As someone interested in NLP you're probably aware that as much as 95 per cent of our thinking, decision-making and learning takes place outside of conscious awareness.The question is, how can we profitably tap into the 'knowledge inside' and use the unconscious minds of our clients, our colleagues… and ourselves?


Clean Language is increasingly being used to do just this, in coaching and in business more generally. It works with the natural imagery of the unconscious to draw out valuable information which can then be used in a wide variety of contexts.


A few applications include:
  • In market research, exploring customers' emotional engagement with products and services. One recent set of interviews about a particular food resulted in a powerful metaphor (a warm, glowing sun) which later appeared, virtually unchanged, in product marketing materials.
  • In recruitment or in team-building, to reveal the less-obvious aspects of a person. People's metaphors reveal their values, drive their behaviour, and indicate other aspects of their personality.
  • In executive coaching, using Clean Language to explore a person's own a bridge between the conscious and unconscious minds, enhancing self-awareness and self-understanding.
  • In consulting,to get very clear about complex, multi-layered requirements, for example in software development. In one recent case a Clean Language question helped to uncover a critical flaw in documentation which could have scuppered a E34m multinational project.
Clean Language was originally devised by a counselling psychologist, David Grove, but specific safeguards inherent in the approach make it ideal for business application.



This evening session at Henley Business College is presented by Wendy Sullivan and Judy Rees, authors of Clean Language: Revealing Metaphors and Opening Minds, and aims to equip you to use Clean Language straight away, alongside your other coaching tools.


There will be ample opportunity for structured networking as you practise the skills in real time. You're sure to discover interesting information about both yourself, and your fellow participants (mainly Henley alumni, but the event is open to all).


Details and booking are available on the Henley website.



You can find out more about Clean Language at www.cleanchange.co.uk