Mastering Communication Through VAKAD

Want to elevate your communication, coaching, or leadership influence?

In this NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) guide, we break down the essential foundation of NLP Representational Systems—and how to use language predicates to instantly connect, lead, and influence others more effectively.

Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your NLP journey, mastering representational systems in NLP is the gateway to powerful conversations, emotional intelligence, and transformational results.

What Are NLP Representational Systems?

In NLP, representational systems (or "rep systems") refer to the sensory modalities through which we experience, process, and represent reality. These include:

• Visual (V) – seeing, images, spatial awareness

• Auditory (A) – hearing, sounds, tone of voice

• Kinesthetic (K) – touch, feelings, sensations

• Olfactory (O) – smell

• Gustatory (G) – taste

Together, they form the VAKOG model. These systems govern how people speak, learn, make decisions, and respond in everyday communication and high-stakes situations alike.

NLP Predicates: The Language of the Mind

Predicates are words and phrases that reveal and reflect someone’s dominant representational system in a given moment. When you learn to recognize and match them, you gain powerful tools for building rapport, resolving conflict, and influencing with precision.

Let’s explore how each rep system shows up in language:

Visual (V)

Used when someone is processing or representing information through sight.

Example predicates:

• "I see what you mean."

• "That looks good to me."

• "Can you picture that?"
  

Auditory (A)

Used when someone is processing through hearing or internal dialogue.

Example predicates:

• "That rings a bell."

• "It sounds right."

• "I hear you."

Kinesthetic (K)

Used when someone is focused on feelings, touch, or bodily sensations.

Example predicates:

• "It feels off."

• "Let’s get in touch with that."

• "That didn’t sit well with me."

(Optional) Olfactory & Gustatory (O & G)

These are less commonly used, but still valid, mostly in specific contexts like food, perfume, memories, etc.

Example predicates:

• "That stinks." (O)

• "That leaves a bad taste." (G)

Summary:

You can use Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic rep systems in predicates naturally. These are the most common and widely applicable in conversations, therapy, coaching, and communication analysis.

Olfactory (O) – Related to Smell

This system taps into how people process information through scents and odors in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). While not commonly used in everyday speech compared to visual or auditory, it does show up in metaphorical or sensory-rich language and helps strengthen NLP communication skills. This aspect is part of the broader NLP representational systems that make Neuro-Linguistic Programming a powerful guide for understanding how we think and communicate.

Common Olfactory Predicates:

• "That smells fishy."

• "I could smell success a mile away."

• "The situation stinks."

• "There’s something in the air."

• "The aroma of opportunity was irresistible."

NLP Tip:

Olfactory language can be powerful in storytelling, branding, or when working with memories tied to specific smells.

Gustatory (G) – Related to Taste

This system relates to flavor, taste, and the mouth’s sensory experience. Again, not often used literally unless discussing food, but frequently appears in figurative speech.

Common Gustatory Predicates:

• "That left a bitter taste in my mouth."

• "It was a sweet victory."

• "I can’t digest that idea."

• "The deal was too sour to accept."

• "She savored every moment."

NLP Tip:

Gustatory predicates are emotionally rich and help anchor experiences with deeper feelings, especially useful in marketing or coaching when describing satisfaction or discomfort.

Why Are These Important?

Although the olfactory and Gustatory systems are less dominant, they are deeply connected to emotional memory. Smells and tastes often trigger powerful subconscious responses, making them effective in NLP communication skills, trauma release therapy, anchoring techniques, branding, and sensory marketing, and evoking emotional reactions in any Neuro-Linguistic Programming guide.

• Trauma release therapy

• Anchoring techniques

• Branding and sensory marketing

• Evoking emotional reactions

In NLP, AD stands for Auditory Digital — and it’s often considered an additional representational system, separate from the core NLP representational systems in the VAKOG model.

What is Auditory Digital (AD)?

Auditory Digital refers to internal dialogue, self-talk, and logical processing.
It’s not about external sounds (like Auditory), but more about the words and meanings we use to process our internal world.

This is where we go into our heads, analyze, reflect, label, and make sense of things through language and reasoning.

How is AD different from the other systems?

Representational System

Focuses On

Example

Visual (V)

Images, seeing

"I see what you mean."

Auditory (A)

Sounds, hearing

"That sounds good."

Kinesthetic (K)

Feelings, touch

"I feel off today."

Olfactory (O)

Smell

"That stinks."

Gustatory (G)

Taste

"A sweet moment."

Auditory Digital (AD)

Internal dialogue, logic, self-talk

"That makes sense." / "I need to figure this out."

Common Auditory Digital Predicates:

• "I understand."

• "That makes sense."

• "I think we should consider..."

• "Let’s evaluate the options."

• "I decided to go with that."

NLP Tip:

People who operate with a strong AD preference tend to be:

• Analytical

• Detail-focused

• Logical thinkers

• Often "in their heads"

They value structure, clarity, and reasoning — so you’d speak to them with precise, logical language rather than visual metaphors or emotional appeals.

AD + V + A

Here are 5 smooth and professional call-ending phrases that blend Auditory Digital (AD), Visual (V), and Auditory (A) representational systems:

✅ 1.

"It makes perfect sense now — I can clearly see the next steps, and everything sounds aligned."

(AD: makes perfect sense | V: see the next steps | A: sounds aligned)

✅ 2.

"This conversation gave me clarity — I can visualize the outcome, and your insights truly resonated."

(AD: clarity | V: visualize the outcome | A: resonated)

✅ 3.

"I’ve thought it through, and the direction looks crystal clear — thanks for the sound advice!"

(AD: thought it through | V: looks crystal clear | A: sound advice)

✅ 4.

"That wraps things up logically — I can already picture the progress, and everything we discussed rings true."

(AD: logically | V: picture the progress | A: rings true)

✅ 5.

"Everything adds up — I can see where we’re headed, and the message came through loud and clear."

(AD: adds up | V: see where we’re headed | A: loud and clear)

Mastering Representational Systems in NLP Matters!

And it should matter to you, too! By identifying someone’s preferred representational system, you can:

✅ Build trust faster
✅ Influence with precision
✅ Coach more effectively
✅ Decode communication patterns
✅ Anchor emotional responses for breakthroughs

Understanding and matching rep systems improves every area of your life—from executive leadership to parenting, from sales to therapy, and everything in between.

Real-World Examples: Closing Conversations with Multi-System Phrases

Want to build rapport with diverse thinkers? Blend AD, V, and A systems in your phrases:

1. “It makes perfect sense now. I can clearly see the next steps, and everything sounds aligned.”

2. “I’ve thought it through, and the direction looks crystal clear. Thanks for the sound advice.”

3. “Everything adds up. I can see where we’re headed, and the message came through loud and clear.”

Final Thought: Use NLP to Speak the Language of the Mind

When you listen for someone’s preferred system, you’re not just hearing words—you’re seeing how their brain is wired.

At The Center of NLP, we don’t just teach theory. We show you how to decode communication with clarity, power, and purpose—whether you’re coaching clients, leading teams, or building influence in every conversation.

Ready to level up your communication?
Take the NLP Representational System Assessment and start using precision language patterns that truly connect.