Four words should help you to achieve your own goals - at work as well as in private life.
But how does this approach work – and why?
Have you made any New Year's resolutions?
Millions of people do that every year.
And every year, the resolutions last only a few months, weeks or even days for many people.
The WOOP method is now intended to help people to pursue their goals in the long term and to persevere.
Unlike many other methods of increasing your own productivity, WOOP is even approved by science.
Achieving goals and implementing plans: What is WOOP?
In technical terms, the WOOP method is also referred to as mental contrasting with implementation intention (MCII).
This method was developed by the psychologists Gabriele Oettingen and Peter M. Gollwitzer.
WOOP is intended to help make wishes easier to fulfill and goals easier to achieve.
All of this should work if you focus on the positive end result - and recognize the unimportant and prioritize accordingly.
The individual letters of the word stand for:
wish
_
O
utcome (result)
Obstacle
_
plan (plan)
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Proven method: WOOP in science
Achieve set goals and at the same time improve relationships with fellow human beings, regardless of the environment.
According to Business Insider
, various studies show
that the WOOP method works.
In addition to health studies, interpersonal relationships and (salary and position) negotiations in connection with mental contrasting were also examined.
Better goals were always achieved with this type of goal setting than without.
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Success in work and life: the individual steps
But how does this supposedly powerful method really work?
If you want to try it out, the best thing to do is to go through the following four steps:
+
With the WOOP method, not only can professional perspectives be improved, but also personal relationships.
(icon picture)
© Eva Blanco/Imago
Wish
: This is where the goal is set.
Ask yourself what you want to achieve.
Important here: The goal should be achievable, the wish should be achievable.
It should also be considered how much time would go into implementation and what would change once achieved.
An example: The request is a promotion.
How much time does it take (working more diligently/longer, if necessary, making appointments with supervisors, preparing for the interview to answer the question of why you deserve the new job, etc.)?
What could change as a result of the promotion (higher salary, less time for family/private life...)
Outcome
: In this step, imagine – as precisely as possible – what the achievement of the goal/desire means for you.
What changes more sport, a new job, further training in your life?
What does that mean for the people around you?
The more concrete and detailed this idea is, the better.
Obstacle
: The third step is about possible obstacles that stand in the way of the desire.
These can be personal characteristics just as well as external influences.
Here it is important to identify the obstacle - and remove it.
Of course, this only works if it is possible for you.
You often have little control over things like the behavior of other people or circumstances in society.
Questions such as “What would a friend say when asked about your biggest personal obstacle?” or “Why haven't you changed anything until now?
What are you attached to?
Plan
: The fourth and final step is the how.
In order to achieve the goal, the how must be planned.
This works, for example, with if-then plans.
Something like this: If you don't feel like doing sports in the evening, then think about the hot shower that you treat yourself to afterwards and finally overcome yourself.
According to Business Insider
, if-then plans
basically consist of three parts: a future situation in which the plan will be carried out, the plan itself, and a link between the action and the situation.
Those who plan in this way have a three times higher chance that the plan will be implemented - compared to the pure goal setting.
Important: The success of WOOP has a lot to do with the order of the steps.
So you should definitely keep that in mind when trying it out.
List of rubrics: © Eva Blanco/Imago
