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In this episode, Pollyanna Chavez sits down with John La Valle, President of the Society of Neuro-Linguistic Programming™, co-author of Persuasion Engineering®, and internationally known master troubleshooter. John shares candid stories from his early work seeing clients one-on-one, his transition into the corporate world, and how NLP became a practical tool for navigating leadership, business, and high-stakes decision making. Throughout the conversation, John emphasizes the importance of being comfortable with who you are, using language intentionally, and developing real-world competence rather than imitation.

This conversation is designed for current and future NLP practitioners, coaches, consultants, trainers, and entrepreneurs who want to understand how NLP operates beyond theory. We explore how language shapes authority and trust, how NLP can be applied inside organizations, and why congruence and skill matter more than titles. John breaks down how he used NLP principles in human resources, management, and executive environments to influence outcomes, manage relationships, and create leverage without manipulation.

You will hear powerful insights on leadership communication, pricing and value, confidence in difficult conversations, and how NLP supports consulting, training, and business development. John shares real stories of negotiating budgets, handling mergers and acquisitions, transitioning into consulting, and positioning yourself as indispensable inside an organization. He also explains why practice is more important than perfection, why most issues can be resolved quickly with skill, and how mastery comes from real application, not isolation.

Follow / Connect with John La Valle:
https://www.youtube.com/@Xavier_Pirla
https://www.linkedin.com/in/xavierpirla/
https://www.instagram.com/xavierpirla/
www.talentinstitut.com
www.xavierpirla.com

Free to first chapters of my book (in spanish):
https://xavierpirlatalent.activehosted.com/f/48

If you are looking for a place to practice consistently, sharpen your NLP and hypnosis skills, and learn how to apply these tools in business, consulting, and leadership settings, the Next Level Pro Institute offers a global community focused on real-world application. Weekly practice sessions, live trainings, Q&A calls, and immersive bootcamps are designed to help you move from learning concepts to using NLP confidently and effectively.

If you are ready to stop learning in isolation and start practicing with intention, join the NLPI community here: https://nextlevelproinstitute.com/our-courses/nlpi-membership/

Official Website: https://nextlevelproinstitute.com
Training Calendar: https://nlpi.com/calendar
NLPI App: https://nlpi.passion.io
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nextlevelproinstitute
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextlevelproinstitute

Introduction & Background
0:00 – Opening Quote: The importance of being yourself.
0:25 – Introduction of John La Valle, President of the Society of NLP.
1:18 – John’s early experience seeing clients one-on-one and the importance of clinical practice for trainers.
2:35 – Transitioning from manufacturing to Human Resources and "tripping over" NLP in the early 80s.
NLP in the Corporate World
5:20 – The "Hatchet Man" Story: How John used NLP language patterns to handle a high-stakes performance appraisal with a tough boss.
12:50 – Career advice from mentors: Why you shouldn't be "too great" and understanding you can't be a prophet in your own land.
18:11 – Strategies for securing department budgets by speaking the language of the bottom line.
20:21 – Transitioning into full-time consulting and how John’s former boss became his first major client.
Business & Consulting Skills