What is a Well-Formed Outcome?

The abiltiy to create and maintain an outcome that meets certain well-formedness conditions is an essential application of NLP. Read the following article and use the described process and you will experience an improvement in your ability to fulfil your desires.

by Jules Collingwood NLP Trainer Assessor

A well formed outcome is like an opening gambit in chess. It sets the scene for the rest of the game, and the level of attention given to plotting the outcome has a direct bearing on the ease with which desired results are achieved. A well formed outcome makes the difference between wanting something in theory, and becoming able to go and get it in practice. This is not the same as taking a position about something. A well formed outcome describes something that its user wants, in sensory based, positive terms. It includes a description of what the user wants it for, and the terms, conditions and environmental contexts in which the user wants to have it. It includes consideration of different approaches to the outcome, and time frames, costs and consequences to interested parties, and whether it is within the user's control.

A position is a fixed, limiting decision, usually based on inadequate information and consideration, and often not open to negotiation. There is no thought of what the position is designed to achieve for the holder, and the satisfaction a holder derives from it is often short lived. A position can be couched in negative terms, where as a statement does not become an outcome until it is put in positive terms. This is to facilitate the user's thinking in terms of what they want rather than what they do not want. Then they can describe what they do want in sufficient detail to be able to recognise it when it happens.

It is valuable at this point to make the distinction between the question 'why' and the question 'what for'. One of the features of a well formed outcome is that it includes consideration of the result the user wants it to produce for them; that is the purpose, the broader perspective, the over view of the desired state, the 'what is this for - what does it do for you' aspect. To ask 'why' someone wants something will produce a completely different class of answer. It invites justification. The answer often starts with 'because...' and continues on from there.

The question 'why' directs the listener's attention backwards in time, to what has already taken place. In the context of a desired result in the future, backward directed attention has limited use. What is wanted is forward directed attention towards the desired future; attention placed on how the user can influence that future toward meeting their own specification. To find the intended purpose of a course of action, one needs to ask what the action is for. These answers are more likely to elicit responses beginning with phrases like 'to make...' or 'to provide...' or 'to do...'. They contain an element of action, of purpose, of forward momentum and direction. Intent is presupposed, and information is brought into the system to facilitate action.

So what can one do with this process? When would it be useful to elicit a well formed outcome, and what material makes suitable subject matter? The answers to these questions are largely a matter of personal choice. There is much to gain from using this process on unclear material, 'what would happen if...' situations and those absolute disasters we want to avoid at all costs. With the 'avoid at all costs' class, the first thing to ask is what we would rather have in place of the disaster, and then go on to refine it into something highly desirable.

When defining evidence of the desired outcome, it needs to be something that another person could see, hear or feel if it were pointed out to them. That is the meaning of sensory based evidence. It is the only acceptable kind of evidence in the context of a well formed outcome, and it can be applied equally easily to $1M in the bank or to 'happiness', 'love', 'fulfilment' or 'peace'. Abstract concepts can be described in sensory based terms. Individual people respond to their own thoughts with behaviour, and these responses are visible to observers. Note that different people will respond differently to the same abstract word, but each response will be describable. If someone said they wanted 'happiness', the question becomes what would someone else see, hear or feel that would let them know that the subject of the question were happy. The answer would describe the subject's behavioural demonstration of happy' and might (but not necessarily) include such elements as flushed skin tone, balanced movement and gesture between sides of the body, a spring in their step and a tendency to sing while working.

Questions are often raised about the notion of something being possible for any able bodied person just because it is humanly possible', that is it has been done by someone. There are strongly held beliefs in professional musical, athletic and dance circles to the effect that unless one began training in childhood, it is too late as an adult to contemplate a career as a professional instrumentalist, singer, dancer or athlete. The people who have done it are unusual. They have shown exceptional dedication, or exceptional planning for their learning, and they have pursued their outcomes single mindedly and achieved them. They have all had large, clear mental pictures of their outcomes to work towards, with themselves doing the behaviours they describe in their evidence procedures. This alone keeps the intent fresh and enthusiastic and on track, providing momentum to see them through the more difficult stages.

There was a member of the British Olympic Equestrian Team, for whom that was the realisation of a dream. Two years earlier, she had her first riding lesson, from Lucinda Green (nee Prior Palmer). She chose well. Lucinda Green is a brilliant horse woman and a first rate model for three day eventing. She is also open to new forms of learning and teaching, and was prepared to allow her pupil to spend sufficient time with her, asking questions and watching her as well as taking lessons.

Another example is an engineer who always wanted to conduct a particular symphony. He learned to read music first by the line, and then by the score. Then he studied films of the great conductors performing the particular work, and interviewed, observed and learned from one he admired particularly. Again, he chose someone who was prepared to step outside received wisdom and teach someone who was missing most of the usual pre-requisites. The engineer conducted the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in his chosen work 11 months after beginning his project. Then there are the every day applications; the new house, car, job or holiday; the new skill, language, sporting achievement or future accomplishment. Putting these through the well formed outcome process provides clarity, direction and purpose, even to something as transient as giving a party.

The question of control and other people's consent is designed to draw attention to preparation which might need to be done before the main project can happen. If an outcome depends on someone else's blessing, it is not well formed at that point. Any third party consent needs to be obtained as soon as possible, or made the subject of another outcome to be completed before the main one can begin. Outcomes can be nested, that is in the process of working out the main one it becomes apparent that parts of it are subject to preparation on their own account to make the whole project possible. Separating it in this way often facilitates its passage and completion, often within shorter time frames than were expected. This makes the well formed outcome a valuable project management tool, as does the question of acceptability of costs and consequences.

Ecology is the word used to describe whether an outcome has acceptable costs, time frame, and consequences including benefits. There are two parts to this question; one, is the outcome worth the effort, time and other costs involved in getting there, including strain and inconvenience on valued third parties, and two, is the end result worth having and keeping. Does it support or detract from the owner's chosen life style, relationships, and other factors that matter to the owner. Does the time frame fit. Are all the necessary resources (skills, land, labour, capital, creativity, networks, relationships) available to bring the project in to the chosen time and cost scale.

This is a tool which is worth applying to consultancy projects and mediations. If it is used with clients of all descriptions before agreeing to handle their projects, it can become the basis of a contract which is written in sufficient detail to ensure that the work fits the client's expectations, and you use it as evidence on which to present your bill. It provides a clear description of the results the client wants, while leaving you, the consultant free to use your expertise to get them there. Most clients have a less than sensory based idea of what they want you to do for them, and provided this process is used at the briefing stage, you can save them, and yourself a great deal of time. When you accept instructions from someone else, your outcome is to provide them with their outcome. This is the same pattern as deriving a well formed outcome for your own purposes. You need to know enough detail to fill their requirements to their specification. This will allow you to decide if you have all the time and resources you need to do it, and to ask for anything else you need before agreeing terms.

How to Derive a Well-Formed Outcome

1. What do I want?

   Ask this question about the context you are considering. State what you want in positive terms, ie what do you want, and what do you want it to do? Where do you want it? When do you want it? Eg 'I want to be, do or have X'. If the answer forms as 'I do not want...' then ask, 'What do I want instead of ...'.

2. Is it achievable?

   Is it possible for a human being to achieve the outcome? If it has been done by someone, then in theory it can be done by you, too. If you are the first, find out if it is possible.

3. What will I accept as evidence that I have achieved my outcome?

   What evidence will you accept that lets you know when you have the outcome? Ensure that your evidence criteria are described in sensory based terms ie: That which you can see, hear and/or touch that proves to you and/or third parties that you have done what you set out to do.

4. Is achieving this outcome within my control?

   Is it under your control, ie can you, personally do, authorise or arrange it? Anything outside your control is not 'well formed'. Instructing your broker is within your control. So is buying in expertise. Asking your employer for time off is not. The time off will only become well formed if it is granted.

5. Are the costs and consequences of obtaining this outcome acceptable?

   Ensure that the outcome is worth the time, outlay and effort involved in achieving it, and that impact on third parties or the environment is accounted for.

6. Do I have all the resources I need to achieve my outcome?

   Do you have or can you obtain all the resources, both tangible and intangible that you need to achieve your outcome? Resources include knowledge, beliefs, objects, premises, people, money, time.

7. If I could have it now, would I take it?

   Are all costs and consequences of achieving your outcome, including the time involved, acceptable to you and anyone else affected by it? This is known as ecology. Consider the costs, consequences, environmental and third party impact of having the outcome.

Referencess:

Collingwood, J.J.P., Collingwood, C.R.J. (2001). The NLP Field Guide; Part 1. A reference manual of practitioner level patterns.

Well-formed outcomes is process taught as part of Part 1 of Graduate Certificate in Neuro-Linguistic Programming. See the Graduate Certificate in Neuro-Linguistic Programming Site