Become a master communicator by learning to recognize and utilize subtle changes in others’ physiology. This technique involves the valuable skill of eliciting subconscious resources, a skill that serves you best when it, too, is subconscious. This skill deserves serious study, so resist any temptation to treat it like a magic trick. We recommend that you practice this pattern with a partner until you find yourself using it unconsciously.
Step #1. Get your partner to think about a pleasant memory in the first perceptual position.
Find someone who will allow you to practice this exercise with them. Ask them to think about a pleasant memory. Encourage them to do this with eyes closed, and in the first perceptual position, as though they are experiencing it first hand
Step #2. Have your partner focus on the visual rep system.
Once your subject has a pleasant memory in mind, have your subject focus exclusively on the visual aspect of the memory. Note all of your subject’s reactions, including changes in posture, facial expression, changes in skin color, pattern of breathing, and so forth.
Step #3. Have your partner clear their mind and focus on the auditory.
Have your subject clear their mind and open their eyes. Have them bring up only the auditory aspect of the memory. Continue making your observations.
Step #4. Have your partner focus on the kinesthetic.
Once they have done this, have them bring up the kinesthetic aspect as you continue to observe.
Additional Advice
You might want to record your observations on a form that you prepare. Use three titles to divide your operations into
“Visual Reactions,” “Auditory Reactions,” and “Kinesthetic Reactions.”
Once you have done this exercise, you can improve your powers of observations “in the wild,” by being aware of subtle physiological signals, and how they are influenced by factors such as primary sense mode, emotional arousal, rapport, and anything else of importance.
This power of observation will be valuable in many NLP patterns, even the ones you don’t know you’re using.