Like most coaching models, GROW does not tell you how to coach but, rather, it’s the underlying structure that you can use when you’re coaching someone. The following break down helps to explain the coaching process and the power of GROW in more details

Goals – are particularly important in a coaching relationship. Goals give direction and clarity and assist in developing and engaging motivation. Studies have shown that people with clear, written goals are far more likely to achieve them than those who don’t have them. Goals give specific focus to the coaching and align the coachee’s mind to specifically, they want to achieve.

Example Questions:

• What is your ultimate, long-term goal?
• What is important to you now?
• What steps can you identify that will be essential in achieving your long-term goal?
• How will you know when you have achieved your goal?
• Describe what will be different when you reach this goal?

Reality – is about objectively describing the current situation. Before we can move forward it helps to get very clear on what, specifically, is happening now. Often, this is the time that limiting beliefs surface that are impacting performance and progression.

Example Questions:

• Where are you now with your goal?
• What skills do you have that can help you reach your goal?
• How does this goal align with other things you are doing?
• What has stopped you reaching this goal?
• How do you know that is true? (asked after hearing what could be a limiting belief)

Options – coming up with different possible courses of action that can move them forward towards their goal. This is the brainstorming part of the conversation to uncover all the things that could be done. Increasing choice is a key principle in coaching, GROW helps to create the environment where this can happen.

Example Questions:

• If anything was possible what could you do?
• What else?
• What could you do if you had more time?
• What could you stop doing to achieve this goal?
• What would you tell your best friend to do?

Will – the final stage of GROW is about a ‘call to action’. It’s about both making a decision and committing to action. Remember, these two things are different – decisions can be easy to make, but you need to ensure that action will be taken. In this phase, you are helping the other person construct a clear plan of action. This needs to include specific dates and measures. Once you have this you need to probe for possible barriers – what could prevent these actions being taken and what is the other person going to do to overcome those barriers?

Example Questions:

• Which option works best for you?
• What is your next step?
• How will you make sure that you do it?
• On a scale of 1 to 10, how committed are you to taking the agreed actions?
• What will you do to get this closer to a 10?