Seven Levels of Effectiveness Frequently Asked Questions

1) Are they Levels of Effectiveness or Levels of Consciousness?

We refer to the Seven Levels as “Levels of Effectiveness,” because we focus on what the impact of the level is and how it governs and determines one’s effectiveness. Our come-from place (where we are on the Seven Levels) has the most potent impact on our results in the world, so effectiveness is a basic way of seeing the levels. However, they can also be understood as levels of consciousness, vibration, or energy.

2) Are the Seven Levels scientifically valid?

While the Seven Levels were originally created based on research from consciousness studies, the work of BEabove over many years has been to find validation in neuroscience. In doing so, we have seen there are many aspects of the brain and human system that change at different levels of effectiveness, based on separate research in things like effective leadership, creativity, parenting, relationships, and much more. Please see our ebook for an in-depth exploration of the science that corresponds to this model.

3) Why do you call some levels “below the line” and others “above the line?”

There is an exponential expansion in energy as one goes higher in the levels, with the three lower (below the line) levels all sucking more energy from a person’s life than they contribute. Courage is the line at which we cross over to contributing energy to life.

4) Are the levels fixed? Is someone solidly “in” one level or another?

We like to think of the levels as a sort of “radio wave;” that is, we all fluctuate up and down on any given day or in a particular relationship or other context. That having been said, a person, group or organization will generally have a “home frequency” level where they spend the majority of their time. This home frequency is impacted by the way various parts of the brain and human system interact.

Some consciousness experts have noted that whatever our main “home frequency,” we probably spend 50 percent of the time there, and 25 percent both higher and lower, depending on multiple factors in our experience. For example, you might be in the level of Frustration, due to tiredness, lack of sleep, or a specific incident, while normally hanging out closer to Engagement. Or, you might be in fear around a particular project or individual, although in Courage in most other areas of life. Each of us are a stew of fluctuating energies!

The names of each level reflect the impact that the person, group or organization is having, whether it is systemic and ongoing, or simply at this moment in time or particular circumstance. The descriptions of each level are written from an all-or-nothing perspective for simplicity’s sake, but are also relevant for those momentary or contextual “visits” to the level.

5) Do the levels build on one another, or are they stand-alone aspects of a person or group?

The levels are inclusive in nature. They are not seven different perspectives or seven different hats. They build on each other from low to high in an inclusive way. We like to think of it like climbing a mountain—we can only see as high as we are. Hopelessness can only see itself, but Fear can see itself and Hopelessness, and so on. It is not a case of this level OR that level, but this level AND all the levels below it. Thus the lower levels are not something to reject and get away from, but rather something to embrace, integrate, and include.

Another metaphor we often use is that the seven levels are like seven riders on our personal bus. They all can contribute and have a say in things – often the level of Fear is helpful in terms of what we need to pay attention to, for example. But only four of the levels (Courage and above) have driver’s licenses and should be allowed to operate the vehicle of you.

6) What about people who only want to see the good in things – are they in Synchronicity? If not, how do you get there?

There are many positive, loving people who will not look at or talk about anything negative. They insist on only dealing with positive energy. This is not the state of someone truly in Synchronicity, because Synchronicity is about knowing and owning the rich fullness of life in all its complexity and being able to include all the riders on the bus, seeing each one’s contribution to the whole. Being only positive is the hallmark of someone who is afraid they will get sucked into negativity if they look at or acknowledge it, and are thus acting out of a degree of fear. There are no shortcuts to moving to a higher level. You must be willing to include everything, love it, and find its gifts.

7) How do the levels work on people in an organization?

We have consistently seen something we call the “Centrifuge Effect.” That is, the overall level of effectiveness will dictate the culture of the organization or group. People either take on the characteristics of the level (above or below the line), becoming incorporated into the culture, or they are spit out, either leaving or being let go.