Source: Robert Dilts
Select the location.
Answer the “doing” question.
Answer the “skills and abilities” question.
Answer the “values and beliefs” question.
Answer the “identity” question.
Answer the “vision” question.
Explore the vision overlap.
Bring the related state to the identity level. Move to the identity level.
Move to the behavior level. Explore the significance at that level.
Explore the full results at the location level. Test.
Discover and align with your vision and values through the power of metaphor and logical levels. Help your team succeed when you form a common identity together through this kind of alignment.
Step 1: Determine the location. #
Choose for this pattern an environment that you and your team share with a common purpose. When you first begin using this pattern, select a place that is neutral and does not knowingly hold negative anchors for members of the team.
Step 2: Answer the “doing” question. #
Have each team member answer the question, “What do I desire to do or accomplish in that place?” Ask them to go into some detail in their answers.
Step 3: Answer the “skills and abilities” question. #
Have each member describe the tools, skills, authority, and abilities that they feel will best empower them to accomplish their aims in this place. It does not have to be public at first; they can each work on their own list without sharing it with the rest of the group until they feel comfortable enough to do so.
Step 4: Answer the “values and beliefs” question. #
Have each member describe the values, attitudes, and beliefs that drive their desire to exercise these resources to accomplish their aims in this place.
Step 5: Answer the “identity” question. #
Have them explain who they are as individuals with these motivations and beliefs driving their use of their skills and other resources to create the desired action in this place.
Step 6: Answer the “vision” question. #
Have them describe the vision that they wish to manifest, and that gives dimension to their identity as a person with beliefs and attitudes that drive their use of skills and abilities toward specific actions and results in this place.
Step 7: Look into the vision overlap. #
Discuss the ways that your individual vision statements are similar. What do they share? Be sure to explore them for overlaps that are not obvious.
Step 8: Bring the related state up to the identity level. #
Access the positive state associated with this vision and sharing. In that state, return to your identity level, experiencing the vision and sense of identity and mission simultaneously.
Step 9: Move to the identity level. #
With this sense of vision, identity, beliefs, and values, return to your capability space. Explore what capabilities you have as a team that go beyond your individual identities.
Step 10: Move to the behavior level. #
Explore the significance at that level. Take your sense of vision, identity, beliefs, values, and capabilities back to the behavior level. Explore how all of your behaviors, even seemingly trivial ones, affect and reflect upon all the higher levels you have explored, right up to the level of vision. Now ask, “What collective actions should we take together?”
Step 11: Explore the full results at the location level. #
Put all the levels you have explored into the location. Experience how these insights, understandings, and feelings transform and enrich this space and mission.
Step 12: Test. #
Over the coming days and months, observe any ways that this pattern has influenced or expanded the team and your individual contribution to its work. Dilts’ logical levels Spirit or higher purpose: the belief in a higher purpose or values that give meaning to one’s identity. Identity: a sense of self that fosters values and beliefs. Values and beliefs: an increased level of internal resources that influence decisions and how you apply your skills and knowledge. Skills and knowledge: the fundamental internal resources for behavior. Behavior: physical actions and patterns, including habits and the power of behavior modification principles. Environment: The context and how it stimulates, guides, facilitates and limits behavior.