Representational Systems in NLP: How We Experience and Shape Our Reality
In Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), one of the most foundational insights is this:
We don’t experience the world directly—we experience our representation of it.
Our brains take in external information through our senses and translate it into internal experiences. These internal experiences—thoughts, images, sounds, feelings—form the basis of how we think, communicate, make decisions, and relate to others.
These sensory-based ways of experiencing the world are known in NLP as Representational Systems.
What Are Representational Systems?
Representational Systems are the internal languages of the mind—the ways we encode and store our experiences. NLP identifies five primary systems, based on our senses:
Visual (V) – Pictures, images, mental movies
Auditory (A) – Sounds, voices, internal dialogue
Kinesthetic (K) – Feelings, touch, internal sensations
Olfactory (O) – Smell
Gustatory (G) – Taste
The last two (olfactory and gustatory) are less commonly dominant in everyday processing but can still be powerful, especially in memory and emotional experiences.
Primary and Preferred Systems
While we use all representational systems, most people have one or two they rely on more heavily. This is known as their primary or preferred system.
For example:
A visual person might say, “I see what you mean,” and recall things as mental pictures.
An auditory person may prefer to “talk things through” and say, “That sounds right.”
A kinesthetic person may focus on how things feel and use phrases like, “I need to get a feel for it.”
Understanding someone’s primary system can dramatically improve communication, learning, and coaching outcomes.
Why Representational Systems Matter in Coaching and Personal Development
1. Improved Communication
By speaking in your client’s preferred representational system, your message lands more clearly. You're literally speaking their "internal language."
For example, if your client is highly visual, using visual metaphors (“picture your ideal outcome”) will resonate more deeply than phrases like “how does that feel?”
2. Powerful State Shifts
Since our internal representations shape how we feel, changing them can shift our emotional state. A coach might help a client:
Make an overwhelming mental image smaller or more distant (visual change)
Turn down the volume on negative self-talk (auditory)
Soften or release physical tension (kinesthetic)
These subtle but powerful adjustments help clients feel more resourceful—fast.
3. Better Goal Setting and Visualization
When clients create goals using their preferred system, their vision becomes more vivid and motivating. For example:
Visual: “What do you see when you imagine reaching that goal?”
Auditory: “What will you hear when you’ve succeeded?”
Kinesthetic: “How will it feel to have accomplished that?”
Engaging the senses creates emotional involvement—and emotional involvement drives action.
How to Identify Representational Systems
Clients reveal their systems through:
Language (e.g., “I see what you’re saying” vs. “That doesn’t feel right.”)
Eye movements (a classic NLP technique known as Eye Accessing Cues)
Breathing and posture
Pacing and decision-making styles
Once you know how your client processes the world, you can tailor your coaching style, techniques, and questions to match.
Using Representational Systems in NLP Coaching
Here are a few simple ways to apply this concept:
✅ Mirror their language – Match your client’s sensory words to build trust and connection.
✅ Use sensory-rich goal setting – Engage all representational systems when guiding visioning or future pacing.
✅ Shift unhelpful internal experiences – Help clients modify the internal pictures, sounds, or feelings that are keeping them stuck.
✅ Expand flexibility – Teach clients to use underdeveloped systems to enhance learning, communication, or emotional balance.
Final Thoughts
Representational systems are a gateway to understanding not just how your clients think—but how they experience life. When you master this concept as a coach, you become more effective in building rapport, shifting emotional states, and guiding lasting change.
By learning to see, hear, and feel the world through your clients’ inner lenses, you empower them to rewire how they relate to themselves, others, and their goals.
Want to go deeper with NLP in your coaching practice?
Learn more about The ELEVATE Method Coaching Certification Program. I’d love to help you and your clients master the internal systems that shape everything.
