NLP Sensory Acuity

Sensory acuity for Neuro-linguistic Programming is defined as the ability to observe, examine, and interpret the external cues received from other people. Sensory acuity for Neuro-linguistic Programming is used for training our minds to see and listen to the non-verbal communication such as body language, eye movements etc.

Introduction

Every person unconsciously emits several external signals which are a reflection of their internal state of mind and thought processes. With increased, effective and conscious sensory acuity, we are able to catch these signals and then read them efficiently. Since there are many signals that can be emitted via this nonverbal channel of communication, it is imperative to master the sensory acuity skills in order to become a proficient communicator. If we develop our sensory acuity aptitude for Neuro-linguistic programming, we can interpret the quality of the incoming signals and use this newfound information to respond more effectively.

A complete Neuro-linguistic Programming picture of the communication is formed when we combine the verbal language used by the speaker, in addition to the nonverbal cues emitted. There is a great deal to be learnt about the speaker from the nonverbal messages, such as their hidden congruency in accordance with the words being said using Neuro-linguistic courses. By understanding and implementing these levels of communication mostly at the unconscious level, we can build a strong rapport with others. Sensory acuity also helps us give an indication regarding the quality, depth and level of the rapport and gauge the sincerity of the speaker.

Developing the Neuro-linguistic sensory acuity skills needs a dedicated investment of time and practice. In addition to practicing these skills consciously every day, given in Neuro-linguistic courses, you must believe that you have the inherent ability to acquire these skills. You will be surprised when one fine day you start to see, hear or sense some nonverbal details of the communication that you were previously oblivious to. In order to avoid going into a wild frenzy, or being too nervous or deliberate during a conversation, concentrate on only small parts of the conversation at first. Start with only a few small bits of things to do or observe, and build on it over time as you master each part step by step.

A particular dilemma faced by Neuro-linguistic training beginners is the choice between staring at the person and missing some important cue by looking away. It is possible to avoid staring continuously at the speaker and maybe offending him in the process. You will need to start practicing the art of rapport building at home, work, outings, shopping etc. without drawing too much attention to yourself, using Neuro-linguistic courses. Over a period of time, you will master the right amount and right time of looking at the speaker in order to capture their nonverbal response and having a meaning conversation.

NLP five fundamental areas

There are five fundamental areas that you can incorporate on a daily basis are:

1. Breathing:

The breathing pattern speaks volumes about the person and his state of mind. A change in the rate of breathing indicated a change in the mental state of the person. When you begin to notice a variation in the breathing rate of a person, try to observe from where the person is breathing. Notice whether the person is breathing from the stomach or the chest. You will also be able to detect a difference in the tempo and pattern of the person’s breathing. If during a conversation, you notice a change in the breathing style, try to figure out what part of the conversation triggered a change in feelings or thought for the person. Once you start to understand the breathing shifts of the person, and calibrate these shifts to their internal state of mind, you will be able to find an answer to your question even before the person responds verbally, as mentioned in Neuro-linguistic courses.

It is advisable however to observe the top of the shoulder of a person for capturing their breathing patterns, mostly to avoid offending the person by staring. By noticing the movement of the shoulders, you can understand a shift in breathing pattern. This will also help you concentrate and observe the expressions on the face as well. You can also practice these Neuro-linguistic skills by observing breathing patterns of actors on the television by muting the volume and looking at their shoulders. Another method is to observe the pulse rate of the person, looking at the artery in the neck or the pulse rate of the vein in the temple.

2. Changes in Color:

It might seem too impossible, but the unconscious mind is already capable of picking up color changes. All you need to do is consciously practice this Neuro-linguistic skill by increasing your color awareness. You will need to start seeing things in terms of contrast. Contrast can help you notice the differences in color. A person’s face is not of just one color, but has shades of pink, brown, cream, yellow etc. The colors on the face change during the conversation, and with different emotions. Once you start noticing these color changes, you can include different emotions in the conversation and calibrate these emotions against the person’s color responses.

3. Minute muscle changes:

The muscles of the face also change with different internal emotions. The facial muscles can get tense or relax according to the internal states. Try to watch the small muscles near the jaw line, around the mouth, and around the outer corner of the eye. As per Neuro-linguistic programming, when a person gets tense, the muscles in the forehead will get tense and the muscles around the eyes will be creased. You can try to predict these characteristics in the person by initiating a conflicting topic, and then attuning your interpretation to the muscle tones and emotions of the person. Over time, you will become adept at capturing these muscles contractions and relaxations of muscles.

4. Lower lip changes:

This technique if not performed properly might get you in trouble. You can get a lot of Neuro-linguistic information about the person’s inner feelings by observing the lower lip, which is a bit difficult to control consciously. By observing the shape, color, size, texture, edges, stretching and movement, you can learn to interpret the emotions behind the action. You can start by observing the minute changes and creating a map of the emotion with the state of the lower lip. By taking a mental picture of this association, you can then use it to calibrate the emotions, and compare with other people as well.

5. Voice sounds or tones:

Tone of our voice is probably the most significant cue for nonverbal communication. An expert communicator is well trained in understanding the sound quality of the person’s voice and picking up the minute tone variations.

The voice sound and the tones are strong indications of the person’s internal state of mind. Start practicing by listening to the voice pitch, volume, tempo, rhythm, resonance and clarity, as given in Neuro-linguistic courses. An effective tool for practice is the television or radio. Here the content of the topic is not important, but the shift in pitch and tone. Changes to these aspects will portray the internal image of the person. With increased focus and practice, you will be able to calibrate voice and tone effectively and get deeper insight into the person’s mental world.

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Basic NLP Exercises

Some simple Neuro-linguistic group exercises can be done to practice and master the sensory acuity skills.

In the first exercise, you can form a group of four. Each person in the Neuro-linguistic training group will narrate four stories about their life, out of which three are true and one is false. The narrator can place the false story in any order in the narration. Once the narration is over, the other group members will try to guess which of the four stories was false, by interpreting the facial expressions and other sensory attributes. Here the Neuro-linguistic training group will list down the sensory cues for each person, and calibrate them to their emotions, discussing how the expressions reflected the truth or the fiction of the story.

Another group exercise taught in Neuro-linguistic training, involves a group made up of two people. The first person holds a dollar bill at the waist level, and second person encloses the dollar bill near the top or centre of the bill without touching the bill. The second person gets ready to catch the dollar bill when the first person drops it. Every time the first person decides to drop the bill, he will give out a non-verbal cue through unconscious movements, which the second person will try to read and interpret. Once the second person catches the dollar bill three times in a row, he will have calibrated the unconscious movements sent out by the first person, and will give a description of his interpretation.

Conclusion

After practicing each of these techniques taught in Neuro-linguistic training separately, you can then begin to interrelate these methods to form a more complete understanding.

That is by observing the breathing patterns, color changes, lower lip movements, muscle configuration and voice patterns as a whole, you can get a more accurate picture of the internal state of mind. You can avoid being overwhelmed by the task, by splitting your practice in small chunks. Once you master one bit you can move onto the next. Over time and with a lot of dedicated practice, reading and interpreting the nonverbal signals will come naturally to you, and it will open new doors and create more opportunities for you in all walks of life.