My noteboek
I read and write about sales, marketing, product development. In addition, here I share my experiences about living with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) caused by a brain tumor. On this site you will find a small part of my notes but also the tools I use. I wish you much reading pleasure and inspiration!

Logical Levels

Logical 
levels
 (based
 on 
Gregory
 Bateson
 and 
Robert
 Dilts)
 


How
 to
 think 
on 
a 
higher 
level.
 An 
insight 
into 
the 
logical 
levels 
associated 
with 
learning 
is 
of 
benefit 
to 
the 
enhancement 
of 
the
 personal
ability 
to 
learn 
and 
the 
enhancement 
of 
the 
ability 
of 
others 
to 
learn.
 The 
effect 
of 
each 
level 
is 
to 
organize 
and 
direct 
the 
information
 on 
the 
level 
below
 it.
Changing
 something 
on 
a 
higher 
level 
would 
necessarily
 change 
things 
on 
the 
lower 
levels; 
changing
 something 
on 
a
 lower 
level 
could 
but 
would 
not 
necessarily 
affect 
the 
upper 
levels.
 The 
level 
at 
which 
a 
person 
experiences 
his
problem 
can 
be 
recognized 
from
 the 
way 
in 
which 
he
 tells 
his
story 
and 
asks 
questions. 
If
 you
 remain 
stuck 
on 
a 
certain
 thinking 
level 
a 
problem 
may
 seem 
completely
unsolvable. 
A 
coach 
can 
raise 
a 
person’s 
thinking 
level 
by 
asking 
questions 
and 
so
 opening 
up 
a 
new 
perspective.

 The 
ability
 to
 learn 
can 
be 
encouraged 
by 
adapting 
to 
the
relevant 
level 
or 
by 
challenging
 the
 person
 to 
think 
at 
the 
next 
highest 
level.


Duration:

± 60 minutes

Difficulty:

Participants:

± 1-3

Author:

Ruud Olijve

Download as a pdf (free)

How to use the Logical Levels?

The model is an excellent tool for addressing “problems” at the right level. It allows you to learn which values really matter to you. You can find your passion in this way, allowing you to take a proactive attitude and be able to make change in your situation. If you want to fix your problems, it is important to address them at the right level of Bateson depth. If you do not do this, you are unlikely to make any real change, especially in the longer term. An example that powerfully illustrates how this idea works: Speaking anxiety is almost never at the behavioral or skills level, even though most interventions and trainings focus on that. Do you have a fear of addressing a group? Most likely, limiting beliefs such as I have nothing interesting to say, or What if I fall through play a role. Examine your beliefs and learn to reverse them.

Arrange in advance:

  • Provide a sparring partner
  • Reserve a large piece of wall or space
  • Print or draw the canvas on a large sheet of paper
  • Print or write 6 A4 sheets with the text: Environment, Behavior, Skills, Persuasion, Identity, Meaning.
  • Put these 6 A4 sheets on the ground
  • Have plenty of Post-it's and markers ready
  • Allow yourself undisturbed time 

So Bateson's model can be used to determine where the “obstacle” is that prevents someone from getting where they want to be. However, it can also be used to gain insight into how a person is 'put together' and what he considers important. Often people are hardly aware of this themselves and it provides openings to understand why they do the things they do.

'Walking' the logic levels

This exercise starts with “walking the logic levels.  Among other things, it helps to get clear whether a goal a person has in mind fits with who they are and want to be. It is important to make the process visual by placing the relevant A4 sheets with the six logical levels written down as floor anchors on the floor in the correct order and briefly explaining in advance what the different logical levels stand for.                                                        

Step 1: The facilitator asks you to sit in a “time machine” and imagine that you are five years down the road and everything is running smoothly. In short, your goal has already been achieved.

Step 2: Next, your facilitator invites you to stand on the first floor anchor, which symbolizes the environment, and tell about her environment. In doing so, the facilitator asks helpful questions such as, “Where are you now? What does it look like? Who else is there? Etc. 

Step 3: After this, your supervisor asks you to stand on the second floor anchor that represents “behavior. Your supervisor asks you to imagine exactly what you will be doing five years from now. Then she asks you supportive questions such as, “What exactly do you do? What do you say? Etc.

Step 4: The next step is the floor anchor that stands for “skills. The facilitator asks you what abilities, qualities, talents and skills you then have and which ones you focus on using and again how you feel. 

Step 5: After this, your coach invites you to the next floor anchor which stands for “beliefs and values. The facilitator asks you what thoughts and beliefs mean to you. 

Step 6: The next floor anchor symbolizes identity. Who are you? 

Step 7: After this insight, your facilitator invites you to stand on the last floor anchor of identity. Then it's about meaning. What is important? What is “the meaning of live? What do you get out of bed every day for? Etc. 

Step 8: Reflection. After the final floor anchor, the facilitator asks about your experiences and what “walking the logical levels” has given her. 

Step 9: With the insight gained, walk down from the higher levels and again ask questions associated with the different levels. Now you walk through the floor anchors in the opposite direction. Instead of being in a time machine five years later you now walk the steps in the present. At each step you dwell on what you are experiencing now. Finally, you come to the floor anchor of “Environment. The idea is that everything has been recorded by your facilitator and as a final step you look at what discrepancies are between the present and five years from now. This tool is a great way to quickly find out what a person's passion is and at what level are any barriers to achieving a particular goal. 

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