Today, let’s give a big welcome to Slavica. Slavica works in Serbia at her own institute www.nlpinstitut.com , and let’s say it, the first institute to bring NLP in Serbia. She can also be contacted on LinkedIn and on Facebook.
Talking4good (T4g): How did you come into contact with NLP?
Slavica: I lived and worked in Germany in sales for many years. As I excelled in this area, I got an offer to work as a key account manager for a reputable German company from an automotive industry. The offer was really appealing to me and the only condition during the six months of probation work was to attend one business course. I suppose you can guess which course it was – NLP Practitioner! That was the very first time I came into contact with NLP and I was so delighted! I knew immediately I would become a NLP Trainer and have my own NLP Institute in Serbia one day. That’s exactly what I have done!
T4g: What NLP qualification do you have?
Slavica: International NLP Master Trainer (IANLP), Master Coach and Vice President of European Coaching Association (ECA). I am the founder and owner of the first NLP Institute and founder of a first Coaching Academy in Serbia. At my NLP Institute, I certify NLP Practitioners, NLP Masters, Coaches and NLP Trainers.
T4g: Which NLP association would your qualifications be accredited by?
Slavica: International Association of NLP – IANLP, seated in Switzerland, and European Coaching Association – ECA, seated in Germany. NLP Institute is also accredited by these associations and provides certificates approved of them.
T4g: Have you joined an NLP association?
Slavica: I have. IANLP and ECA.
T4g: What do you expect from those various NLP associations?
Slavica: Keeping the high quality level of education, as well as incorporating new methods NLP researchers bring. What’s more, I expect further cooperation and support, just the way it has been from the beginning of our cooperation.
T4g: What do you like best in NLP?
Slavica: Personally, I like goals and the way they are taught in NLP. When teaching individuals how to set their goals, and to change their life, I feel I am fulfilling my mission. Incorporating my own experience in trainings, metaphors and humor make my way of teaching unique.
T4g: So tell us about your focus with NLP?
Slavica: My Institute primarily focuses on NLP Business trainings and most people we educate are from corporate world. We educate people how to use NLP to become a leader, negotiate effectively, increase sales, as well as achieve their goals and excel in a chosen field. NLP Institute cooperates with world famous NLP Trainers such as Bernd Isert, Charles Faulkner, Arline Davis… Tom Best was my mentor and guest trainer at my Institute for six years, he was our great support, and we are so sad that he passed away.
T4g: You mention NLP and mediation. How do you see NLP integrating with mediation?
Slavica: When it comes to NLP and mediation, there are many NLP skills that need to be acquired in order to be able to mediate efficiently. Mediation is much more than pushing the other party to do what you expect, it’s about elegantly influencing the other party to positively take on a new perspective, and then feel good about the outcome. Mediators, who use NLP and understand the power of reading peoples’ non-verbal behaviour (especially voice tone), know how to maintain agreement and how to subtly “back off” at various points in the mediation process. I teach negotiation and mediation on the last module of NLP Practitioner when our participants are capable of getting the emotional agreement from the party they negotiate with.
T4g: How is NLP present in your country?
Slavica: I was the pioneer, the one who brought NLP to Serbia from Germany. In 2006, I decided to quit my job as a leader of a sales team in charge of whole Germany and to go to Serbia, my mother country to create the first NLP Institute. Since then NLP in Serbia has been emerging. So far we held 22 NLP Practitioner courses, 8 NLP Master courses, 4 generations accomplished education at Coaching Academy and 2 generations accomplished NLP Trainer Training course. We educated 28 NLP Trainers who now teach and spread NLP methodology either implicitly or explicitly.
T4g: What opportunity do you have to meet with other NLP practitioners?
Slavica: Being a Master Trainer, I am a mentor of many NLP Practitioners, Masters, Coaches and Trainers, and I am glad I can supervise and support their work. Sometimes I participate to German speaking NLP conferences where I meet colleagues from all around the world.
T4g: What about NLP and research?
Slavica: A constant research, done by NLP professionals develops and improves NLP a lot. For example, Social Panorama model, by Lucas Derks, my colleague, is now part of Advanced Master (according to IANLP curriculum) thanks to his research. I improve my trainings by reading and attending various NLP trainings around the world. Recently, I have been to Bali and attended the Energy workshop held by International NLP Trainers Tom Best and Peter Wrycza. Those are the reasons why my work represents the latest and most advanced training available in Serbia and the world today.
T4g: Any specific NLP research you would like to be involved with?
Slavica: Yes, I would be eager to participate in research regarding ‘NLP applications in business’.
T4g: What would be your next step with NLP?
Slavica: Constant development of myself and NLP Institute and to keep spreading NLP in my country. Recently we have celebrated the sixth birthday of NLP Institute. This year we will offer new open trainings called ‘Best of NLP for Business’, including topics like Management Excellence, NLP in Sales, Influence, Persuasion, Negotiation with Hart, Mastery of Fascinating Presentations or NLP in Conflict Resolution
T4g: A last comment to conclude?
Slavica: Thank you for inviting me to this interview series. It was a pleasure participating in it. I share your idea of spreading NLP, and hope this interview will contribute to it.
© 2012 Florence Dambricourt – talking4good.com/
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