Desired outcomes paint a picture of what our life looks like once we’ve achieved something we really want–a goal. Attaining our goals is easier when the desired outcome, the total picture, is clear and visible. Desired outcomes let us put our minds into the end-state after having achieved a goal. Knowing and experiencing this end-state helps us stay motivated and rework our plan by staying flexible and focusing on what matters most once the goal is attained.We might have a goal to attain a net worth of more than $10 million at the end of 36 months. Our desired outcome that becomes possible after the attainment of that goal might include renting an apartment in Paris, funding the building of a school in Nicaragua, buying a vineyard, or owning horses. By focusing on the desired outcome, the goal takes on new meaning and importance.
A desired outcome becomes part of our ecology where all parts of us and our outcomes agree with our desires, values, and needs. Everything around us is aligned in one powerful direction. It is easy to set goals and it is easier to attain them if their desired outcomes inspire us.
NLP offers a pattern to create a well-defined desired outcome:
- Create a positive and specific goal that is measurable
- State s desired outcome for that goal in terms of your abilities. Ask yourself, “What could I do on my own to make this happen?” and “What actions would I take to increase my chances this week?”
- Context is where we describe our desired outcome in terms of our surroundings after you attain your goal.
- Five Senses help us taste, touch, feel, see and hear the environment surrounding our desired outcome.
- Objectives break down our goals into manageable pieces so we feel good and reward our subconscious with motivation after achieving small steps. Sometimes we refer to this process as, “chunking.”
- Support is always a part of goal attainment and living our desired outcomes. We can seldom attain our goals alone, so this step helps us identify the resources that will help us.
- Check the ecology to learn what might be keeping us from our goals and think of ways or ask others to help mitigate any obstacles.
- Create milestones to track progress and direction
- Write the goal, its objectives and milestones in a notebook that is dedicated to this desired outcome. This notebook houses problem solving and innovation discussions as the goal is attained.
- Test this pattern, monitor its effectiveness, and make small adjustments as it is applied to many goals.
Remember, focusing just on the attainment of goals is not as motivating as focusing on how the attainment of a goal will positively impact our entire life. To get the most out of attaining our goals, we should view them as helping us fulfill a greater purpose. Focusing on this greater purpose or desired outcome changes our perspective of a goal and provides rich motivation.