Using the Robert Dilts Logical Levels of Change to Elevate Corporate Wellness Programs
Elevate Corporate Wellness Programs using NLP
Corporate wellness programs are essential in today's workplace, not just for keeping employees healthy, but for creating a culture where people feel motivated, engaged, and aligned with their company’s mission.
But how do we design wellness programs that are truly impactful on a personal level?
Enter Robert Dilts' Logical Levels of Change—a brilliant model for personal and organizational development that helps us understand the different layers that influence human behavior and how to tap into each one for lasting change.
My life coaching certification in Neurolinguistic Programing comes into play here! 🤣 Read on….
In this blog post, we’ll explore how to apply the Logical Levels of Change in a corporate wellness program. Whether you’re a corporate wellness professional, HR director, or just curious about elevating your team’s well-being, this framework offers a powerful way to create meaningful, personalized wellness programs that make a real difference.
Kathie has been a NLP Certified Life Coach for many years. Learn about what a corporate wellness consultant can do for your workplace.
Blog Post continued down below…..
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Robert Dilts Logical Levels of Change
The What: The Big Idea of the Logical Levels of Change
So, what exactly are the Logical Levels of Change?
Developed by Robert Dilts as part of his work in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), this model outlines six levels at which change can occur, from the most superficial to the most profound.
The idea is that any effective change needs to address these levels, which are interconnected but vary in depth and impact.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the levels:
Elevate Corporate Wellness Programs using NLP
Environment: The physical surroundings or external factors affecting behavior.
Behavior: The actions people take within their environment.
Capabilities: Skills and abilities that influence behavior.
Beliefs and Values: What individuals believe is important and true.
Identity: How individuals see themselves.
Purpose: The deeper meaning or mission driving someone’s actions.
Think of these levels like an onion—peeling back each layer reveals something deeper. To create lasting change, you need to address each layer, not just the surface-level behaviors.
This is particularly important in wellness programs, where simply offering a gym or lunch-and-learns won’t lead to profound engagement without addressing deeper levels like beliefs, identity, and purpose.
Metaphor - imagine tree growth, change, and evolution
A Simple Metaphor
Imagine you’re planting a tree.
The environment is the soil
The behavior is the water and sunlight
The capabilities are the tree’s ability to absorb nutrients
The beliefs and values are the gardener’s commitment to nurturing the tree
Identity is the type of tree (oak vs. willow)
And purpose is why the tree is being planted in the first place (shade, beauty, food).
For a tree to thrive, you must tend to all aspects—just like you would with your employees in a wellness program.
If any layer is neglected, growth is stunted.
Logical Levels of Change and Corporate Wellness
Applying the Logical Levels of Change to Corporate Wellness
Now that we understand the basics, let’s dive into how to use the Logical Levels of Change to design a corporate wellness program that can benefit each employee, no matter where they are on their personal wellness journey.
Environment
This is where most corporate wellness programs start—and for good reason. The environment includes the physical spaces, resources, and tools available to employees. Are there gym facilities, wellness rooms, or even a quiet area where employees can de-stress? The environment can either support or hinder wellness efforts.
Action Step:
Review the physical spaces in your workplace. Are they conducive to health and wellness? Can you add standing desks, improve lighting, or create designated wellness zones? Encourage your team to make their environment supportive, whether that’s keeping a water bottle on their desk or designing a more ergonomic workspace.
Behavior
At the behavior level, we look at what actions employees are taking in their daily routines. Are they exercising regularly? Eating healthy? Taking breaks to prevent burnout? Behavior change is critical in wellness programs, but it's often short-lived unless tied to deeper levels like capabilities and beliefs.
Action Step:
Offer programs that support behavior change, such as fitness challenges, mindfulness workshops, or even healthy cooking classes. Encourage employees to track their behaviors using apps or journaling to make their progress visible.
Capabilities
Capabilities refer to the skills employees have to maintain their well-being. This might include knowing how to manage stress, practicing mindfulness, or understanding how to exercise safely. It’s not enough to just provide opportunities for behavior change—you also need to ensure employees have the skills to take full advantage of them. Leadership capabilities are one that can be incorporated and workshopped here!
Action Step:
Provide training in areas that enhance employees’ capabilities. This could include offering workshops on stress management, emotional intelligence, or sleep hygiene. Consider bringing in guest speakers or creating educational resources to boost these capabilities.
Beliefs and Values
Now we start to move into the deeper levels. Beliefs and values are the drivers behind actions. If an employee doesn’t believe that wellness is important or doesn’t value self-care, they won’t participate in wellness programs, no matter how many benefits you offer. The goal here is to shift limiting beliefs and reinforce the value of well-being.
Action Step:
Create wellness campaigns that tap into values employees already hold dear—like family, productivity, or community. Help employees understand that taking care of themselves aligns with their values, making wellness something they want to prioritize. You can also run workshops or one-on-one coaching sessions to help employees uncover and challenge limiting beliefs that are holding them back.
Identity
Identity is about how employees see themselves. Do they view themselves as healthy, balanced individuals, or as stressed-out workaholics? Identity-based change is incredibly powerful because when people see wellness as part of who they are, they’re more likely to sustain healthy habits over time.
Action Step:
Foster a culture where wellness is part of the company identity. This could involve recognizing and celebrating employees who embody wellness, sharing success stories, or even incorporating wellness into your company’s mission and values. Help employees see that being “well” is not just something they do, but part of who they are.
6. Purpose
The deepest level is purpose—why an individual chooses to live a healthy life. For some, it’s to be there for their family; for others, it’s to feel fulfilled and energized at work. Wellness programs that connect to a larger sense of purpose are the ones that truly inspire employees to make lasting changes.
Action Step:
Help employees tap into their own purpose by encouraging reflection on what motivates them. Create opportunities for them to share their “why” with colleagues, whether through team-building exercises, journaling prompts, or personal coaching sessions. When employees feel that their wellness journey aligns with their purpose, they’ll be more engaged and committed.
(This book Start With Why by Simon Sinek is great on purpose on vision) ➡️➡️➡️
What to expect if you apply the Logical Levels of Change
The What If: What Can You Expect Now?
So, what can you expect if you apply the Logical Levels of Change to your corporate wellness program? The impact is profound.
Improved Employee Engagement: When wellness programs address deeper levels like beliefs and identity, employees will feel more connected and engaged. Wellness becomes more than a checkbox—it becomes an integral part of their work and personal life.
Sustainable Behavior Change: By addressing capabilities and values, employees will develop the skills and mindset needed to maintain healthy behaviors long after the program ends.
A Healthier Culture: As wellness becomes part of your company’s identity and purpose, you’ll create a culture where well-being is valued and prioritized, leading to happier, healthier, and more productive employees.
Next steps and actions to take
Next Steps and Actions to Take
Ready to implement this powerful framework into your corporate wellness program?
Here are some actions you can take right now:
Read Robert Dilts’ Book: Dive deeper into the Logical Levels of Change by reading “Changing Belief Systems with NLP” by Robert Dilts. This will give you more insights into how each level influences the others.
Assess Your Current Wellness Program: Where are you focusing most of your efforts—environment, behavior, capabilities? Consider how you can integrate the deeper levels of beliefs, identity, and purpose into your program.
Host a Workshop: Plan a workshop to introduce your team to the Logical Levels of Change. This could be a fun and interactive way to get them thinking about how they can apply these principles to their own well-being.
Remember This
What to Remember
Wellness is Layered: For lasting change, focus on all levels—environment, behavior, capabilities, beliefs, identity, and purpose.
Start Small: You don’t have to revamp your entire wellness program overnight. Start by integrating one or two new initiatives at each level.
Engage Employees on a Deeper Level: Addressing beliefs, identity, and purpose will help employees see wellness as more than just something they “do.” It’s something they are.
By applying the Robert Dilts Logical Levels of Change, you’ll create a corporate wellness program that goes beyond surface-level change and deeply impacts every employee. Wellness will become a core part of their work life and personal identity, creating a culture of well-being that elevates everyone involved.
This is what a corproate wellness consultant can do for your company!
Kathie Owen, Corporate Wellness Professional since 2012 (Our Story)
About the Author: Kathie Owen is a seasoned Corporate Wellness Professional with over a decade of experience driving wellness initiatives.
With a rich background as a certified fitness trainer and life coach since 2002, Kathie combines her practical expertise in health and wellness with a deep understanding of psychological principles, thanks to her degree in Psychology.
Her holistic approach to corporate wellness not only fosters a culture of health and engagement among employees but also supports organizations in achieving their most ambitious wellness goals.
Kathie's Coaching and Consulting reflects her passion for empowering corporate executives to create thriving workplace environments through strategic wellness programs and employee engagement. Kathie’s Bio is Here!
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Transcript:
Hey there. It's Kathie Owen from top workplace wellness. Today we're going to talk about one of my all time favorite tools for personal and organizational growth. The Robert Dilts logical levels of change. I'm going to show you how you can use this powerful framework. To design a corporate wellness program. That elevates your team's wellbeing on every level. Stick around because. This is going to completely change how you approach wellness at work. By the way are you ready to elevate your wellness programs? Be sure to check the links in the description below because on every video I do, I include a blog post that has bonus resources and more be sure to check the links in the description and show notes below. Let's break down the six logical levels of change. This model shows us that change happens in layers. From the environment around us to our deepest sense of purpose, each level is connected and for real and lasting change. You've got to address them all. So at the bottom of the levels is environment. That is where you are and your surroundings. The second level is behaviors. This is what actions you take daily. Number three is capabilities. What skills and abilities you have. Number four is beliefs and values. This is what you believe is true. And important. Number five is identity who you believe you are. Number six is purpose or vision. This is your deeper mission or the why behind your actions. So I want you to think of this model as. Like growing a tree. The environment is the soil. Behavior is watering the tree. Capabilities or how well the tree absorbs the nutrients. Beliefs and values. Are the Gardener's dedication to growth. The identity is what type of tree it is. And purpose is why the tree was planted in the first place. Maybe for shade, beauty, or food. For a tree or your team, or you as an individual to thrive, you've got to nurture each layer. Ignoring any of these levels will limit growth. Now let's talk about how you can apply these levels to your corporate wellness program. Here's a step-by-step guide to make sure your program benefits everyone on your team. So let's start with the environment. This is where most corporate wellness programs start. What does your workplace wellness look like? Are there spaces for employees to recharge? Like a gym. A wellness room. Or even a quiet space to de-stress. Simple changes in the environment can make a huge impact on how your team feels. Here's an action step. Take a look around your workplace. Could you create a wellness, friendly environment? Maybe add standing desks. Better lighting. Or a quiet zone. Now let's talk about behaviors. Behaviors is about what actions your employees are taking daily. Are they staying active? Eating healthy. Managing stress. Creating opportunities for these behaviors is key. But the real magic happens when you connect those actions to deeper levels like values and purpose. Which is coming in a minute. So I want you to try this or look around and see what this is like. Start a simple wellness challenge, like a step challenge or a mindfulness break. It's a great way to get the ball rolling. And show your team how easy behavior change can be. Let's talk about capabilities. It's not enough to just encourage healthy behaviors. You got to make sure your team has the skills to maintain those behaviors. Whether it's learning stress management. Or improving emotional intelligence. These are the tools employees need to stay well. Consider hosting workshops or lunch and learns on topics like emotional intelligence and recovery. These will help your team create capabilities that last. Number four values and beliefs. Here's where things get a little bit deeper. Did you know that beliefs and values drive everything. If an employee doesn't value, their health. Or believe wellness is important. They won't engage in your programs. No matter how many perks you offer. It's important to find out what they value. So here's an action step. You can take. Create campaigns that actually tap into your teams existing values. Whether it's their family. Their community. Or their productivity. You can also try one-on-one coaching to help employees uncover limiting beliefs that might be holding them back from fully embracing wellness. Number five is one of my favorites. It's identity. And this is about who your employees are, who you really believe you are. Do your employees see themselves as healthy? Thriving individuals. Or as stressed out workaholics. Identity based change is the most powerful kind of change. Because. Once people start seeing themselves differently. Their actions follow. Here's a quick tip. Foster wellness culture that supports identity shifts. Share success stories. Recognize wellness champions. That's so important. Rewards and recognition super important. And build a culture where being well is part of the company's identity. If that resonates with you. Hit that like button. So I know you're with me. And at the very top of the triangle, we have purpose and vision and this is the deepest level. This is the why b ehind someone's desire to be well. Maybe it's to be there for their family. Maybe it's to be more fulfilled at work. Or to contribute to something bigger than themselves. When wellness is connected to purpose and vision. It becomes meaningful. And people are more likely to stick with it. Help your team connect to their purpose by encouraging reflection and discussion about their, why. If you'd like more tips on how to foster purpose-driven wellness. Okay, so now you might be wondering what's next, Kathie. What can I expect when I start implementing the logical levels of change in my wellness programs. Here's the good news when you address all of these levels. You will see some amazing results. First of all engagement was skyrocket. Wellness becomes part of who your employees are. Not just something they do. You'll have sustainable behavior change. But focusing on beliefs, identity, and purpose. You'll create long lasting habits and I talk about habits all the time. Not just short-term fixes. And also you'll create a stronger, healthier culture. Wellness becomes part of your company's DNA. Creating a work environment where people feel valued and supported. Are you ready to take action? Here are three simple steps you can take today to start applying the logical levels of change in your corporate wellness programs. Read Robert Dilts book. His book is called changing belief systems with NLP to dive deeper into these concepts. I've used these concepts as a coach in personal training to help others overcome whatever kind of change they're trying to go through. It is powerful. Number two. Evaluate your wellness programs, take a step back and assess where you're focusing your efforts. Are you addressing all the levels or just a few? And assessments are super important to understand what your team wants, because if you just put it out there and say, this is what they want, it's like throwing spaghetti at the wall and expecting it to stick. You need to know what your team members want. And what incorporates into the team's culture? And finally action. Number three, you can take is plan a workshop. Introduce your team to the logical levels of change. It's a fun, interactive way to get everyone involved in their own wellness journey. Remember wellness is layered. Just like the logical levels. To create lasting change focus on every level. Environment. Behavior capabilities beliefs. Identity. And purpose or vision. Start small take action. And make wellness a core part of who you are as a company. As I like to say, we build healthy, happy teams. One heart at a time. I trust you found this video to be helpful. If you're ready to elevate your corporate wellness program. And let me know in the comments below what level you're going to start working on today. Thanks so much for watching. And until next time I will see you next time. Peace out and Namaste.
