Certified Coaching and Mentoring Framework: The GROW Model

In case you are one taking up a life coach certification program, and you are excited to know how coaching sessions work, well, you might be in a treat as the GROW coaching model is one of the popularly used frameworks for its effectiveness.

In this article:
Certified Coaching and Mentoring Framework: The GROW Model
What is the GROW Model?
Why the GROW Model is widely used
How to Use the GROW framework
Envision a Goal
Let them have an awareness of their current reality
Explore the What Ifs, Choices, (Options and Obstacles)
Begin the Way Forward/Will

What is the GROW Model?

Business coaches developed this model (Graham Alexander, Alan Fine, and Sir John Whitmore) in the 1980s. It stands for:

Goal.
Current Reality.
Options/Obstacles
Will /Way Forward

Learning the GROW Model is beneficial for almost everyone. This framework is taught in coaching certificate programs, but it is also valuable for everyone to learn this concept, especially if you lead a group or mentor an individual. The following are considered the valuable inputs of the GROW model:

• Can help motivate people to do their best
• Drive them in making better decisions,
• Provide a path for solving problems
• Encourage people to learn to upskill for their careers.

The GROW Model is a framework that may be simple yet it can truly optimize your coaching or mentoring sessions.

To sum it up, the GROW Model is simply a process of planning your journey.

• Goal- You decide where you want to go.
• Current Reality – You regard an awareness of where you are at the moment
• Options/Obstacles- You list everything that hinders you and ways around them
• Will/Way Forward- You commit to the journey and prepare for the obstacles

Why the GROW Model is widely used

One thing that makes this structure popular is that it can be used even when the coach is not really an expert in the client’s situation (or if the coach is not of the same niche). You can practice with a coaching certificate yes but that does not guarantee you that you are actually an expert in most of your client’s dilemmas.

The coach then acts as a facilitator to help the client choose the best steps to take but not offer advice or direction (you may remember that this is the difference between coaching and mentoring).

Letting people decide for themselves makes them feel empowered, and it is the job of a coach and/or mentor to guide them at that point of decision. Although as a leader, your people may look to you upon making the final decisions. But you could first offer your expert knowledge and show them how or guide them in thinking about options and decisions before having your say.

How to Use the GROW framework

This model provides a structure to a coaching or mentoring session. You can use the following guidelines:

1. Envision a Goal

Goals need not be a form of tangible achievements. A goal can also be a change in behavior, point of decision, learning a new skill etc. In pinpointing your goal, you should make sure that it is also a SMART goal.

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Realistic, and
• Time-bound

As a coach or leader, you can also use the following inquiries to check the fitness of a goal.

1. How can you know that your client or team has achieved this goal?
2. Is there a way to know if the problem has been solved or decided?
3. Is the goal aligned with the client/team’s more significant objectives?

2. Let them have an awareness of their current reality

First, you need to ask them and let them give you a picture of their everyday situation. This is vital because one cannot reach reach a goal without considering one’s starting point. This is where the importance of active listening comes in. This is a good step for them to gauge the needed information to plan out how they could achieve their goals effectively. The following are some of the certified coaching questions that can be used:

1. What is your current situation?
2. Who/what/when/how often are …
3. How does these things affect you?
4. What are the steps that you’ve had to reach your goal?
5. Does this goal have any conflict with your other goals?

3. Explore the What Ifs, Choices, (Options and Obstacles)

Once they have a good picture of their current reality, you can now guide them in exploring what’s ahead— what can happen, what can be. You now have to show them how to think about the possibilities they can reach the objective. Help them brainstorm a good number of options, discuss and help them decide in picking the best ones. Now you can offer your suggestions and make sure that your client/ team offers their suggestions first and let them have the spotlight now. Remember that you are here to guide them on the right path, not dictate decisions for them. You can use the following questions in exploration:

• What more can you do?
• What obstacles are in your way?
• What if this obstacle is removed? Would that change anything?
• What are the pros and cons of the options?
• What other factors or considerations can you use to weigh the options?
• What are the thing s you have to let go to achieve this goal?

4. Begin the Way Forward/Will

Through the examination of the current reality and exploration of what ifs and options, your client/team now has a bigger picture of how they can achieve their goals.

But a bigger picture is not enough what they now need is a commitment to take the step forward. This is now where you step in again. You now have to encourage him to have the will and amplify their motivation.

The following questions can be useful:

• So, what do you think you should do now, and when will it be?
• What else can you do to start?
• What is hindering you in moving forward?
• How do thing will you overcome this obstacle?
• What can you do to keep your motivation?
• When and how will you track your progress? Will it be daily, weekly, monthly?

Lastly, it is now on you again to decide on a date when check and review their progress. This gives a sense of accountability, and allows them to change his approach and tactics if the chosen option isn’t working.

The GROW Model is widely used and considered the most successful tool used in certified coaching sessions. It is considered a core of coaching to help clients increase their awareness of their situations, find options and solutions for their problems, and take appropriate actions.