Neurological Levels

Overview

Robert Dilts' Neurological Levels maps how change propagates through a 6-level hierarchy (grounded in Bateson 1972): change at a HIGHER level cascades down automatically; change at a LOWER level reverts under pressure.

L1 Environment (where/when) → L2 Behavior (what you do) → L3 Capability (skills/strategy) → L4 Beliefs/Values (what you believe matters) → L5 Identity (who you are) → L6 Purpose (why beyond yourself).

The diagnostic question: "At which level does this problem actually live?" Most interventions fail because they target L2 for problems that live at L4–L5.

• Use BEFORE [okr-goal-setting] — verify identity/belief alignment before setting L2–3 OKRs.
• Use WITH [intrinsic-drive] — intrinsic drive lives at L4–6; this skill locates where to rebuild it.

When to Use