Sally Grant: Mel, can you explain what NLP is?
Mel McGee: NLP stands for Neuro-Linguistic Programming. NLP works on the basis of modelling the excellence in others and using it for yourself.
SG: Not sure I fully understand! Could you explain a bit further…
MM: NLP specialists try to understand the cognitive processes of the human mind partially in individuals who have some kind of marked distinctions compared to the rest of us, for example entrepreneurs.
We seek to understand how this group of successful individuals and their specific thinking impacts their success
We seek to understand how this group of successful individuals and their specific thinking impacts their success, and then how we can model those strategies of thought for others to engender their own successes.
For example, if you met someone like Richard Branson or Anita Roddick and thought “there’s something about that person; they’re so charismatic, confident and successful, but why?” You might want to start being more like them.
NLP teaches you how to model these attributes and how to master the skills in a practical manner, eventually applying these skills to your own venture.
SG: Why do you think mumprenuers could benefit from this?
MM: There are so many women out there with great business ideas, but for many reasons they have convinced themselves now is not the time to take the plunge.
Equally, there are many women that have gone down the initial road of starting their own business, but haven’t got as far as trading or marketing because they feel they lack expertise.
Supermummy offers them a helping hand – imparting great business advice with the hugely beneficial techniques of NLP coaching.
SG: It seems women are slower on the uptake of starting a business, but why is this? Is it a confidence issue?
MM: Females wait to feel in themselves that they are very experienced, for example they might think: “I have had twenty years of experience doing this, now I can start my own business.”
They wait a lot longer than their male counterparts do.
