Dr. Crew's NLP Lessons #25

STANDING IN OTHER PEOPLE'S SHOES-THE META MIRROR

This NLP technique helps to provide a different perspective on challenging situations, business or personal. It involves being able to experience the situation or event in a different way, literally as if you were standing in someone else's shoes. In NLP, this is called the META MIRROR.

Imagine looking out through each window in a house in turn, each time seeing a different aspect of the view of a garden.

In a challenging situation you may get "stuck in a rut' by thinking about a particular situation in a particular way. This META MIRROR technique helps you experience different perspectives, and consider others' views.

1) From your perspective--known as first position, in your shoes. What you want, feel, and believe, irrespective of those around you.
2) Trying someone else's shoes--known as second position. Imagine the situation as the other person is experiencing it, from their perspective, or as they feel or see it.
3) The "fly on the wall" approach--known as third position, an independent position as an observer to the situation. This allows the situation to be observed from both sides.

Everyone sees situations with their own set of glasses on. Metaphorically speaking, we can try these glasses on to better comprehend their view, and thus enhance communication and empathic understanding.