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.
Written by Niels AmmerlaanLicensed Master Trainer of NLP · Updated
Let’s talk about the use of Or. Now I know the title of this article sounds like a bad version of the Wizzard of Oz, but we are here for the The use of “Or” in presuppositions which is part of the Milton Model. Some of you reading this article have kids. And by the way, having kids is not to be ashamed about. Yet continue reading this article you will discover something very familiar. Lets start with an example. Did you ever had difficulties making your kids do homework? Here is the trick. If you ask them “Please do your homework.” the answer is “No” or “Later” or whatever response they are giving you. Logical, because a kid is honest in their response. Now, just for the demonstration of it, rephrase the question and ask something like: “Do you do your homework before or after dinner?”.
The following examples are not especially for inducing trance, yet it is to demonstrate what happens when you use the language pattern “The use of Or”. Here we go:
These four examples have one thing in common. Obviously you paint a choice in the receivers head, yet something else is happening. The rhythm is A or B. and either A or B is going to happen. Fun right? This technique is especially helpful in sales. Therefore we invite you to attend our workshop “Consultative Selling” which is a unique opportunity to enhance your sales techniques and triple your revenue. Remind yourself that when you apply these kind of techniques, you have to start by building great rapport. And not only rapport is king, also watch body language and eye accessing cues.
Since we are talking about Presuppositions and the Milton Model, here are some examples that you can utilize in your Hypnotic inductions:
Here is the exercise of today. Take a client (No this is not a cookbook, first take 100 grams of flour …) and take two activities the client has to choose from. In example, Left or Right. Now start to rephrase this activity in the sense of The use of Or. Something like: “Do you go Left or Right?”. It is this simple. So wether you have read this article or not, you will start to practice this stuff today or tomorrow, right? Start to experiment with the Use of Or and see how powerful this part of the Milton Model is, presupposing you are reading this.
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.
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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.
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