The NLP Circle of Excellence is a powerful NLP technique designed to create positive emotions and resourceful states. This is a classic and easy-to-learn NLP tool; in its simplicity, it is brilliant.
Even if you have never taken an NLP training, you can quickly learn how to do the pattern. And for those of you who have, chances are you learned the simplified version rather than the correct one. Rest assured, both can achieve good results—one is just more powerful than the other.
What is a NLP Circle of Excellence
The NLP Circle of Excellence is an anchoring technique. What is anchoring? Simply put, it’s a stimulus-response tool. This means that when a specific stimulus—like stepping into an imagined circle—is applied, it triggers a response, such as a sense of resourcefulness and excellence. You can use it to amplify positive emotions like confidence and resilience and apply it in situations where you would typically experience negative emotions, such as anxiety, irritation, or anger.
A Tony Robbins Technique Created By John Grinder
Although Tony Robbins popularized the Circle of Excellence, he did not create the technique. I have seen and heard Tony Robbins use different versions of the technique, typically adapting it to suit the fact that he works with thousands of people at once rather than individuals. Robbins incorporated it into his teachings to help his audience manage emotions and step into a peak state during his seminars. This approach fosters a powerful “can-do” attitude in the moment. And when an entire stadium full of people experiences this simultaneously, it amplifies the effect through the broaden-and-build theory.
The Circle of Excellence was originally created by John Grinder, the co-creator of NLP, and has since been refined by many NLP trainers. Rest assured, I will include a video with this article where I’ll demonstrate how to do it. It’s safe to say that the Circle of Excellence is a cornerstone NLP exercise for building mental resilience in. yourself or another person.
When Do You Use the Circle of Excellence?
Typically, you use the Circle of Excellence in situations where you need to access confidence, focus, peak performance, calm, or patience.
It’s an ideal tool for combating stress, anxiety, lack of confidence, or even anger. Imagine preparing for a job interview, giving a presentation, being vulnerable, or resolving a conflict—it’s practical for daily life and can be truly transformative in moments when someone is holding themselves back or being stagnant in their personal or professional growth.
What are the Benefits?
- Amplify positive emotions.
- An NLP stress management tool.
- Build confidence.
- Reduce anxiety.
- Create peak performance.
- Enhance calm and focus.
- The practical applications are truly endless.
The Steps to the Circle of Excellence
The Steps to the Circle of Excellence
It may sound odd for me to share the wrong steps to an NLP technique, but for simple tasks, like stress management, or if you’ve never been trained in the tool, it can actually be quite useful.
To be honest, I sometimes use it with my clients, though I consider it a bad idea to teach my students in this way. I need to set the bar much higher.
- Imagine drawing a circle on the floor in front of you, large enough to step into.
- Imagine that every good thing about you exists inside this circle—every good deed, every strength you have, every goal you’ve achieved, and all the positive emotions and experiences you’ve encountered in your life.
- Visualize the inside of the circle having a color, a sound, or even a shape.
- Physically step into it and enjoy the experience.
- From inside this circle, imagine facing the rest of your day or any context you’re struggling with.
As you can see, it’s a simple and useful technique. However, it doesn’t fully maximize the benefits of anchoring and stacking powerful states.
The Correct Steps
For those of you who know me, I created the explanation video many moons ago, and it still applies today.
In 2020, a complete remake of the NLP Practitioner training and this technique was done, along with the Master Practitioner training, which you can find here.
If you watched the video you will learn the actual steps are:
- Imagine a circle on the floor. Does it have a size, a color, a sound, or an energy? (Make sure to explore visual (sight), auditory (sound), and kinesthetic (feeling, temperature, energy) aspects.)
- Ask what resourceful emotional state belongs in this circle and what memory or context they associate with that state.
- Once determined, guide the client to imagine the memory or experience as if they are seeing it through their own eyes (associated). Help them step fully into the state.
- When the client feels the state strongly, ask them to step into the circle.
- Let the client enjoy the experience, emphasizing how it feels to live and belong in this circle.
- Have the client step out of the circle and ask what other resource is needed.
- Repeat steps 3–6 until the circle contains 2–4 resourceful states, depending on how many states the client needs to feel excellence.
- Suggest that the circle can be used as a resource and placed on the floor whenever they need it.
Circle of Excellence Script and Demonstration
I am adding two Circle of Excellence scripts.
Circle of Excellence Script 1
This is based on the video above.
Circle of Excellence Script 2
This is based on: Language & Magic of NLP Practitioner – Audio Program
What Else is Important to Know?
To master the Circle of Excellence, consider these additional tips:
- Use Role Models: Visualize a role model in the circle to adopt their traits and behavior.
- Practice Consistently: NLP is learned through practice, and more practice!
- Adaptability: feel free to design and play with it.
Conclusion
The NLP Circle of Excellence is one of the first tools typically taught in Practitioner training. It allows someone to easily step from a negative emotion into a positive emotion. All of the advantages come with feeling positive rather than negative emotions in an important context or in your day-to-day life.
