“FREEDOM FROM STRESS & PRESSURE” THROUGH NEURO-LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING

Abstract

This study explores participants' perspectives on stress, coping mechanisms, and the rhetorical strategies of motivational speakers in shaping thought patterns from an NLP perspective. Using rapport-building techniques as the theoretical framework, the study employed a qualitative research approach with semi-structured interviews to analyze participants' viewpoints. A quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test phases was adopted. In the pre-test, participants recorded responses to an interview questionnaire. Subsequently, an intervention was introduced, in which participants watched Sandeep Maheshwari's motivational speech on stress management. Post-test responses were then collected, and thematic analysis was conducted to compare pre- and post-intervention findings. The results revealed that motivational speakers employ various NLP techniques, such as mirroring, meta-modelling, and rapport-building, to influence their audience. Participants identified stressors such as procrastination, peer pressure, lack of motivation, and domestic challenges. Post-intervention, participants reported shifts in perspectives, including reduced expectations and avoiding comparisons. The study concludes that motivational speeches can facilitate cognitive reframing and mindset changes. However, it is limited to a single motivational speech. Future research could compare multiple speakers’ strategies and their impact on audiences from an NLP perspective.