What is the GROW Model?
GROW stands for:
- Goal
- Reality
- Opportunity
- Wrap-up
The GROW coaching
model is probably the best-known
coaching model. Many coach training programmes use this model as the framework
for developing the coaching relationship.
The power
of the GROW coaching model is that it leads to a clearly defined end result
through four phases. The coachee is personally active in identifying problems
and generating ideas for solutions. The means that anything that comes out of
the coaching session has a lot of chance to stick.
The GROW
coaching model stands for learning through experience: reflection, insight,
making choices and pursuing them. The success of a coaching trajectory with the
GROW coaching model also depends on the time and energy invested into the
process by the client.
G – Goal:
This is the
client’s goal for the session – and while it doesn’t have to be specific or
‘SMART’ it does need to be enough to give the session a clear purpose
understood by both the client and the coach. For example, a session goal might
be to establish a bigger goal or to gain some clarity in live – it just has to
be enough for the coach to keep the client on track. One of the things that
makes coaching different from many other therapies is the focus on action and
change. A session goal helps to keep the client focused and when the session
drifts it gives the coach the ability to say, “We seem to be heading in a
different direction here, is this what you want?” A session goal can be ‘evolved’
as the session unfolds. And occasionally the ‘real’ goal of the session may not
come out until the end when the coach asks the client what his/her biggest win
of the session was. This is when the client realizes the ‘goal’ for the session
was simply to feel heard, to commit to themselves or to feel challenged or
supported. When the coach ensures the client understands what they want to get
out of the session – he/she ensures the client receives value from coaching –
and that the client will continue to learn and grow.
R – Reality:
Reality is
about the client understanding his/her situation and how he/she got there. It’s
where the coach questions, challenges, reframes and reflects back to the client
where they are, what they’ve done so far, what’s working and what isn’t. It’s
about really getting into where the client is right now and why. It should
include talking about feelings and digging into emotions, gut-feelings and
intuition – often new or uncharted frontiers for the client.
O – Opportunity:
If the client could solve their problems alone they would have done it. Often
what they need from the coach is help in brainstorming, a push or some support
to take an action they have been putting off. It may involve tweaking an
existing action, challenging and inspiring them to make an action bigger or it
could also mean shrinking an action to make it more achievable. Either way, a
good dig around in the different options and opportunities to find actions and
solutions that really work for the client pays huge dividends in moving the
client forward.
W – Wrap-up:
The essence
of coaching is change – some sort of action – even if the action is to change
the way they do something, to stop doing something or even do nothing! I always
make sure every client leaves their session committed to at least one action
otherwise the session would simply be a conversation. And while a conversation
can be helpful – nothing changes unless something changes.
Here are
some examples of GROW coaching questions to use during each stage of the GROW
model. They certainly aren’t intended as an exhaustive list and the questions to
be asked during a coaching conversation will be determined by the dialogue between
the client and coach at any one point in time.
Goal
What do you
want to achieve?
What is
important to you right now?
What would
you like to get from the next 30 minutes?
What areas
do you want to work on?
Describe
your perfect world.
What do you
want to achieve as a result of this session?
What will
make you feel this time has been well spent?
Reality
Where are
you now in relation to your goal?
On a scale
of 1 -10 where are you?
What has
contributed to your success so far?
What
skills/knowledge/attributes do you have?
What
progress have you made so far?
What is
working well right now?
What is
required of you?
Opportunity
What opportunities do you have?
How have
you tacked this/ a similar situation before?
What could
you do differently?
Who do you
know who has encountered a similar situation?
Give me 5
options
If anything
was possible what would you do?
What else?
Wrap up
Which
options work best for you?
What one
small step are you going to take now?
What
actions will you take?
When are
you going to start?
Who will
help you?
How will
you know you have been successful
How will
you ensure that you do it?
On a scale
of 1 -10 how committed /motivated are you to doing it?
The GROW
model is based on the principle that everyone has the potential to develop and
improve themselves, but just need help to unlock their potential. It encourages people to take responsibility
for their own actions, which results in commitment, and therefore optimizes
performance.
