Tony Robbins and Clean Language: what’s the relationship?
“At first glance, Clean Language seems similar to the work of Anthony Robbins…”
This sentence in an email from a coach in the US had me spluttering into my herbal tea this morning.
How astonishing! How on earth could any intelligent adult imagine any connection between David Grove’s thoughtful approach to facilitated individual personal change, and the work of the brash American pioneer of huge commercial NLP-based seminars? They’re chalk and cheese!
But hang on a minute. Let’s think this through. Is there a relationship, and if so, what?
They are both developments from NLP. Both Tony Robbins and David Grove have acknowledged this connection – and both have, at different times and for various reasons – also distanced themselves from NLP.
They both emphasise the importance of physiology, as well as mental state, in changing behaviour. In the NLP world, they’d be part of the “Klingon School“, together with John Grinder.
They both emphasise the importance of working with goals and outcomes, rather than trying to solve problems. (Strictly speaking, this is more true of Penny Tompkins and James Lawley’s Symbolic Modelling, less true of David Grove’s original methods.)
When they do individual change work, they both work with the metaphors used in the client’s own language. What Tony Robbins does with those metaphors is very different to what David Grove would do, but the starting point is similar.
Both processes use questions to direct the client’s attention.
So yes, there is similarity. There’s also difference, huge difference. David Grove would probably have run a mile from Robbins’s seminars, and hated the manipulative sales pitches. And while Tony Robbins might acknowledge the value of Clean Language (if he knew about it at all), he’d probably feel it was not dramatic enough to use in a mass-seminar context.
What other similarities or differences have I missed? Please comment below.
Comments from original on judyrees.co.uk
Maarten Aalberse
18 March 2013
I can imagine the splutter, Judy… especially the “at first glance” is a tiny wee bit surprizing..
Nice post of yours, then.
Looking forward to the follow-up: in what ways does, at first glance, James Lawley look like Tony Robbins? 😉
Marie-France Gagnon
18 March 2013
I am curious to know more about what the U.S. coach having sent this e-mail meant, Judy, should we ask the coach this beautiful Clean Question: “… And At first glance, Clean Language seems similar to the work of Anthony Robbins, and when similar to the work of Anthony Robins, what kind of similar is that similar ? ” and if you get an answer to that question, please Judy, let me know. Thanks !
Johnny Kinsella
22 March 2013
Clean language is exactly that; clean language. From my experience of Judy Rees (David Grove’s) clean language the emphasis in on helping the client or other person to learn to understand their own metaphors and there meaning and this can then lead them to understanding and finding meaning in there own lives. (High level)
Clean language is about helping people to find their way from the inside out; self discovery.
On the other hand the wonderful entertainer and personal and business development Guru Tony Robbins can teach you how to find the answers you are looking for based on his life and learning experiences, his knowledge and wisdom which he delivers through his courses, programs and Coaching. (For those who can afford him).
Tony Robbins is about helping people to find their way from the outside in; he has the answer.
My opinion is that there is no answer out there hidden from you, the answers are inside yourself and to get those answers out we need to first become self-aware and a great tool to support the discovery of the self-awareness is clean language.
Abel Jimenez
22 March 2013
The answers have always been – and always will be – within….where else? It´s a fact the the most diificult person to talk to is ourself. Yet, I think it´s very much worth the effort, as it becomes a scaffolding structure: once you set a clear way to elicit responses….you get use to it…and keep moving to higher levels…..if you allow me the metaphor.