The Right Questions at The Right Time – Thinking From Within!
The Right Questions at The Right Time – Thinking From Within!
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The Right Questions at the Right Time – Thinking From Within!
It is not easy to find oneself in a world based on chaos, noise, and incoherence of values. Out of the needs flowing in one’s mind, it seems impossible to choose the one the most hidden, most needed, most personal, most genuine, and authentic. For what reason is it so difficult to delve into oneself?
Year-End Reflections: Embracing Change and Uncertainty
The end of the year makes us reflect and think about what we’ve done and achieved. However, it’s also a time for conclusions and a summary of our activities. The current times have made us realize that everything can change in the blink of an eye.
The image of the reality we perceive has been distorted in one way or another – AI applications, globalization, integration, or maybe decentralization. Who knows? And what can you do about that?
Finding Purpose: A Grounded Start to the New Year
Today’s times have catalyzed, often ground-breaking, changes in the way we communicate both internally and with our customers. Therefore, in order not to ‘go crazy,’ it is helpful to have your answer to the question – ‘why’ do I do what I do? For me, it gives me coherence between how I think and what I do, the inner peace and joy that comes from feeling that I can use the potential I have been given for worthy causes.
Hence, let’s not just focus on the what and the how because this allows neither reflection nor having the right perspective. Without this, life just seems to be shallow! And that’s not the right way to start New Year…
Unveiling Purpose: Integrating Models for Lasting Impact
Discovering your “why” can truly transform your life and work. It provides a sense of clarity and purpose that fuels real motivation and helps you stay authentic, even through challenges.
It’s not just a path to personal success; it’s the heart of building something meaningful and lasting – a business or career that feels deeply fulfilling and genuinely worthwhile.
I will take a moment below to zoom in on how the two models I know from the training setup can work together. This is my interpretation, and any comments or feedback will be highly appreciated.
The Dilts Logical Levels framework and Sinek’s Golden Circle
are both correlated, as they address the layers of meaning/purpose of human actions. Each of these models explores the why, how, and what of human actions, albeit with a slightly different focus.
Here’s how they work together:
1. Why (Sinek) ↔ Identity and Purpose (Dilts)
The Golden Circle – Why, in Sinek’s case, is the purpose and cause that drives individuals and organizations. It is the reason behind our actions, beyond the outcome, and provides us with a sense of what we do!
Logical levels – Identity and Purpose. At Dilts’, the Identity level represents ‘Who’ we are, encompassing our beliefs about ourselves and our deeper purpose. At the top of his pyramid, purpose extends to a relationship with vision and mission (in the organizational context), often linked to our contribution to a larger system.
Both frameworks represent an overarching vision and motivation, guiding everything else.
2. How (Sinek) ↔ Beliefs, Skills and Behaviors (Dilts)
The Golden Circle – How, in Sinek’s case, defines the process and methods. It is how we bring purpose to life, often through unique processes, values, or distinctive characteristics.
Logical levels – Beliefs, skills, and behaviors. In Dilts’ model, Beliefs inform what we believe is possible or worth the effort (shaping the How), while skills refer to our capabilities and strategies used to implement actions. Behaviors are the actual actions taken, representing the translation of beliefs and our skills into something tangible!
This Dilts level relates to Sinek’s How as it defines our approach, skillset, and actions that make the goal achievable. Beliefs drive motivation, skills enable action, and behaviors embody these values in practice.
3. What (Sinek) ↔ Environment and Results (Dilts)
Golden Circle – In Sinek’s terms, What is the outcome, the actual product, service, or result achieved? It is what people see and is often the most tangible aspect of the organization or person’s work.
Logical levels – Environment and results. Dilts places the environment as the lowest level where the activities that shape outcomes occur. It is the place where the results are observed, evaluated, and adjusted.
Both models represent concrete, visible output experienced by others. In both frameworks, the What is a visible manifestation of deeper levels shows how purpose and beliefs are ultimately realized.
Conclusions:
|
Sinek’s Golden Circle |
Dilts’ logical levels |
|
Why |
Purpose and Identity |
|
How |
Beliefs, Skills, and Behaviors |
|
What |
Environment and Results |
Aligning these models allows us to understand not only the outcome (What) but also the deeper motivations standing behind our actions (Why) and processes (How) that drive our behavior. This synergy is particularly useful for leaders to properly guide their co-workers and organizational development.
Marcin Swierkocki
Trainer, Coach & MDI Partner
Marcin Swierkocki works as an HR business consultant who has specialized in L&D, change- and project management. He brings over 25 years of international experience in change management and operational development with him. His personal motto is influenced by Viktor Frankl: ‘Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth…’. His personal inspiration comes from his optimistic and positive character and by draining the energy that successfully supporting others gives him.
