Crafty Listening     

Well Formed Outcomes

The WFO method of determining goals or objectives offers a thorough, carefully refined and unambiguous objective: to create a detailed internal image or concept in the mind - an important step in creating belief in an outcome or objective.

Focus on what you DO want rather than what you do NOT want. Your attention is on what to do and how to do it rather than on problems, excuses, alibis, and explanations.

Outcomes direct a person’s thoughts and actions. Use them for your goals, dreams, and wishes - and watch what happens. The six WFO questions distinguish between those factors which are relevant to getting what you want and those which are in the realm of history, complaint, etc.

Using this process, two or more people can recognise differences between respective ‘maps’, values and metaphors, many of which will not be obvious. People are likely to appreciate your concern and interest if you use the WFO to assist them in clarifying what they want for themselves.

It provides a means of evaluating progress. Having a well-formed outcome makes it more likely that you will quickly recognise when you are thinking or acting in ways that are at variance with your well-formed outcome, giving you a signal to stop and re-evaluate your activities.

When used to clarify formal discussions work-related discussions or meetings the outcome steps provide a framework that keeps discussions and activity on course.

People can ponder these questions before supervision sessions, planning, coaching, counselling, decision making forums, focus groups, team meetings, conflict resolutions, mediation, negotiations, etc.

Six qualifying WFO questions:

1	Positive	What do you want?
2	Sensory Specific	How will others recognise when you have what you want? See Hear Feel Smell Taste How will you know when you have this?
3	Contextualised	Where and when do you want to have this resource? Where and when do you not want this resource?
4	Self achievable	It is very important that the outcome must be within their own realm of influence; something over which the person has 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?
5	Ecological	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?
6	Worthwhile	The motivation question: which of your values will be fulfilled by achieving this outcome What's important to you about getting this? What will this outcome help you avoid feeling? What is the benefit of this outcome?