11 awesome ways to use Clean Language

If you’ve been learning Clean Language, you’ve probably had some fun mastering this precision toolkit for exploring people’s own metaphors. But what specifically can you use it for? Here are 1 awesome tried-and-tested applications:

As a standalone change process. Particularly appropriate for:

• 1. clarifying what someone really wants

• 2. working content free

• 3. dealing with the binds which hold longstanding issues in place.

As part of another change process such as coaching, NLP, EFT, hypnotherapy, bodywork and even equine assisted learning:

• 4. In an intake interview, to clarify goals and explore symptoms

• 5. When a potentially-useful metaphor emerges

• 6. When a bind emerges

• 7. Giving feedback to the client (Clean Feedback)

• 8. To find out about changes between sessions.

In other contexts:

• 9. Interviewing: research, recruitment, journalism, requirements-gathering

  • Vivid metaphors bring information to life

  • Clean questions minimise interviewer “interference” and ensure real clarity

• 10. Sales

  • Clarify requirements

  • Deepen pain

• 11. Collaboration in groups (including families)

  • Getting clarity, avoiding misunderstandings

  • Deepening mutual understanding

  • Feedback Without Fireworks

  • Conflict resolution

  • Developing individual and shared goals and plans

  • Developing self-actualising organisations.

What other ideas do you have? How have you used Clean Language? Please comment below.

P.S. For case studies about lots of these applications, check out the e-book Who Is Using Clean Anyway by Andrea Chiou and Sharon Small