Well Formed Outcomes

A Well-formed outcome is a term originating in neuro-linguistic programming for an outcome one wishes to achieve, that meets certain conditions designed to avoid (1) unintended costs or consequences and (2) resistance to achieving the goal resulting from internal conflicting feelings or thoughts about the outcome.

Thus, a high quality outcome is more than a vague wish or goal. It is an objective or goal which is integrated with all aspects of one's life (morals, ethics, relationships, finances, health, body, etc.) and has a process of accomplishment that respects and supports the current desirable circumstances in one's life.

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 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 (for example 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.
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?

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 have. Self- Achievable.
It is important that the outcome must be within their own 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 need 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 belong to the keys to achieve results.