Absolutely awesome goal achievement process!

1. A well formed outcome is:
   • Stated in the positive.
     Example, “I want to be able to speak in front of others with confidence” rather than, “I don’t want to be nervous.” To turn a negative statement into a positive statement, ask, “if you were not nervous, what would you be, or how would you feel, instead…?”
   • Something that can be initiated and controlled by you.
     Example, “I want to be a calm and confident passenger in an airplane.” rather than “I want the airlines to provide safe enough airplanes for me to fly in.”
   • Manageable chunk size.
     Example: “I want to be a calm and confident passenger in an airplane.” rather than, “I want to conquer my fear of flying and get my commercial pilots license before Christmas.” (Too big a chunk)
2. Gather sensory specific evidence for the outcome:
   • When you are traveling in an airplane calmly and confidently, what will you see, hear feel? “I see the seat in front of me, the smiling air hostess, the magazine I am reading, my companions’ happy expression that I am accompanying them.” I hear the sounds of the airplane, the voices of people, and my own voice is level and steady when I speak. I feel relaxed, calm, and pleased with myself
3. Note the meta-outcome.
   • The meta-outcome is the motivation or more important aspect of what is wanted and gives you a lot of useful information regarding what motivates you toward this particular outcome. You elicit the meta outcome by asking, “What will having your outcome do for you?”
   • For example, “when I am able to fly as a passenger, I can accept a promotion at work that requires that I travel a lot.” Flying means success.
   • The question. “What will happen if you don’t achieve this?” can also elicit this information.
4. Ecology check
   • “When you achieve this, will anything be at risk?” This is an important question.
   • Being aware of the ecology of the change will save you a lot of time and trouble. For example, if you are working to lose weight, then realize that losing weight and becoming too attractive might threaten your marriage, or compromise you in some other way, you will likely not lose weight. Remove the ecology block before proceeding.
5. Future pace.
   • “Imagine yourself already having achieved your outcome, you are sitting in the seat on the flight, (seeing the hostess, etc, hearing your own voice speaking calmly, etc… feeling relaxed and happy about the trip, etc) What would you say to yourself now about this?… example “Let’s do it!” And, more importantly, “How do you feel, now that you have achieved your goal?”

Download NLP Outcome Frame Worksheet
Download NLP Outcome Frame Handout