"As he thinks in his heart, so is he" - Proverbs 23:7
In Episode 21 of the Catalyst Coaching Certification Programme, Coach Mel Leow introduced us to Logical Levels or Neurological Levels, as part of Awareness in the FLOW5 C.O.A.C.H model.
Built upon foundations of research into human experience by anthropologist Gregory Bateson, Neurological Levels is the brainchild (see what I did there?) of Robert Dilts, a leading developer, author, coach and consultant in the field of Neurolinguistic Programming. Dilts proposed that there are 6 levels organized hierarchically from the most concrete and specific to the most abstract and encompassing aspects of a person's experience and change. These levels include environmental, behavioral, capabilities, beliefs and values, identity, and spirituality. Each level influences and is influenced by the levels above and below it, creating a complex interplay within an individual's psyche.
Understanding neurological levels is crucial in personal development especially in the area of coaching. By examining these levels, individuals can gain insight into how their beliefs and values shape their identity and behavior. This awareness allows for targeted interventions and changes at specific levels to create more profound and lasting transformations. The figure below encapsulates the hierachy, the questions that help to assess key issues which concern the coachee and some questions which are intended to cause a shift in thinking which is the beginning of change.
By listening to our Coachee carefully, we can assess which levels he is communicating within. This is an example from a fictitious conversation with Coachee X a student in a Junior College (Composed from several conversations with different young people)
These are aspects of his neurological levels
View of the world: The world/ God is unfair. Why do some people get to treat others poorly just because they are born in the right families?
Identity: I am a very talented highly creative artist but unrecognised and therefore unlikely to be successful.
Beliefs & Values:
You have to be born in the right family to succeed, to be part of a popular crowd.
Talent may not guarantee success and financial security in life.
Artists must struggle to leave something behind, to be remembered.
The Arts demands excellence. You must work with people who are at your level of achievement. It is hard to find people to work with when they are not up to expectations
Skills & Knowledge: I am very good at my art. I have written an original musical for school and have been praised by teachers
Behavior:
Because I am a creative person, subjects that are not creative don't interest me and I will do just enough to get decent grades in them
I am often cold and aloof and keep to a small circle of friends.
I don't trust people to work to my standards and therefore I micromanage. Often I become overwhelmed for taking on too much
Environment: I went to an elite primary school. There were instances of bullying. As a major bullying incident involved female students, I was very happy to attend an all-boys secondary school. I prefer hanging out with adults than people my age.
Coachee X's negative experiences in the environment of his primary school may have affected his behavior and his identity and ultimately his world view. He adopts the stance of a victim who has many 'I can'ts' and lacks self confidence. He lacks a clear sense of direction because he is 'blocked' in every way.
By paying attention to these Neurological Levels, the Coach may perceive that the root causes may be Environment and Beliefs and Values. In order to create a shift, Coach must be empathetic to the Coachee's situation and carefully validate his current position in the first instance even though there may be flawed thinking. By not immediately contradicting the Coachee, the Coach can establish a space where there is trust and safety.
The Coach can then invite the Coachee to examine POSSIBILITIES. Anchors in beliefs which are not helpful usually cause the Coachee to think in terms of Probability ie this is probably going to happen because a (negative) Cause will lead to (negative) Effect. Considering Possibilities breaks the Cause & Effect cycle and we do this by asking Powerful Questions. We do it by breaking it down to each of the 6 levels.
Questions to shift thinking about Environment
What would change if you were born in a more privileged family? How would that affect your current circumstances?
What if you went to a different school? What kind of school would have helped you develop better?
On a scale of 1-10, how well are you thriving in your current environment?
In what environments do you thrive? How can you find that environment? How do you create that environment within your current space?
Questions to shift thinking about Beliefs & Values
What is your definition of Success? Why is this important to you?
Between the options of Safe or Happy, which one would you choose? Why?
Using the Wheel of Life, how much does this area of artistic excellence figure in importance to other areas in life such as family, life, community, health? What does it reveal about your beliefs and values?
Questions to shift thinking about Identity
By defining yourself primarily as a Creative Artist, what is the relationship between yourself and others around you? (Technically they could be consumers, audiences, funders, sponsors, logistics and marketing)
What other roles do you fulfil? Once again using the Wheel of Life consider the relative importance of What You Do vs Who You Are. What roles also become important/
How do we meaningfully separate who we are from what we do? What would be enhanced or lost?
You are also in a certain life stage. What changes do you think will happen when you go into the army, start university, get a job?
Takeaways/ Reflections
The Power of Neurological Levels - I felt that an understanding of Neurological Levels was extremely useful especially when we face Negativity Bias. The tent pegs of our social, physical, psychological and emotional 'tents' are driven deeper into the group to substantiate our findings and make a case for our negative beliefs to keep us safe. It is hard to move these tents into greater safety or flourishing because of the stakes that have been put in.
By breaking it down and tackling, one level at a time, there is a Trojan Horse effect because we are not disagreeing with their assumptions or asking them to consider a major change. By moving from the extrinsic/ explicit we are dealing with what might be easier to consider changing. When they see possibilities in one area, they might find change less daunting in the next. We dislodge the stakes a little at a time.
Just as the Butterfly Effect posits that the almost trivial action of a butterfly fluttering its wings could stir up a typhoon in the Sahara, a small shift can change a direction of a ship and move it either into safety or set it on a course of a disaster. There is in really great value in small change.
By entering into Neurological Levels, very often Coachees will see the 1% responsibility for their situations. The possibility that they can take small steps encourages them to take the next brave step and the step after that. It then becomes a powerful tool to change thinking for themselves.
By committing to a new way of thinking, the Coachees establish new neural pathways and consistently being open, having a Growth mindset will set them toward greater adaptability, resilience and ultimately, success.
Final Reflection
I have come to realise how fixed we are in our beliefs and that the desire to do something differently is not just a creative act but also an act of courage. The Coach is the co-creator but it takes a lot for a person to change. The Coachee in the process of being coached should be celebrated every step of the way and at every level, no matter how small the change is and even when he may still have to go.
The story of Coachee X (and friends) helped me to reflect back on my own growth and attitude to change. Although I pride myself on being a risk-taker, I am way more cautious and prefer safe to happy. Ok, I like Status Quo! When Smarty Pants Mary said, "I can't turn back time!", I was just trying to give a 'correct' answer but was unconciously alluding to my background and experiences and these had influenced my own identity and behavior. I didn't realise then how flaws were exposed in my beliefs and values, more than I cared to admit. Change? Yes, I need to, for sure.
Coach Maire, peace out!
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