In part 1 of this article, I introduced you to Dilts’ Logical Levels model and suggested that it could be used as a tool to help you create internal alignment and in turn enhance “stage presence”.

So here is how you do it.

Start by getting five pieces of paper and labelling each piece with a different logical level, i.e. Environment, Behaviour, Capability, Beliefs & Values, Identity.

Now lay out these levels in front of you on the floor starting with Behaviour closest to you and finishing up with identity.    What you will be doing shortly is walking forward slowly, spending time at each of these levels and answering the questions I will pose below.   You may find it helpful to close your eyes as you do this. These questions are designed to prompt you to “go inside” and see what answers bubble up from deep inside you.   This isn’t so much an intellectual “head” exercise as it is a heart and spirit based exercise.

Stage 1:

So step forward now on to the first piece of paper and imagine that you are stepping into the level of Environment and ask yourself the following questions:

  • Where am I when I am presenting  at my best?   (Visualise the different contexts where you want to be able to present with real presence); what images and words come to mind?
  • Who are you presenting with presence to?  Who are your audience(s)
  • How does it feel to be presenting with presence to these types of audience?

Stage 2:

Once you have a real felt-sense of the environment where you want to have “stage presence”, step forward into the level of  Behaviour and answer the following questions;

  • What behaviours are you exhibiting when you are presenting in those environments?
  • How are you standing?
  • How are you moving?
  • What sort of eye contact are you making?
  • How are you speaking?
  • What sort of gestures are you using?
  • Are there any behaviours that feel uncomfortable or unnatural?

Stage 3:

Now step forward into the level of Capability. Notice the level of skill and capability with which you demonstrate those behaviours you identified in stage 2. Now answer the following questions;

  • What is my current  level of skill as a presenter?
  • What elements of presenting am I now good at?
  • What elements of presenting behaviour need improvement?
  • What public speaking skills am I  lacking?

Stage 4:

Now when it feels right, step forward into the level of Beliefs and Values and answer the following questions;

  • How do my current values relate to being an excellent presenter?
  • Do my values support or undermine my ability to present congruently?
  • What would I need to value more to be a better, more congruent presenter?
  • How do my current beliefs relate to my ability to present with presence?
  • What beliefs do I now hold about myself, which help and support me as a presenter?
  • What beliefs do I hold about my audience and my colleagues, that help me as a presenter?
  • What beliefs do I hold that hinder or hold me back from owning the stage?

Stage 5:

Now finally, step forward into the level if identity, the level where you hold your deepest sense of who and what you really are, and answer the following questions;

  • How does being a presenter with presence sit with my sense of who I really am?
  • Is there any sense of conflict or misalignment?
  • How does your sense-of-self support and enhance your ability to present with presence?
  • How could you merge your sense of self with that sense of presence?

So that is the end of the next part of the exercise.You have “walked up” the logical levels,  exploring how each relates to your desire to develop a powerful stage presence.

If you are interested, there is one more variation to this exercise which will help you to integrate all the insights and lessons gained so far.     It’s the subject of my next post so keep an eye open for it shortly.

Posted in Presentation Skills

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