KATE JENNINGS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
What is the GROW Model in Leadership?
The GROW model is a simple framework for coaching conversations that helps people clarify goals, understand their current situation, explore options, and commit to action.
Used well, it improves decision-making, builds ownership, and develops capability within teams.
What is the GROW Model?
GROW is a practical framework to help others think through problems, make decisions, and take ownership.
Used well, it reduces reliance on you and builds capability in your team.
It is widely used in leadership, coaching, and management conversations where the goal is to support thinking rather than provide answers.
The GROW Model Explained
G = Goal: Define the outcome
What do you want to achieve? (short or long term)
Where would you like to be by the end of this conversation?
How will you know you’ve achieved it?
If time is limited, what part can we move forward now?
Why does this matter? What’s the wider context or impact?
R = Reality: Understand the current situation
What’s happening now? What’s working and what isn’t?
Who is affected, and how?
What data or evidence do we have?
What’s getting in the way?
What factors make this more complex?
O = Options: Explore possibilities
What could you try? What else?
What has worked in similar situations before?
Who else could support or contribute?
Which options feel realistic?
If you had to decide without input, what would you do?
W = Way Forward: Commit to action
What are the next steps?
When will you take them?
What might get in the way? How will you handle that?
What support do you need?
On a scale of 1–10, how confident are you?
What would increase that confidence?
What will you do next?
In Practice
Leaders use the GROW model to:
Structure one-to-one conversations
Support team members to think through challenges
Avoid jumping straight to solutions
Build confidence and accountability in others
Improve the quality of decision-making
Common Challenges
Common issues include:
Moving too quickly to solutions without exploring Reality and Options
Asking closed or leading questions
Treating it as a checklist rather than a thinking tool
Taking back control instead of allowing ownership
Skipping follow-up, so actions don’t translate into progress
Applying the GROW Model
If this is something you’re working on, there are a few ways to take this further.
Use this yourself
Download the GROW model as a simple one-page guide you can use in your next conversation.
Build this capability in your team
If you want your leaders to use structured coaching conversations more effectively, get in touch.
You may also find these useful: Psychological Safety and Influencing Others
Frequently Asked Questions
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The GROW model is used to structure coaching and development conversations. It helps individuals clarify goals, explore challenges, and commit to action.
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Leaders use it to guide conversations with team members, helping them think through problems rather than providing immediate solutions.Usually four days in person or six 2-hour virtual sessions.
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It creates a clear structure for thinking, encourages ownership, and improves decision-making without increasing dependency on the leader.
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No. While it is widely used in coaching, it is also effective in management, performance conversations, and problem-solving discussions.
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