Other popular names: logical levels or Dilts’es levels.

A model describing the functioning of man, as well as showing the outline of accomplishing change and learning.  Dr Robert Dilts was the person who disseminated the idea and gave it its current form, though the author is anthropologist Gregory Bateson who based his work on Bertrand Russels’s earlier research.

Neurological levels take into account system mechanisms of an individual’s functioning. For example, that the implementation of change may take place at different levels, not necessarily at the same level as where the Problem has been identified, or, that change at one level most often carries consequences at the rest of the levels.

In an expanded, more useful in Coaching  version (the original is somewhat simplified), the following levels appear:

SPIRITUAL (Who else?)

MISSION (What for?)

IDENTITY (Who am I?)

BELIEFS (Why?)

VALUES (Why?)

STATES (How?)

ABILITIES (How?)

BEHAVIOUR (What am I doing?)

ENVIROMENT (With whom, where?)

The name neurological levels seems to be very useful as it fully shows the mechanism of change itself. Transformations at a higher level mobilize greater involvement of the neurological system than at a lower one.  The following example illustrates this difference well:  raising a hand Behaviour) and changing at the level of Identity.

A skilful Coach can recognise the level which The client is using to communicate a particular issue (a Problem , target, resources etc.).  He can aslo ask questions in such a manner  that he addresses a particular level.

Each level has been described in a separate article.