Metaprograms 3

First our apologies for neglecting this column in the early part of this year. The last three months have been both very busy and very productive for us. Our new book Principles of NLP was published by Thorsons on February 5th, and we have finished two new books, both to be published later this year. The first is Practical NLP for Managers, which will be published by Gower Press in April 1996. The second is NLP and Health, to be published by Thorsons in September 1996. Both have been fascinating to research and write, and we will be writing later in the year on NLP applications to health and to business in this column. We are glad to be able to continue these articles.

The last two articles have been on metaprograms - the habitual ways we think about our experience, leading to habitual ways of acting. These patterns are very important in business and education: they point not only to preferred ways of learning, but also the sort of work we are most comfortable with. They have practical uses for both teachers and managers. We dealt with some patterns in the October and November issues. The pattern we will look at this month is the level of detail a person is comfortable with, sometimes referred to as the scope pattern.

Some people are most comfortable taking in large chunks of information, these are the global or general learners. They may be impatient with the details, they want to see the whole picture first. They will tend to present ideas as overviews and summaries, often using abstract concepts. They may give the information in what seems to be random order. Other people are more comfortable with specific detail; they may find it hard to grasp the overall idea without knowing how the specific pieces fit together. It is usually important for them to put information into sequences, to organise the detail. The overall framework is too vague for them. There are a few people who fall at the extreme ends of these two patterns, either wanting very detailed information, or being comfortable with big generalisations. Most people fall between the two extremes, with a preference for one or the other.

This is very important in education. Students who need detail may find it hard to learn from a teacher who presents information in a general way. Similarly, a general student may become bored and lose motivation if a lot of detail is presented, to them it may be confusing. They want the big picture.

The difference between these two patterns also helps explain some frustrating communication problems. Imagine this scenario. A general person is explaining work to a person who has the specific pattern. The specific person keeps asking questions because they do not have a clear idea of what has to be done. They need specific instructions. The general person becomes frustrated and wonders why they have to spell it out, surely anyone could understand the idea? Or it could happen in reverse. A specific person is spelling out the situation in what seems excruciating detail to the general person who becomes impatient. They just want to get on with it. Sensing a lack of attention, the specific person goes into even more detail. In the end, the general person may miss an important point because they have switched off. These scenarios can happen at work between managers, supervisors and the people they deal with.

There are two solutions. First one of the people can pace the other. To do so, they put the information in the way the other person understands, not their own chosen way. Secondly, they could get someone to translate between them, who takes the ideas expresses them in the form the other is comfortable with.

What are the other general (and specific) implications? First know your own pattern. Then you will know your own strengths and potentials and way of explaining to others. Secondly, once you become aware of the patterns, you will be able to give information to others in the way they need. Thirdly, if you are a manager, you will be able to match people to the task they are good at. There are tasks that need an eye for detail such as checking documents, or software, or copy editing. Other tasks need an overview - planning over time, and this is where general people excel.

Lastly a warning about applying metaprograms: * There are no good and bad patterns, just ones that are useful or not useful in a particular context. * The patterns describe behaviour, not people. Although we have used the term 'general people' or, 'specific people', this is just a shorthand way of referring to people who tend to use these patterns habitually. * The patterns are tendencies, not absolutes * Patterns may change depending on the context. A person may be general with regard to work, but more specific at home. * Most people show a mixture of the two patterns, few show them in the extreme form.

These warnings may well apply to any psychological tests.