted repeatedly during leisure training to review and deepen the learned seminar content. On the other hand, NLP also supports the ability to practice itself. NLP exercises, methods, and strategies are provided that optimize and make the organization and execution of exercises more sustainable.

The brain has the ability to remember a program (whether it involves facts or movement sequences) through repeated repetition and playback by forming connections related to these learning contents. The repeated execution of an endeavor is referred to as practicing. It is the most successful method for establishing such a connection and thus also neurolinguistic programming in the best sense of the word. Conducting NLP exercises of any kind is more promising than undertaking this endeavor without any strategy.

NLP exercises come in various forms, conditioned by the multitude of application areas of NLP, which also require specific forms of exercises. Thus, there are NLP exercises for couples or groups, in which, for example, communication and cooperation formats are trained, and NLP exercises that are also or exclusively suitable for individuals. The same applies to the time required: While some exercises take only a few minutes (such as the Swish Technique), others require significantly more time.

A rule of thumb states that if someone repeats a specific activity every day for three weeks, after this time, they have adapted the process to the extent that it has become a habit. However, repeated execution is also essential afterward, both for perfection and to prevent one from 'falling out of practice.' Therefore, it is advisable to come together with other NLP practitioners in practice groups and train NLP exercises and formats together.

Calibrating

Calibrating requires the ability to accurately perceive nonverbal signals and associate the physiology of internal states with external signs.

"Calibrating means knowing what the conversation partner is doing internally (e.g., what experience they are currently recalling) and closely observing how they appear externally (what physiology they display) and remembering that"
Mohl, 1996

In this video, Stephan Landsiedel explains how perception works through calibrating and provides some exercise tips for immediate implementation.

NLP Exercise for Calibrating - The Person Guessing

For the exercise Person Guessing, 2 people are needed: Person A and Person B.

Person A asks Person B: 'Think of a person you like.' Observe Person B's facial expression.

Then Person A asks Person B: 'Think of a person you don't like.' Again, observe Person B's facial expression.

There should be a change in Person B's facial expression. Remember this facial expression.
After the first step, Person A asks Person B: 'Which person is taller? The one you like or the one you don't like?' Person B should only think of the person.

At the moment Person B thinks of the person, Person A should recognize from the facial expressions which person is being thought of.
Thus, one can practice recognizing a lot in another person based on the smallest signals.

You can find this and other NLP exercises on our page about Calibrating.

Rapport: Pacing and Leading

The prerequisite for any good communication is trust. Most people have few good strategies to create sympathy with others. NLP teaches a number of very effective methods to bring oneself closer to others and build a bridge.

NLP Exercise for Rapport: Mirroring - Pacing and Leading

Pacing

Person A adopts a similar or the same body posture as Person B. Unconsciously, Person B picks up on 'Hey, they are like me. They move like me.'

What can be mirrored in the area of body language?

Facial expressions
Gestures
Speed of speech
Body posture
Sitting position
Leg position
Standing posture
Detailed language

After a while, a bond of sympathy develops between Person A and B. You can test this by taking the lead, the leading.

Leading

Person A checks if Person B is following her.

Person A changes her body posture. Now Person A checks if Person B also changes her body posture. If Person B also changes her body posture, then the leading has worked. There is now a strong rapport between Person A and Person B.

If the leading did not work, Person A must start leading again.

A detailed description of the exercise can be found on the page Rapport, Pacing, and Leading. More exercise suggestions and ideas can be found on the page Rapport and Body Language: Exercise Suggestions and Ideas.

NLP Exercise Crossed Mirroring

For example, when mirroring, Person B crosses their legs and Person A follows suit, so that Person A is in the same body position as Person B. There are situations where it is impractical to do exactly the same as Person B.

Like when Person B is telling something and Person A is the listener. While Person B speaks, Person A can capture the rhythm and body dynamics of Person B and reflect the gestures in head movements. With a lot of gestures comes a lot of head movement.

More NLP Exercises

You can find more NLP exercises for free with us in the NLP library: