A Benefit in Everyday School Life

How can teachers effectively support students in times of performance pressure and anxiety? Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) offers practical methods to reduce anxiety, strengthen self-confidence, and foster potential. This article shows how NLP can be integrated into the classroom through resource-oriented attitudes, rapport, and self-efficacy. These approaches create a motivating learning atmosphere, strengthen the class community, and help students face challenges with confidence. Discover how NLP can positively transform both the teacher’s attitude and the learning process. By Jean-Claude Eichenseher

In an age of digital transformation and increasing demands on students—many of whom suffer from performance pressure, anxiety, self-doubt, or learning blocks—we as teachers face a crucial question: How can we support our students not only academically but also personally in the best possible way? For me, part of the answer lies in the application of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) in the classroom. At first, I was skeptical whether NLP would be practical at all in the face of a tight curriculum. But I started small, integrating NLP methods wherever they fit. I quickly discovered that NLP offers a variety of tools that can reduce anxiety, build self-confidence, and help define goals more clearly. Today, NLP has become an indispensable part of my teaching.

"WHETHER YOU THINK YOU CAN OR YOU THINK YOU CAN'T – YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT."

American Inventor

HENRY FORD

The Teacher's Attitude: Discovering and Fostering Resources

A central element of NLP is the so-called presuppositions – fundamental attitudes in dealing with people. Two of these presuppositions have particularly shaped my work:

1. “Every person has all the resources they need within them.”
2. “Behind every behavior lies a positive intention.”

These principles have revolutionized my perception and attitude as a teacher. I now assume that every student has the ability to change positively and that every behavior, even if disruptive, has a positive intention. This resource-oriented attitude fundamentally changes how I view students. For example, a student who doesn’t listen might at first seem unmotivated or even defiant. But with this attitude, I ask myself: What does this student need in order to focus? What obstacles are in their way? This reframe releases energy I previously wasted in frustration. Instead, I adopt a curious mindset and work together with the student and their parents to remove the obstacles. As a teacher, I become a guide and motivator. I help students recognize their potential, overcome obstacles, and celebrate their successes. This resource-focused perspective strengthens not only my own mindset but also the students’ self-image in the long term. To embed these core attitudes, I translated the NLP presuppositions into student-friendly classroom rules, which we now use as a guiding framework for our interactions.

Rapport: Connection Builds Trust

Another important aspect of NLP is rapport, meaning the building of a positive connection between teacher and students. This can be achieved through empathetic attention to the students’ needs, for example by mirroring body language, speech patterns, or speaking tempo.

Rapport can also be built with groups by not only strengthening individual relationships but also fostering the class community as a whole. Trust and appreciation form the foundation for productive collaboration.

A varied teaching approach that engages all senses (VAKOG: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, gustatory) also helps to reach students more effectively and accommodate their individual learning preferences. I find Robert Dilts’ logical levels particularly useful, as they allow holistic exploration of topics such as literary characters, historical eras, or social groups.

Activating Self-Efficacy: Everyone Can Learn!

A core concept in NLP is self-efficacy – the belief that one is capable of overcoming challenges. In class, I often hear statements like: “I can’t do this” or “This is too hard.” These beliefs block the learning process.

To break these patterns, I work with my students to develop universal resources for change. One example: We talk about how a baby learns to walk. No one expects a baby to walk perfectly from the start. But with every attempt, every fall and every time getting back up, they improve – until walking becomes effortless.

This analogy shows that learning is a process and that failure can be a necessary part of it. When students realize they can learn anything if they truly want to, their perspective often changes. They begin to see challenges as opportunities and develop growing confidence in their own abilities.

State Management: Learning to Regulate Emotions

Another NLP tool I frequently use is state management. Many students come to class in the morning feeling tired, saying: “I can’t think yet.” But especially for early morning tests, it’s important to shift into an active state.

By developing strategies for students to consciously influence their mood through posture, breathing, or movement, we not only boost concentration but also raise awareness of their own self-regulation. Students learn that they can choose how they feel – and that they have tools to shift into a more energized or relaxed state.

Perspective Shift: Fostering Empathy, Resolving Conflicts

Another method I regularly use is perspective shifting through the NLP format “1, 2, 3 Meta.” In this exercise, students examine a situation from three viewpoints: their own, the other person’s, and a neutral observer’s.

This format not only enhances empathy but also promotes critical thinking and helps address conflicts in a solution-oriented way. It works especially well in group settings, where the classroom is divided into different perspective zones.

Activating Motivation and Resources through Guided Imagery and Mentors

Working with the VAKOG senses has also proven highly effective for activating motivation and internal resources. Guided imagery exercises, where the class is led into a resource-rich future state, are particularly helpful. Students imagine with all their senses what it feels like to have achieved a goal: What do they see, hear, and feel? These vivid sensory experiences boost motivation and strengthen self-confidence. Another method I often use is working with mental mentors. In this approach, students choose an admired personality or “hero” whose strengths they can internalize. In challenging situations, they ask themselves: “How would my mentor solve this problem?” This simple but effective technique breaks through mental blocks and puts students in a solution-oriented mindset.

Understanding Individual Needs: Meta-Programs in the Classroom

Another valuable approach to better understand and support students in a targeted way is working with meta-programs. These describe how people process information and make decisions. While some students are motivated by visualizing positive goals, others feel more driven when they want to escape the state of “not being able.” Work styles also vary: some students prefer to work alone, while others achieve better results in a team. Recognizing these individual differences and adapting lessons accordingly has helped me to support students more effectively on their journey. Taking meta-programs into account enables a sensitive design of the learning environment that focuses on both the strengths and preferences of each child.

Conclusion

The integration of NLP into my teaching has had a lasting positive impact – on the behavior and performance of students, on the classroom atmosphere, and on my own attitude as a teacher. Students learn to use their resources, expand their perception, and respect other opinions.

For me as a teacher, NLP means that I don’t just convey knowledge, but also values, attitudes, and strategies that last well beyond school.

I hope that more colleagues will find the courage to try NLP. It’s not a magic bullet, but a powerful tool that can take teaching to a whole new level – for the benefit of both students and educators alike.

• Reduce fears: Every student has potential that can be fostered through a respectful attitude and targeted support.
• Build rapport: NLP methods help build self-confidence, overcome learning blocks, and view challenges as opportunities.
• Promote self-efficacy: Trust and connection between teachers and students strengthen the class community and promote a positive learning climate.
• Regulate emotions: Students learn to recognize their abilities, overcome obstacles, and actively face challenges.
• Encourage holistic learning: With state management, students develop strategies to consciously regulate mood and concentration for successful learning processes.
• NLP as an enrichment for school life: Through multisensory approaches (VAKOG), individual learning styles are taken into account, which sustainably increases motivation and learning success.