The GROW Model, devised by Sir John Whitmore, provides a framework both for individual coaching sessions and for the whole process. The acronym stands for Goals, Reality, Options and Will, also known as Wrap-up.

Goals coach and client agree on specific objectives. This is vital in coaching if you dont know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else! The coach asks specific questions to make sure the goal is in the best interests of the client and those closest to them.

Reality the client needs to have a realistic grasp of where they are now, where they are starting from. Is the desired objective a realistic goal what are the chances of achieving it? Do they know someone else who has achieved this already?

Options the coach guides the client in thinking of a number of ways of achieving the goal and the client decides which way to pursue. As the coach, you are not there to lead people, you are there to help them explore possibilities so they can decide which option is best for them.

Will/Wrap-up the client will only be motivated to go for the goal if they are excited and motivated by it. Coach and client look at the possible obstacles and how these can be overcome. Is there a secondary gain in the client not achieving the goal? For instance, it may be more comfortable to remain in the current position than make the effort it takes to achieve the goal.

The GROW Model works because it ensures that there is nothing at the unconscious level which might prevent the client from going for the goal. It checks whether the goal fits in with the clients capabilities and purpose in life, and establishes whether the client needs to change any current behaviours or get new skills in order to be successful.

Andy Britnell

Andy Britnell has worked as a professional musician, a cheesemonger and in hotels, including Claridges and the Savoy in London. He spent 15 years with BT, latterly designing and delivering international management, sales and graduate development programmes. He now lives in Cornwall, UK, where as well as enjoying the surf and the coastal footpath, he runs a training and coaching practice specialising in sales, customer service and personal development training for the private and public sectors. He is an accredited coach and trainer of the Insights Discovery System which is a model based on the pioneering personality profiling work of Carl Jung. Using colour as a common language for better understanding of self and others, it helps people operate and communicate more effectively. Andy gains great satisfaction from helping his clients to grow and learn, and from the rapid progress they make in their business and personal lives. He works constantly on his own development and practises Ki Aikido, the ancient Japanese art of working with energy.