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Presuppositions in the Milton Model

We have learnt in the Meta Model that Presuppositions are basically – “What is the person assuming to be true, underneath what they are actually telling me?”. Presuppositions are not necessarily true, but even if the are not, by holding something not-yet-true as being true, we can help to bring that to fruition. 

Now the presuppositions in relation to the Milton Model. Presuppositions are the most powerful of the language patterns, when used by a communicator who presupposes what she does not want to have questioned.

A general principle is to give the person lots of choices and yet have all of the choices presuppose the response you want.

Presuppositions - A break-down

The simplest kind of presupposition is existence. Let’s clarify that with an example. In the sentence “Jack ate the food” it is is presupposed that “Jack” and “food” exist. If you negate the sentence and say “”No, Jack didn’t eat the food”, the fact that Jack and the food exist is still not questioned. Presuppositions come in a variety of flavors and it would not be us as we will write down the big-chunks below this text. Are you reading this?

Remember these four very important things while learning, studying and applying your knowledge about Presuppositions:

  • Every behavior has a positive intention.
  • This is the best choice available to a person given the circumstances as they see it.
  • Respect for the other person’s model of the world.
  • Resistance in a client is due to a lack of rapport. There are no resistant clients, only inflexible therapists and coaches.

We suggest you start with one or two language patterns. Write your findings down. Create your own library. So start small while you working your way up to the big picture. Going the way we will publish more articles about the Milton Model. Come back often as we tend to post frequently!

Last but not Least about Presuppositions

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. Now you have learnt about Presuppositions, we know you want to lean more!

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

Niels Ammerlaan

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.

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