Developing New NLP Formats – A Creative Guide

NLP as a Meta-Approach

John Grinder emphasized that NLP is often underestimated. Many perceive it only as a technique or a collection of techniques, but it is rather a flexible framework for shaping processes of change and development. This opens up almost endless possibilities to develop formats that are tailored to specific needs.

There are many methods that consist of more or less a single technique. Often, the client must first “learn” the coach’s technique. If the technique doesn’t suit the client – for example, because it uses a cognitive or physical approach – the work cannot continue. It's different with an NLP approach. Here, so many different techniques are available that the coach can quickly switch and adapt them to the client's needs as required.

The key lies in a creative approach: thinking in different dimensions, exploring new perspectives, and transferring proven principles to other contexts. The question is not only how existing formats can be applied, but also how new formats can be created.

NLP Structural Model of Change

The NLP structural model of change is an elegant and effective model that describes the essence of change processes. It offers us the opportunity to approach the development of new NLP formats slowly and systematically using a few simple concepts.

An undesired initial or problem state (negative smiley) can be transformed into a desired target state (positive smiley) by adding one or more appropriate resources (heart). In most change processes, the first step is to name the current problematic state. This can be an unpleasant feeling (e.g. fear or insecurity), a limiting behavior (e.g. procrastination), or a stressful situation (e.g. a conflict).

Example: A client describes feeling insecure in social situations and avoids approaching others. Such a state can be described clearly using the NLP Meta Model, forming the foundation for further change work.

The key to change lies in activating a suitable resource. This can happen in many different ways, offering thousands of options. We will take a closer look at resources later in this article series. A resource acts as a bridge between the negative and the positive state. It is not always “added” but may also be an already existing skill that is brought to awareness or strengthened.

The target state represents what the client wants to experience when the change is successful. It is often symbolized by a positive smiley, representing improvement or resolution. The goal should be specific, attractive, and positively phrased to generate motivation and orientation. In NLP, target states are often reinforced using a future pace, where a future is imagined in which the problem is solved or desired behavior is applied.

This structural model is a powerful tool that captures the essence of many NLP techniques. It makes change processes clear, structured, and easy to understand – and shows that the right resource is the key to transformation.

Symptom: This is the visible or tangible problem the client experiences. It represents the undesired state they want to change. Symptoms can include behaviors, emotions, or thought patterns perceived as burdensome.

Example: A client describes becoming defensive and impatient in conflict situations.

Cause: This is the root or trigger of the symptom, often located in the past and linked to events, beliefs, habits, or systemic dynamics. The aim is to identify the cause without necessarily resolving it in detail. Example: The client realizes their impatience stems from childhood experiences of not being heard.

Outcome: This represents the desired target state, ideally formulated specifically, realistically, and motivationally. Example: The client wants to remain calm in conflicts, communicate clearly, and understand the other person.

Resources: These are internal or external means helping the client transition from symptom to outcome – such as skills, memories, beliefs, or support systems. Example: The client remembers a situation where they reacted with patience and recognizes this ability as a resource.

Effect: This describes the long-term positive impact expected once the goal is achieved. It strengthens motivation and ensures the outcome is sustainable and ecologically sound. Example: The client imagines having better relationships and less daily stress thanks to their improved conflict resolution skills.

The SCORE model can be used as a structured coaching process, guiding the client step-by-step through each element to create clarity and enable change. It provides the coach with a precise tool to support clients in achieving both short- and long-term results.

Where Do Resources Come From?

Resources play a crucial role in transformation work. They include everything that helps a person reach a desired change and can stem from various sources. For simplicity, we categorize these into multiple dimensions with subcategories, each enabling specific techniques and approaches.

1st Dimension: Time

Time is a major source of resources – past, present, and future offer a rich pool. Using timeline techniques, resources can be reactivated from the past, drawn from the future, or integrated in the present.

a) Past experiences: Often, clients have previously acted successfully in similar situations or experienced positive emotions. These moments can be reactivated using techniques such as Moment of Excellence, Change History, Timeline ReImprint, or Timeline Reframing.

Example: A client recalls a time when they were particularly courageous and brings that feeling into the present.

b) The Future: Resources can also come from a constructed, positive future vision. The client imagines a future situation where they’ve achieved their goal and brings the associated resources into the present.

Example: The client imagines themselves confident and relaxed during an upcoming presentation and experiences the associated sense of security.

c) The Present: Current situations and relationships can also provide resources. Supportive people or known abilities can be leveraged.

Example: A client realizes that they already use patience successfully at work and now wants to apply it in private life as well.

2nd Dimension: Perspectives

Perspective shifts are a powerful tool used in many transformation techniques. The core idea is always: “Place yourself in this perspective. How do you experience the situation then? What resources are available? How could you use them?”

a) Classic Perceptual Positions 1 (Self), 2 (Other), and 3 (Neutral Observer): Clients can explore how they and others feel in specific situations. As a neutral observer with distance, they can view themselves or a scene from the outside and offer useful advice.

Example: In a conflict with their boss, an employee gains awareness of the boss’s perspective and discovers ways to improve the relationship.

b) Mental Models and Role Models: Through the Mentor Technique and Modeling, clients can adopt skills and attitudes from role models—both real and fictional characters.

Example: The client asks how Elon Musk or another admired figure might make a difficult decision.

c) Dreamer, Planner, and Critic: These roles from the Walt Disney Strategy can also be seen as perspectives. The client cycles through them with a clear role focus and uses the insights gained from each position.

Example: A teenager stands on the Dreamer anchor and, by connecting with the dreamer within, allows themselves for the first time to truly envision and feel their dream becoming reality.

d) Parts Work: In parts work, a specific aspect of one’s life is examined. We give this part a form and often a name so we can interact with it and better understand its point of view.

Example: A client explores the symptoms and causes of an illness and connects with a part responsible for the primary rash. They contact the part and inquire about its positive intention, gaining new insights and understanding of what’s happening internally.

e) Personality Models: Each personality model offers a set of types. People usually identify with one type, or sometimes a combination. Our behavioral options expand dramatically when we imagine having access to the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of all types within a model.

Example: Someone who identifies as Type 1 (Gut, Perfectionist) in the Enneagram allows themselves to connect with Type 2 (Heart, Helper), and for several hours experiences the world through that lens, accessing its hidden resources. Their focus shifts—from optimizing processes and managing time efficiently to prioritizing people and their needs.

f) Archetypes: Archetypes are universal, recurring patterns of behavior, traits, and symbols found across cultures, myths, and stories. They represent fundamental human roles like the Hero, the King, or the Sage, embodying core needs and values.

Example: Someone shifts their perception and aligns for a time with the archetype of the Sage. Their focus then turns to knowledge, truth, and long-term perspective.

g) Animals: Working with animal symbolism, such as a shamanic power animal, is an effective tool for self-discovery, healing, and personal development. It activates deep inner strengths, connects a person to their intuition and nature, and offers emotional support during challenging times.

Example: A client discovers the tiger as their power animal and feels its presence in difficult moments as an inner companion, providing strength and courage.

3rd Dimension: Levels of Change

By combining the dimensions of time and perspective, we create a 3x3 matrix—nine fields that represent different combinations of time (past, present, future) and perspective (Self, Other, Observer). This 9-field grid can serve as a foundational model for many interventions. One example is the “Resource Garden,” where clients systematically collect resources from each field. The Resource Garden technique will be presented in the next article.

A third highly valuable and popular dimension in NLP is Robert Dilts’ model of neurological levels. He presents it in detail in another article in this issue. By integrating these levels (Environment, Behavior, Capabilities, Values/Beliefs, Identity, Vision/Mission/Belonging), we create a three-dimensional model we refer to as the NLP Skyscraper. In this structure, our 9-field grid serves as one “floor.” The first floor deals with the environment, the second with behavior, and so on. We have 9 rooms on 6 floors—totaling 54 possible spaces we can move through in various sequences. This creates many possible paths through our NLP skyscraper.

For example, a resource from the past (Self perspective) may be accessed at the level of Capabilities, while in the next step, a vision from the future (Other perspective) is considered. The variation possibilities are nearly endless. NLP formats can be described as paths through this skyscraper. I invite you to discover new paths and evaluate their usefulness.

In my NLP Advanced Master trainings, participants are given the task of creating their own NLP format. Many believe they aren’t creative enough for this. But once I equip them with the knowledge from this article series, developing new formats becomes child’s play. A guided creative process that is fun and enriches the world with brilliant new ideas. Some of the resulting formats are combinations or adaptations of existing ones optimized for specific contexts; others contain brilliant new ideas discovered systemically. In future issues of this magazine, I will further elaborate on and develop these ideas.