The first linguistic model adopted by Richard Bandler and John Grinder when they developed Neurolinguistic Programming was called “the Metamodel” because it was first and foundational. The underlying metaphor is, “The map is not the territory.” As we have mentioned in previous tips, just as maps focus on limited aspects of the actual territory, human perceptions and representations are neither fully accurate nor complete.
When you need exactness, you may have to use a “Metamodel question” to get it. Metamodel questions ask for the specifics. The two general Metamodel questions are, “What do you mean,” and “How do you know.” When neither of those produces an adequate response, one of the following will do the trick:
- Who specifically or exactly
- What specifically or exactly
- When specifically or exactly
- How specifically or exactly
- Where specifically or exactly
Whenever your perceptions are likely to be different from those with whom you are talking, and understanding is critical, use Metamodel questions to make sure that you have an accurate sense of what the other person is thinking.
Patient: I don’t drink much alcohol.
Doctor: What do you mean?
Patient: Just a couple of beers.
Doctor: How many beers a day?
Patient: Not many. Just a few.
Doctor: How many specifically would be “a few”?
Remember that the world looks different to men and women, to tall people and short people, to young people and old people, and to the doctor and patient. You can use appropriate questions rather than assume others have the same “map” of the “territory” as you do. That way you are both likely to not be surprised or disappointed—and sometimes both.
Send your questions about how other-than-conscious communication skills can hurt or help your patients and clients to Joel P. Bowman (Joel@SCS-Matters.com) or Debra Basham (Debra@SCS-Matters.com), co-developers of Subtle Communication Systems. We will provide answers to those for you. For more information about Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), Hypnosis or Hypnotherapy, or about the Imagine Healing Process, visit:http://ImagineHealing.info or http://SurgicalSupport.info.
Healing with Language: Your Key to Effective Mind-Body Communication is available for a limited time for $10 plus $5 shipping within the U.S. For volume orders and overseas shipping, check with Debra. See the Table of Contents and List of Exercises in PDF format for more information about this comprehensive text and training manual.