Filters of Your Mind -1

Second in a series of how to be a more effective communicator.

Last month we discussed preferred representational systems; do you view your world through primarily auditory, visual, kinesthetic, or digital filters?

This column and the next are devoted to meta-programs. Meta programs are deep, unconscious filters that determine how we process the world around us. They are the most unconscious filters to our perception. We use meta programs to unconsciously determine what we pay attention to. They filter our world and we create or break generalizations and establish a sense of coherence because of metal programs. Simply put, they are the patterns that determine our interests and our attention.

Why know these?

If you understand how you sort and how others sort, you gain understanding into how they view the world – and how best to communicate to them. These are particularly important if you are in sales or sales management, leadership position, employee relations, or hiring. If you are married or in a primary relationship, you may gain some insights into the other person’s (as well as you own) behavior. Do you have kids? Understand Meta programs and you’ll gain some insight about how your kids view the world around them.

There are over twenty Meta programs identified. We will be discussing only a select few. If you’d like to learn more about these filters, any good book on NLP should give you all you need to know.

You can identify many Meta programs by observation. You can also ask direct questions, which we have included in this column. As you read this, ask yourself the questions and determine preferences.

External Behavior
When it’s time to recharge your batteries, do you prefer to be alone or with people?

___ Introvert  ___ Extrovert

Other questions: “Would you prefer to go to a party on your night off or stay at home and rent a movie?
 “When at a social event do you tend to talk to one or two people you know well or mingle to meet as many new people as possible?

ALONE = Introvert

Prefer to be alone. Introverts prefer the internal world of thoughts and ideas to external world of actions, objects and people. They have a greater depth of concentration as opposed to breadth of interest. Introverts make up about 25 % of the US population. They tend to view extroverts as shallow – not real.

Extroverts tend to have few friends – deeper relations, look to self for causes, enjoy working alone, are self sufficient, and like concepts and ideas.

Prefer jobs like mathematician, dentist, writer, technical jobs, artist, engineer, carpenter, and printer.

WITH PEOPLE = Extrovert

Prefer outer world of things and people to inner world of thoughts and ideas. Extroverts make up 75% of the US population. They are ore interested in how ideas affect others. They have a greater breadth of interest as opposed to depth of concentration.

Extroverts tend to have many friends not deep ones, be sociable, look to environment for causes, are happy-go-lucky, like action, and are talkative and outgoing. They prefer jobs like salesperson, social worker, personnel director, or administrator.

Do the above descriptions fit anyone you know? What happens if you are an extrovert and your partner is an introvert? You’ve both had a hectic week and want to unwind and recharge? You want to go out, and he/she want to stay home. Can you reach a compromise? Can you appreciate that this how the other person does “recharge?” If you entertain clients, the answer to this question could give you a good idea of the best venue for them.

Internal Process
This strategy relates to our level of attention and where we focus it.

If you were going to study a certain subject, would you be more interested solely in the facts and their application for the now, or would you be more interested in the ideas and relationships between the facts and their application for the future?

___ Sensor  ___ Intuitor

Other Questions:”In a given project do you tend to trust only the facts and figures more or do you trust your hunches and intuition more?”

Observe if they are they writing (speaking, thinking) abstractly or specifically?

SOLELY IN FACTS = Sensor

Sensors make up the majority of the population at 75%.Thye prefer to perceive the immediate, real, practical facts; not the abstract. They want facts and they want them now. Sensors think of intuitors as being speculative, their “heads in the clouds.”

Sensors tend to be factual minded, they learn through visual aids, are interested in economics, have practical outlook, need order and tend to be shrewd.

Prefer jobs like business, production, office management, administration, banking, and technology.

IDEAS AND RELATIONSHIPS = Intuitor

Intuitors prefer to perceive the possibilities and compromise only 25% of population. Intuitors are abstract, big picture thinkers not so concerned with specific details. Often times intuitors are so much into a relationship that they may disregard information coming in right now. They may even fail to notice what is going on now. Intuitors view sensors as being “stick in the mud.”

Intuitors tend to be positive toward change, like new possibilities, are tolerant of complexities, and are theoretical and aesthetic. They value autonomy and prefer working at symbolic and abstract levels.

Intuitors prefer jobs like writer, psychologist, minister, architect, artist, or musician. They are dreamers, poets, and visionaries – trying to make today into what they envision for tomorrow.

Did this one get you thinking about people you know? Which do you lean toward, sensor or intuitor? You can have different Meta programs based on different situations. A person could be an extrovert in business and more of an introvert in relationships. You could be an intuitor with you family and a sensor at work. How can you use this information, and your newfound observations of others to understand them better?  Can you now appreciate the differences in how people think, and how you can more effectively communicate with them?