David Allen estimates, Eighty percent of projects need no more than listing their outcome and the next action to get it off our minds. 

Outcome Statements

At the most fundamental level, outcome statements are specific, measurable statements that state what we want to achieve and let us know when we have reached our goal and completed our project.

Outcomes should represent what would have happened once we have achieved our project. They are created by standing in the future and declare the new physical reality once we have accomplished the goal. 

A good outcome statement acts as a destination on a map, providing us a blueprint for accomplishing our projects and ensuring that the steps we take are always in the right direction. 

An outcome states what you want to achieve and how you’ll know when you get there.

Characteristics of Good Outcomes [S.M.A.R.T]

Specific

A good outcome clearly defined what we want to accomplish. It represents what will be a new reality once we have achieved our goal. 

Measurable

They are unambiguously measurable. Good outcome statements have clear metrics that determine if the outcome has been met or not. 

They allow us to measure our progress in terms of:

• Distance (from here to there), 
• Time (from now to then), and 
• Form (from circle to square).

Achievable

A good outcome creates a compelling opportunity for us to expand our current capabilities. It empowers and enables one to take action and is motivational. They require us to stretch our abilities, but at the same time, they are within our reach and are attainable. 

Realistic

Good Outcomes take into consideration our available resources and state realistically achievable results. They align with our broader goals and objectives. 

Timebound

Good outcomes specify a precise completion date and time or a timeframe.

They paint the best picture possible, with the project completed successfully. They activate all the conscious and unconscious resources available to us — ideas, thoughts, patterns, emotions, etc.

Writing Outcome Statements

Well-written and complete outcome statements will usually define the following four elements:

• Who will change? i.e., the target subject.
• What will change? i.e., the desired change expressed as an action verb. 
• By how much? i.e., the expected results.
• By when? i.e., the time frame. 

Examples

• I have completed the English Writing course securing an 80% grade by Jan 2022. 
• My Son is studying in a Top-rated High School by Sept 2021.
• I have increased the number of tasks that I get done in a day by reading and summarizing the book “Getting Things Done” by Dec 2021. 

Conclusion

To have a higher success rate in our personal and professional projects, we must master defining good outcomes. Having a well-defined outcome does not guarantee success but indeed increases the probability of completing the project. 

By having a clear idea of how a project should end, we will be able to plan it effectively, and we will be able to better communicate its purpose to the people involved and have the right motivation to face it.

Clearly defining your vision using good outcome statements helps you make decisions, identify solutions and address critical issues.