GROW coaching model

The following coaching model - called the ‘GROW' model - can be a useful one to use, to help individuals find their own answers, when considering their next steps beyond their doctorate. By asking questions around this model, you can help them clarify what they may want to do, where they may want to go and how they may get there.

Goal - where do you want to go? What's your goal?

• What do you want to achieve?
• What does success look like?
• Where do you want to go?
• What would be a milestone along the way?

Reality - what's the reality? Where are you right now?

• What's the situation right now?
• What is happening right now?
• What have you done about this so far? What were the results?
• What is holding you back from finding a way forward?

Options - what are your options to bridge this gap between your Goal and your current Reality?

• What options do you have for steps to move towards your goal?
• What else might you do?
• What should you do?

Will - what will you do to plan your next steps?

• What option or options do you choose?
• What are your criteria and measurements for success?
• Who needs to know what your plans are?
• What support do you need, from whom?
• What commitment, on a 1-10 scale, do you have to taking these agreed actions?

The GROW model was devised by sports coaches in the US in the 1970s and has since become widely used in organisations and personal coaching. You can read about it in ‘Coaching for performance' by John Whitmore.  ISBN 1-857-88303-9.