Grow model

Your main job as a professional coach is to help your clients set their goals and achieve them; to increase their potential by setting ambitious but realistic goals. To achieve this you can use a coaching tool called the GROW model.

The GROW model is a strategy used by coaches, which makes use of open-ended questions and active listening to determine the main objectives, analyze the current state and draw strategies based on the data obtained. Before focusing on the specific problems of any venture, it is important first to know what the final goal of the venture is and to obtain a global vision of it, so that all the measures taken are properly organized and maintain the initial objective.

Characteristics of the GROW model

This model was created in 1988 by the coach John Whitmore and each letter of this model has a meaning that is linked to a concept:

• G for goals.

• R for reality.

• O for options

• W for will (will and commitment)

Let's talk about each aspect in more detail.

Goals

When we talk about goals or objectives, we tend to limit ourselves because of our past. When we look back and remember that we were not able to meet our past goals, we think that we will not be able to meet our future ones either.

It is important that when we set our goals, we try not to limit ourselves because of our past events. You must always remember that the achievements are equal to the potential minus the obstacles. And it is these obstacles that we are going to address in this first section of the model.

You must get out of your head the negative thoughts that you are not enough, that you are not worth it. During your goal setting you must ask yourself what are the negative and positive thoughts I have about the potential fulfillment of my goals?

The GROW model is a strategy based on questions, so these are the ones you will use to delimit each of the aspects. The goal you set should be as specific as possible. You cannot say that your goal is to lose weight in the future, as this does not count as a concrete objective.

When you set your goals, they must be realistic, achievable, measurable and time-bound. The goal you decide to use must be powerful and inspiring, so that when obstacles inevitably appear in your way you do not modify or stop pursuing your goals. Don't use uninspiring goals that don't push you to improve or you won't be able to achieve them.

I know I said you have to be realistic when choosing your goals, but you must also be ambitious. Don't make the mistake of falling short, for fear of not achieving what you set out to do. The goal can only be as big as you are capable of achieving it.

Reality

In this part of the model you should ask yourself: Where am I now in my life? In this way you will be able to analyze where you are now thanks to everything you have done so far.

You should question why you are not where you thought you would be. You may not have focused enough on achieving your goals and that is why you have fallen behind. This does not mean that we are not good people, only that we have not been able to overcome all the obstacles that have been presented to us on the way to accomplishing our goals.

Once you have answered where you are today, you must then recognize all the impediments that have prevented you from moving forward. You will take into account the internal obstacles, among which are your own thoughts, the control of your emotions, your values and all the intrinsic aspects of your life.

With this method, you will gain a greater clarity of all the experiences you have lived in the past, in order to optimize your decisions in the future.

Options

During this stage you should dedicate yourself to find any kind of benefit, utility or resource that can help you on the way to the completion of your goals. You can use some questions similar to these:

• What would be my first action to take?

• What resources do I have at my disposal?

• Do I have other opportunities outside my environment?

• Are there other opportunities that I have not considered so far?

• How would I assist another person with a similar problem?

• What has worked for me in