NLP Milton Model: Milton Erickson’s Hypnotic Language
Discover the Milton Model: the hypnotic language patterns of Milton Erickson, the discovery, and how you use them in conversation.
Home » Personal Development » Neuro-Linguistic Programming » NLP Conversational Postulates
Written by Niels AmmerlaanLicensed Master Trainer of NLP · Updated
Did someone ever asked you something like “Do you know what time it is.”? And you told them the exact time? Welcome to NLP Conversational Postulates. The most logical answer to this question is either Yes or No.
Conversational Postulates typically elicit a response, rather than a literal answer. So, can you give me some more examples of Conversational Postulates now? I think you can. It depends rather now on if you provide a response or a literal answer. Are you reading this?
Before you are in the field of applying this beautiful technique, you have to do something first. You have to first think about the response you want to get! Let’s clarify that. To use Conversational Postulates there is an easy way to do it.
For example, you want someone close the window for you. The second step is to identify at least one thing that must be true if that person shuts the door. In other words, you are identifying what your outcome presupposes. In this example it presupposes that “The person is able to shut the window”, and that “The window is open now.”
The last step is to take one of those presuppositions and turn it into a yes/no question. “Can you please close the window?”, or “Is the window open?” Congratulations, you now have a question that will generally get you a response without directly asking for it!
Have fun reading our articles about Indirect Elicitation Patterns and the NLP Milton Model and the exercises we provide you here online.
Remember, to increase your efficiency as a NLP Practitioner, know your positive intention for the message you want to convey, build rapport and pay attention on what and how you use language. Leave people and business in a better place that where you found them, every day! Put yourself to work and start making the NLP Meta Model part of your knowledge. The sooner you start, the sooner you benefit.
Mind Tools provides NLP Practitioner and NLP Master Practitioner Trainings and Certifications. We educate you according to the renowned, latest and highest standards set by the Society of NLP. We will train you thoroughly in all the corners of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and some extras we learned from Dr. Richard Bandler directly.

About the author
Licensed Master Trainer of NLP (Society of NLP) · Managing Partner, Mind Tools
Niels has trained and coached leaders, teams and individuals in Thailand and Europe for more than 30 years. He teaches the Licensed NLP Practitioner and Master Practitioner courses in Bangkok.
The Milton Model
Discover the Milton Model: the hypnotic language patterns of Milton Erickson, the discovery, and how you use them in conversation.
Before you start to read this article we just want to make sure we are talking about NLP Subordinate Clauses of Time. After you have finished
First promise me something. As you are reading this article about Ordinal Numerals, make sure you read it through the end. Second, promise
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