NLP → NLP Lexicon

Capabilities / Skills

Definition

In NLP, the term capabilities refers to the cognitive, emotional, and strategic processes that a person uses to perform a specific behavior or manage a task. Capabilities are not directly observable, but manifest in the way someone thinks, feels, decides, and utilizes their resources.

Capabilities are situated on the logical level above behavior (cf. Dilts' model of logical levels) – they answer the question:

“How does someone do what they do?”

In contrast to behavior (visible) or values (motivational), capabilities refer to inner strategies such as:

• Do I think in images, sounds, feelings?
• Do I use systematic approaches or intuition?
• Do I draw on inner states like curiosity, calmness, creativity?

Origin and Theoretical Background

The term capability was systematically categorized in NLP, particularly by Robert Dilts and his work on the logical levels (Neurological Levels). In this model, capabilities stand above behavior and below values and identity.

The roots of the term in NLP trace back to the early modeling of experts by Bandler and Grinder, who analyzed how someone thinks or decides – thus at the level of inner strategies.

Capabilities in NLP are not seen as innate but as learnable processes. This contrasts with more traditional psychological concepts that often link capabilities with intelligence or talent.

Application Examples

• Coaching: A client wants to learn to present better. The coach helps her develop an inner strategy for self-confidence, structure, and audience engagement – thus building new capabilities.
• Therapy: A client struggles to cope with stress. The therapist works with NLP techniques to enhance the ability for state control.
• Learning training: A student learns how to better remember mathematical problems through inner images or self-talk – a cognitive learning capability.
• Leadership Training: A leader develops the ability to listen empathically by learning to focus her perception and take the second position.

Areas of Application

• Therapy: Building inner resources (e.g., emotion regulation, decision-making ability).
• Coaching: Development of specific capabilities for goal achievement (e.g., self-motivation, creativity, communication).
• Leadership Training: Promotion of social and emotional competencies.
• Learning coaching: Conveying mental strategies for information processing.
• Personal Development: Strengthening self-regulation and action competence.

In NLP, capabilities are often trained in connection with strategy work (e.g., TOTE model) or submodalities.

Methods and Exercises

1. Modeling:

   A proven NLP technique for learning capabilities. Here, the behavior and inner processes of an “expert” are analyzed and made transferable to others.

2. Strategy training:

   Uncovering and changing inner thought processes using the TOTE model (Test-Operate-Test-Exit):

   • How do you recognize that you need to do something?
   • What do you do internally to decide?
   • When do you know that it is “finished”?

3. Anchoring capabilities:

   A desired state (e.g., clarity, courage, flexibility) is “anchored” through a sensory signal, making it retrievable when needed.

4. Submodalities work:

   Changing the inner representation (e.g., inner images) to enhance or modify a capability (e.g., improving decision-making ability by enlarging the inner image of a positive choice).

Synonyms and related terms

• Synonyms: Competence, inner strategy, cognitive ability, mental resource.
• Related terms:
  • Behavior: Visible expression of a capability; however, not equated with the capability itself.
  • Strategy: Specific sequence of inner and outer processes through which a capability is operationalized.
  • Resources: Generally available inner states or competencies that contribute to activating capabilities.
  • Meta-programs: Cognitive patterns that influence how capabilities are utilized.

Scientific or Practical Benefit

• Practical benefits:

  • Increased self-efficacy through the conscious development of new competencies.
  • Improvement of learning processes through individual strategies.
  • Strengthening of soft skills such as communication, empathy, decision-making ability.
  • Promotion of self-reflection: How do I “function” internally in certain situations?

• Scientifically:

  Although the term “capability” in NLP is very practice-oriented, there are many overlaps in psychology, e.g., with cognitive schemas, self-efficacy (Bandura), action competence, or emotional intelligence. NLP offers a structured and trainable perspective here.

Criticism or Limitations

• Observability: Capabilities are difficult to measure directly – their existence is often inferred only indirectly through behavior or self-report.
• Subjectivity of definition: What is considered a “capability” strongly depends on context and model assumptions.
• Simplification: Critics argue that NLP capabilities are presented too mechanistically – complex processes may be underestimated as a result.
• Empirical basis: NLP techniques for capability enhancement are practically effective but scientifically only limitedly empirically validated.

Literature and References

• Dilts, R. (1990). Changing Belief Systems with NLP. Meta Publications, Capitola.
• Dilts, R., & Epstein, T. (1994). Tools for dreamers: Strategies of creativity and the structure of innovation. Meta Publications.
• Hall, L. M. (2001). The User's Manual for the Brain. Crownhouse Publishing, Camarthen.
• Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W. H. Freeman.

Metaphor or Analogy

The inner toolbox: Skills are like tools in an invisible suitcase. Every person has a toolbox, but not everyone knows what tools they possess or how to use them. NLP helps to open the suitcase, sort it – and add new tools.

Software on the hardware of humans: If behavior is the visible output (e.g., the printing of a page), skills are the **underlying software – they determine how something is executed. Without functioning programs (strategies), the printer remains silent.

See also