Understanding Meta Programs

Basically a “meta program” is something that determines an individual’s frame of mind. They (Meta programs) refer to a persons patterns, in relation to the information and other stimuli they are exposed to. I think that almost everyone reading this article knows of at least one other person they could not seem to connect with.

It could have been a child that you could not get motivated, a work mate who did not get it, or even a spouse who we can’t seem to connect with. Funnily enough, and contrary to what some psychologists will say, communication usually isn’t the problem. There is often an unbelievable amount of communication going on, without results, so we need to establish what the real issue is.

Difficulty in communicating with someone else is usually nobody’s fault. In fact the likely reason is that you are simply experiencing different Meta programs. Understanding Meta Programs requires that we first understand what they are. A Meta Program is the individual way in which we each process information.

The concept lies at the heart of Neuro Linguistic Programming. They are a set of thought and behavior patterns that operate in each of us, at the unconscious level. Because these patterns operate at this level, we experience a massive amount of miscommunication. We all assume that everyone else sees things exactly the same way we do.

So although we may understand for the most part, and at a basic level, the words and phrases another person uses, we actually have little idea what they are attempting to communicate through their choice of behaviors and words. Our personal and professional relationships fail or succeed, usually based on how well we communicate with the people around us every day. This is where being in a position to read beyond the surface, and into the Meta programs, gives us an incredible advantage in our day to day environment. Imagine being able to;

By understanding Meta Programs we can;

Instantly gain rapport with strangers and people we would like to get to know.
Defuse conflict situations quickly and calmly
Choose the right person for the job
How to turn someone on to your ideas, even when they indicate their lack of enthusiasm

Success in all areas of our life is dependant on the understanding we have in Meta programs. Learning how to uncover the “hidden” motivations and meanings of business associates, friends and strangers, gives us a very distinct advantage in orchestrating our lives the way we want them to be. On the opposite side of the coin, we can decide to not get involved in understanding Meta programs, and leave our life to chance, or whatever the alternative may be.

However we can all be sure that there are already some people who we know and associate with every day, who will in fact be very actively practicing the art of great communication through a deep understanding of what we actually mean by what we say and how we act and react. I think I know which action I prefer.