Internal Reference External Reference
External Reference:
When a person lets someone else decide what is good, bad, wrong, right, fun, boring, fair or unfair etc. Then this person uses an external reference according to NLP.
Internal Reference:
When a person decides themselves (internally) what is good, bad, wrong, right, fun, boring, fair or unfair etc. Then this person uses an internal reference according to NLP. These people still take in lots of information from others, but their deciding factor is their internal reference.
A person with an external reference may continuously be swayed by other peoples opinions, they base their decisions on others, and get in to trouble because they assume others are right. For some people it is desirable to start using an internal reference.
As an NLP Master Practitioner you’ll notice that many of the people you work with want to use you as an external reference. And you’ll notice that many people who use external reference a lot, are often weighed down by the people they have seen before you, like therapists, alternative healers, their mother, best friend etc. They are often confused in choosing the person who is right. Or are often talked in to diseases, disorders, disabilities or problems they may not even have. There seem to be moments in time, where everybody is diagnosed with certain disorders, while previously only a few did. People who are in cults only have a single external reference – the cult leader. Response to internal and external reference become very important in life or death situations, like when a patient is told they only have X months to live, or when a military or dictatorial leader gives certain orders.
There are multiple ways to help people change from using their internal reference, instead of external reference. NLP provides several helpful techniques, although most schools teach resolving this problem implicitly.
We have decided to include teaching the method in our classes. These are methods for installing internal and/or external references. As many people whom seek out NLP Master Practitioners, business and life coaches have external references, which are often at the heart of their limitations or problems. And as a coach, therapist of leader you need to be aware of internal versus external references, also in terms of your own role.
In fact it can give you a great advantage as a manager, leader, educator, trainer or business professional to use knowledge of internal and external references to your advantage.
For more information on our Master Practitioner Course:
We have a course coming up in New York:
Life Coach Training NYC, New York
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