Long back,early during my career,I had undergone many trainings which now help me conduct similar sessions.I attended a session on NLP as part of the training at Chennai.
We all have learned from childhood a assortment of subjects from school 2 College such as history,geo,maths,com,mech,medi etc.If any 1 asks me,if all these subjects have been useful in enhancing my profession.I may hesitate.But yes they have in some way did help us get degrees.They gave us knowledge of things that did come handy when we needed information.But did these subjects teach us how 2 have great relations with people?Have they taught us how 2 feel good from within & be happy?Have they taught us how 2 succeed in our personal & professional lives?Well I think these things,we learned in our kg,but as we grew we let them go as we started with "Education".
I 2 after having undergone a training session on NLP,wanted 2 learn more about it & apply in my Profession.One fine Sat,I land at Walden,the only good store in those days,2 buy a book on neuro-linguistic programming(NLP).Those were early days of the store & NLP 2,when it was not as popular as it is now.I was not surprised not 2 find even 12 of copies of it,in the selves piled.In fact,I could not trace any books on NLP.Looking at my fanatic rummage around & eying me rather suspiciously,a young lady approached me,well that was how my attire was.LoL.
"What is it about,Sir?" She asked.This was not an easy question 2 answer as U might think it is particularly,when U know that the young lady might have never heard of NLP before.I wanted 2 try the easy way 2 explain her as I did this before ever since,I attended the training session & whenever asked 4 a definition of NLP.Even before I could reply completely with "Nuero.....",the Young lady did an about turn & with a squeaking voice said "This way Please...." Well I followed her around the maze of Walden,wondering where I am being led 2.Abracadabra,where do U think I was standing?In front of a shelf full of books with names unrelated & realized I am in front of Medical Books Shelf.
I with all my honesty,I tried 2 explain that the book has got nothing 2 do with medicine & went on about rambling in my teaching voice "Well",I said hesitantly,"I suppose it is all about Nuero....communication".I think I stressed on the word Programming 2.
She eyed me from top 2 bottom & saw way beyond me & said "Aaah..."She said with why did U not say that before? sort of look,she gave me orders "Follow Me".I obeyed.She walked fast like a Hare,with lot of enthusiasm down 2 the other corner of the book store,me in hot pursuit of her like the Chor & Police.Eventually,she stopped in front of a particular section of books shelves,started combing the shelves confidently.I,in my enthusiasm 2 lay my hands on the book 2 started obligingly searching 4 the book from bottom rack of the Shelf,so as 2 appear 2 look helpful & build bond with her,well those were the days.After a while I was however,I began 2 feel little baffled as I started 2 notice the titles of the Books are very familiar 2 me.Just 2 be sure I look up 2 the false ceiling 2 check the section heading which was saying aloud hanging up there "Computers".I pulled my self up from the floor & said politely "Excuse Me Miss,Why are we looking at the Computer Section?"She gave me a condescending stare.
"Well U said the book was about communication & programming",So She answered.
"Oh,I am terrible sorry 4 the miscommunication",I said "I mean U know this is not about machine 2 machine communication,it more about people 2 people talking 2 each other...."
She surveyed me again with disdain & I could hear something like this "I believe U want Psychology Section" she said with a sneer.She looked around & called yet another guy thinking I must be 1 of those customers who would like 2 jay walk around the store with young lady.I was tempted 2 say "Yes,don't we all need",but I managed 2 hold back.Well It would have ruined the rapport build by then.After all NLP taught me 2 changes the way I think,feel & behave;in short it taught me how 2 look at things differently & come out as a winner even in worst circumstances.This was no less,1 of them that,I face daily.
I learned my 2nd lesson about communication itself & the dangers of making assumptions & expectation that our map of the world is same as that of somebody else.If that was so America would not have been discovered nor would we know that Earth is round.4 all the technology at the disposal of our fingers,mobiles,PDAs,PCs,Lappies,Internet,most of us are still in the dark ages of cave man when it comes 2 good,honest,face-2-face communication when interacting with others.U have doubts,Looks where We are all,sitting behind nicks on PCs & reading a Post on communications. OMG did I start a buzz of Offline meets?
