Chances are you have experienced conversational hypnosis firsthand and perhaps many times in your life. Milton Erickson, master hypnotist, first developed the underlying principles of conversational hypnosis. He believed that trance states were relatively common and most people drifted into this altered consciousness several times a day. This usually occurs during periods of waiting or intense concentration.

Conversational hypnosis has the potential to impact many situations and is most productive in the business world. Basically, the state of concentration or involvement is combined with several manipulations and suggestions that lead people to your point of view. Obviously, there is enormous potential in conversational hypnosis for a salesman or an instructor.

However, this type of hypnosis may sound simple, but requires skill to fully master it. Conversational hypnosis doesn't use any direct post hypnotic suggestions, making it subtler than other forms of hypnosis. The methods of using conversational hypnosis involve developing a verbal relationship that allows indirect suggestions to penetrate the subconscious mind. Additionally, a measure of confusion is brought into the process to quiet the objections of the conscious mind.

A brief look at the steps to induce conversational hypnosis will makes these principles clearer.

The first step is to build an understanding or rapport with the person. Agree with their statements, being brief in your comments. This establishes the vital degree of trust that is necessary for conversational hypnosis to succeed.

Next, a degree of confusion must be brought into the conversation to embed the hypnotic suggestions that will follow. This disarms the critical thinking process and will allow the desired thoughts to penetrate the subconscious mind. To establish confusion in conversational hypnosis, it's best not to become confrontational, but to merely put a "but" in your sentences as you look at the other side of the issue. You need to establish resistance, but must not become aggressive or obvious.

After this stage, you may begin to offer your suggestions. Since conversational hypnosis involves indirect suggestions, make your words casual and non-threatening. Perhaps you could say, "Well, it looks like this (and here is where you inject your desired thoughts) is the best way to go after all."

The suggestion phase of conversational hypnosis needs to be both sensitive and subtle. It must appear that you have taken part in the other person's thinking process and that together you have both agreed to this common solution.

Understandably, conversational hypnosis is valued in the business world. Whether a person is selling a product or an idea, conversational hypnosis can gently steer someone to your point of view. Most importantly, it is an ethical way of attracting the thoughts and directing the desires of your listeners.

Many great politicians and company executives have been masters of conversational hypnosis. John F. Kennedy and Lee Iacocca used this form of hypnosis to get their ideas across to people and to promote their political and business agendas.

The beauty of conversational hypnosis is that the listener's attention is completely focused on your words. You engage the person in a mind-to-mind conversation that can bring about powerful results.