(T)GROW model of coaching

My last article on the I-CAN-DO model of coaching proved more popular then I expected and so I've decided here to cover another basic model. The (T)GROW model. Again, this acronym puts you in the right frame of mind to start working on your goals. After all, the aim of coaching is to help you grow and keeping that in mind will help the process along. Although there are 5 stages in this model, when using the acronym the T is sometimes omitted making it just the GROW model.


T stands for topic; this is the general area of your life that you want to work on through coaching. This may be improving your social life, making a better balance out of your work and home life, quitting smoking etc. Generally, a topic is agreed before coaching is commenced however sometimes, you may be aware that something is wrong with your life or something is out of balance but you may not be quite sure what. In this case I would use a life coaching chart to analyse what you do in each area of your life now, how many hours you spend working on each area and what your aims are. Often, this is enough to show where the imbalance is.


G stands for goal; after discovering where your imbalance or dissatisfaction lies you need to turn that problem into a goal. Goals should always be S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic and Time-specific). This means it needs to be something within your control, achievable within the time you have set for it and there needs to be a way to measure when you have achieved it. For example, if the dissatisfaction you have is that you don't spend enough time with your family then a suitable goal would be “Within the next two weeks I want to rearrange my schedule so that I have the time to spend an extra hour a day with my family.”


R stands for reality; when we reach this part of the model you need to take a thorough look at the area you have decided to work on to get an factual as opposed to emotional idea of the exact problem you want to tackle. This means looking at the problems preventing you from achieving what you want and how things really are right at this moment.


O and W stand for options and will. What options do you have that will help to move you towards your goal, think of as many as possible and note them all down. Take some time over this as they will not all be obvious immediately. Finally, once you have your list of options which of them will you do? Once you have written down as many options as possible and looked at the positive and negatives of each one decide which you will commit to doing and carry them through.



It is important to note however, that this model is a basic framework and may not necessarily be followed through in order. It is however important that you take a look at each part at least once. It is possible that reality meeting the theory you came up with when deciding on your actions and insights you receive through coaching mean you need to revise either your goals or your plan of action. This is ok, and even encouraged, the important point of this model is to help you discover the options open to you and through this help you achieve what you want from your life – not to be a strict linear model to be followed in order.