Exploring the Meaning of Criteria Words

In NLP, a criterion comprises a word that is used to represent it and a definition which describes what the word means, experientially, to an individual.  Closely associated with each criterion is evidence of whether or not it has been fulfilled and to what extent it has been fulfilled. 

For example, one criterion of employment is typically to be ‘treated with respect’.  What the criterion of respect means, experientially to each individual, will differ somewhat and the deeper one explores down into the details of what the experience of respect looks like, feels like, and/or sounds like, the more the description of the experience of respect will differ.  Moreover, the evidence of how someone will know that they are being respected and to what extent they are being respected will also be unique to them. 

The meaning of a criterion is the connection which someone holds between a criterion word and its meaning that is personal to their unique experience of the world.  At a general level, two individuals may typically hold a similar definition of a criterion word, such as fast, inexpensive, or efficient.  However the differences can become quite significant as one examines the fine details or interpretations of how these words are experienced and applied in reality. 

A criterion is a label for a set of experiences.  It can be understood as ‘the handle on the suitcase’ of experience.  To access the label is to access the whole of the relationship, just as grabbing the suitcase handle necessarily brings with it the suitcase and all its contents.  The criterion word is a simple way to refer to or access what may well be an extensive and detailed description of the individual’s experience, which we are referring to as the meaning of the criterion. 

Criteria are contextually divided; one word will take on different meanings in different contexts.  For example, the word ‘freedom’ will take on different meanings if it is applied to ‘freedom at work’, versus ‘freedom of speech’ versus ‘freedom in life’.  The evidence of whether this criterion is met will also change, depending on the context. 

For example, one can determine the meaning of a criterion such as ‘freedom at work’, by eliciting examples of the criterion (e.g., “I can make my own hours”, “I can work on projects that I choose to work on”, “I can be creative”).  Alternatively, one can seek the common element in the examples and try to elicit a definition of the criterion (“‘freedom at work’ means having the flexibility and choice to control the parameters of my interaction”).   

In the context of client communication, however, the point is to be able to identify the relevant criteria and to have an understanding of what evidence the client will be looking for so that we will know that we have satisfied their criteria. 

With regard to the meaning of the criteria, we only need to understand their meaning sufficiently that we will know what we need to do to address their criteria.  We need to make certain that we are not ‘mind-reading’ our understanding of what the criterion word means to them and seeking to satisfy our meaning and not theirs.    

Finally, identifying your personal criteria can minimize stressful situations when the client has inadvertently violated your criteria.  One strategy entails first recognizing the violation, then shifting to an observer position to regain a resourceful state from which to respond.  From this neutral stance, you can decide what, if any, response is needed.