Central to the NLP model is the concept of "filters". When information comes in from the external world, it enters through the five senses and at this point filtering begins. Each of us has preferences at a sensory level. Some of us are more visual, whilst others are more auditory or more kinaesthetic. Some are sensitive to smell and taste and some are not. This information is then reduced again according to meta programs (e.g. Myers Briggs personality types) which explore differences in types – extravert to introvert, idea driven as opposed to data driven, possibilities as opposed to actual, feelings or task driven. We also filter the outside world according to our values, beliefs, previous decisions (successful and otherwise) and memory. It is estimated that 80% of what we experience is based on these filters, which means that we only ever take in 20% which is new in that which we call reality!

One of the cornerstones of NLP is Representational Systems. These are visual, audio tonal, audio digital and kinaesthetic. Each person has preferences which means that as a group of people sitting at a training event, some will be noticing more how a room looks, and the quality of what they see (visual), some will be noticing the sounds, noise and the trainer’s voice (audio tonal), others will be having a conversation with themselves about what is going on (audio digital), and others will be aware of what they are feeling on an emotional level and on a comfort level (kinaesthetic). So each of us takes a snapshot of what is around us at any one time. We all assume everyone else experiences the same thing as we do – they do not.

Perception is everything
Take a look at the picture over and what age is the woman you see?



This is a simple example of differing perceptions and how when you see one thing, it can be challenging to see the other: some people can see both the old and the young woman.

Experiencing different things when you think they are the same is the basis of most communication problems, confusion and disagreement in relationships between people. This level of difference is often at an unconscious level, and therefore out of most people’s conscious awareness.
Close your eyes for a moment. Open them and notice what you notice and write them down. Try this several times over the course of a day and see if you can work out what senses you are paying more attention to. Check with others did they notice the same or different things?

The conscious mind has to filter information. Remember the 5 to 9 rule: less than one millionth of the information available at any one time is noticed by the conscious mind. The unconscious sieves the information down to what it thinks is the most relevant or important at any one time by deleting what it does not think is relevant, distorting according to its filters, and generalising to what is known. For example, someone with a spider phobia will notice a tiny spider in the corner of a room and will not be able to take his/her eye off it. The spider takes on fiercesome killer-like qualities and it is perceived as a threat to survival. Then the fight/ flight response kicks in and the person can experience a full blown panic attack. On the other hand, someone without a phobia will not even notice the little black thing in the corner!!

NLP Representational Systems what is your preference?
Rate the following statements from:
4 (most like me), 3 (next closest to me), 2 (next closest to me), 1 (least like me)
Put scores in below and add up for each preference: Visual, Audio Tonal, Audio Digital, Kinaesthetic

What way sounds the best
What looks best
Precise review and study of the issues

Other person’s tone of voice
Whether I can see their argument
The logic of their argument
How I feel about their argument

The look I give
The feelings I share
The words I choose
The tone of my voice

Find the ideal volume on a stereo
Select the most intellectually relevant point in an interesting subject
Select the most comfortable furniture
Select attractive colour combinations

Very sensitive to the sounds in my surroundings
Very adept at making sense of data and facts
Very sensitive to the way articles of clothing feel on my body
I have a strong response to colours and the way a room looks

Answers
1 K…..A….V… D……
2 A…..V….D…..K…..
3 V…..K….D… A…..
4 A…..D….K… V….
5 A…..D….K… V….

Score
V…….
K……
A…….
D…….

Visuals
They pay attention to what they see. As our eyes receive information at the fastest speed, these people often talk fast without taking a breath. They think in pictures. They believe it when they see it literally, and do not believe it otherwise.

Kinaesthetic
Are sensitive to the conditions around them, how comfortable they feel, how their clothing feels, and so on. They can often forget verbal instructions, yet pick up something quickly if they do it themselves. They can speak slowly, and can get lost easily. They can find it difficult to see the future, and need to experience emotions. Tend to live in the moment.

Audio Tonal
Make sense of the world by talking it out. Love sound and music or silence. They don’t like disturbing noise. They can remember verbatim conversations; they are not good at maps. They need to hear their thoughts on the outside to make sense of them; they can give excessive information and detail and be oblivious to others in conversations.

Audio Digitals
They talk to themselves all the time and have a strong internal voice. They can have difficulty sleeping as they run through the day or something that might happen in the future. They tend to dissociate from emotions and tend to think about how something feels rather than feel it. They can be oblivious to physical discomfort; they can appear unfeeling and robotic as they live in their internal world.

So in your answers you will have established your preferences. Your first and second may be the most significant and will affect how you filter the world. Try this with a partner or friend and compare types.