Perceptual Positions

Introduction Heavily linked in with NLP Explore relationships –personal and at work What it is? Why Life example Link it back to coaching

What is it? Seeing a situation through different perspective: Self – see, hear and feel the interaction through our own eyes Rely on information we can see Dependent on internal filters Dependent on variable levels of sense e.g. fear Other – see, hear and feel interaction through their eyes Increases information Observer – see, hear and feel interaction through an outsiders (fly on the wall) See whats going on from both sides and turn knowledge into experience

Why? Can be used to understand situations which on the face of it you can’t understand as the coach. Or even as part of your day to day like Understanding responses that coachee can’t get their head around Can help influence or change a situation where they are completely stuck. Can help challenge a negative view of something or someone. Can help create empathy. Tricky!!

My example Getting daughter to swimming on time! SELF - Getting grumpy sausage as I stand at the car waiting. We are going to be late. I call her for the sixth time. She is messing around in the garden with my phone. OTHER - Later look back on video. Doooh. Daughter having a wonderful time with phone checking. Frogs, hedgehog hide and an ant hotel. OBSERVER - Why doesn’t he walk around and get into her sight line. She would rather be chasing frogs but she can do that later. Maybe explain this. Everyone comes away from the situation feeling better.

How to use in coaching - CC? Ask them to put themselves in the other persons chair? Some people do this physically! Ask how do you think they would respond and why? Encourage them to try to see, hear and feel things as they do. Ask them a question which puts them in the observer. MY REFLECTION – I think there is value in this approach for trying to improve communication. Not quite there for it yet. Risk that the coachee normalises behaviour. Any thoughts?

Useful links http://www.integralleadership.com/perceptual-positions-peter-mcnab.php http://www.sarahfrossell.com/article5.htm http://www.nlpacademy.co.uk/articles/view/using_perceptual_positions/