MAKING THINGS HAPPEN

Using the WOOP Model for Impactful Leadership

TM
CHOOSE TO ACT
A Reflexion tool kit based on
Behavioural Science Principles
 INTRODUCTION

Leaders often want to change and create more impactful habits which will help them transform their
companies and their life.

At various stages of their growth, leaders come face to face with aspects of their personality which
may be limiting their impact. Some ignore these signals and often grow to a certain level before they
taper off. Others see this as a challenge and embark upon a personal change program on their own or
with a leadership coach.

This journey is not easy for most leaders and yet without making calibrated changes they are not able
to make significant impact.
Leaders have known all this for quite some time. 'The knowing-doing gap has been studied for
decades as a concern both within the workplace and our personal lives. In 2000, the term gained
further attention when Pfeffer and Sutton published The Knowing-Doing Gap: How Smart Companies
Turn Knowledge into Action, which highlights the importance of turning knowledge into
performance. Put simply, the knowing-doing gap is the disconnect between knowledge and action.
The bottom line, knowing is not always enough.
 ABOUT WOOP

Based on twenty years of research in the science of motivation, WOOP presents a unique and
surprising idea: The obstacles that we think most impede us from fulfilling our wishes can actually
help us to realize them. WOOP instructs us to dream our future dreams but then to imagine what
obstacles inside ourselves prevent us from achieving these dreams.

To create strong goal commitments, people need to translate these positive attitudes and high
expectations into binding goals, a process that is facilitated by mentally contrasting the positive
future with the negative present reality.

“WOOP is a science-based mental strategy that people can use to find and fulfill their wishes, set
preferences, and change their habits.”

It has been created and shared by Author and Psychology Professor Gabriele Oettingen.
 IMPLEMENTATION INTENTION
Most leaders falter in not thinking proactively about how they will execute the behaviour change that
they feel is most impactful.

They do not formulate strong implementation intentions. As leaders we may conceptualise a wish &
an outcome very well, but we need to support that with a tool that helps us execute on that wish.

Also we have been told for very long that positive thinking is the correct mindset. There has been
inadequate attention on implementing your wishes. How do leaders make those wishes come alive?

People who develop an implementation intention plan have more chances of achieving their
wishes.

What are Implementation Intentions?

How to start, How to persist in How to resume

despite the daily spite of difficulties once a disruption
distractions? and setbacks occurred?
 EXAMPLES OF IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

1. Make if-then plans to get started and stay on track

2. Spell out the “when, where and how” of goal striving in advance
e.g; "If situation X is encountered, then I will initiate behaviour Y”

In the following pages we provide you with a WOOP kit that will help you to think through the
process & implement the wishes that you have selected. This kit has been developed by Dr
Gabriele Oettingen
 WOOP KIT -A GUIDE TO HELP YOU CONVERT YOUR WISHES TO CONCRETE PLANS

Before you start with the WOOP exercise, please be aware that WOOP is different from other exercises:
it involves thoughts and images rather than rational or effortful thinking. It involves going slow,
creating time and space for thinking and imagining.
It is critical that no interruptions occur during the exercise. Start the WOOP session when you feel calm
and comfortable. This is your time now. Everything else has to wait. Clear your mind and create space
to imagine.

Wish
Think about the next four weeks*: What is the one dearest wish you would like to fulfil? Pick a wish
that feels challenging to you but that you can reasonably fulfill within the next four weeks.

Note your Wish in 3-6 words:

*You can also use another timeframe (e.g., 24 hours, 12 months or no timeframe)

Outcome
What would be the best thing, the best outcome about fulfilling your wish? How would fulfilling
your wish make you feel?

Note your best Outcome in 3-6 words:

Now take a moment and imagine this best outcome. Imagine it as fully as you can. Write your
thoughts down:
WOOP KIT -A GUIDE TO HELP YOU CONVERT YOUR WISHES TO CONCRETE PLANS

Obstacle
What is it within you that holds you back from fulfilling your wish? What in you might stop you?
It might be an emotion, an irrational belief, or a bad habit. Think more deeply - what is it really?
Identify your main inner obstacle.

Note your main inner Obstacle in 3-6 words:

Now take a moment and imagine your main inner obstacle. Imagine it as fully as you can. Write your
thoughts down:

Plan
What can you do to overcome your obstacle? Identify one effective action you can take or one
effective thought you can think to overcome your obstacle.

Note your action or thought in 3-6 words:

Make the following Plan:

If… (obstacle you named), then I will … (action or thought you named).

Fill in the blanks below:

If… , then I will…

(your obstacle) (your action or thought to overcome obstacle)

Slowly repeat and imagine this if-then plan one more time.
 WOOP Kit – Written WOOP Guide
WOOP KIT -A GUIDE TO HELP YOU CONVERT YOUR WISHES TO CONCRETE PLANS

This was the four-step WOOP exercise. WOOP always works the same:

O WOOP

O Finally, you make a plan, an if-then plan of

how to overcome the obstacle.

P Then you find your main obstacle

and imagine this obstacle.

Then you find the very best

outcome and imagine this
outcome.

You first name a wish that is

challenging, but feasible.

You may have some difficulties at the
You can use WOOP for long-term as well
as for short- term wishes
You can use WOOP for small as well as for
big wishes
WOOP helps you when you are stressed or
you are busy
WOOP helps you sort things out
WOOP everyday
beginning. Be patient, the more often you
WOOP, the better you will become in using
WOOP and the more you will get engaged in
life.
Practice WOOP as often as you can – play
with it!

“Acting is happy agony.”

Jean-Paul Sartre