Well Formed Outcomes

These are goals, objectives or targets which have been systematically refined so that they a number of criteria.

When our wants, dreams or wishes are refined using this process they become more believable and realizable. This is why they are then described as being `well-formed' outcomes - they have fulfilled certain 'well-formedness conditions'.

The most commonly described elements of the WFO model are:

• Stating what you want in a positive manner.

As full a sensory based description and in as much detail as possible, stated in positive terms.Rather than state where you don’t want to be, a travel agent would prefer to know where you do want to be and the more detail you can add the easier it will be for him to get your hotel room, town, country, etc.What do you want?Keep in mind it is extremely hard to work towards a goal which is stated negatively (for example, ‘I don’t want to be anxious when making a presentation’). Once you know how you do want to be in presentations (e.g. confident and calm), you stand a better chance of working towards, and then achieving it.

• Thinking about the context surrounding what you want to achieve.

Where and when do you want to have this resource?Where and when do you not want this resource?

• Working out the advantages and disadvantages. Worthwhile.

The motivation question: what is this outcome a means towards.What's important to you about getting this?What is the benefit of this outcome?

• Considering the ‘ecology’, or the circumstances surrounding the goal.

The advantages and the disadvantages. There are always disadvantages in making a change - being alert to these keeps the person `at cause' by making it their choice.What are the advantages of making this change?What are the disadvantages of making this change?What will achieving this lose you? Become?

• Being able to measure results. Sensory Specific

Sensory based evidence. What would you hear, see, touch, feel.How will I recognize when you have this?How will you know when you have this?Assessing the degree of control you actually have. Self Achievable.It is very important that the outcome must be within their own realm of influence – that it is something over which we have control.What resources do you need to be able to achieve this?What do you need to do to achieve this?Is this something which you, yourself, can achieve? Or does it require that OTHER people behave in a certain way?

• Knowing yourself

Goals need to be in keeping with your self-concept and personal values. If you try to achieve something because you want to keep up with others or because you are told to, there is less chance of it being successful. So self analysis and awareness are the keys to achieving results.

Well formed outcomes