5.2.3 GROW: Options
The third step in the GROW model is specifically used to move on from the description of the issues, to generating options for actions to take forward. This is a crucial step, as it gives the individual time to come up with a range of ideas without the coach suggesting action or giving advice. The coach may encounter some opposition or barriers here, where the coachee may have tried to take steps in the past which have not been fruitful. It may be that the coach has to interrupt the flow and ask what prevents the coachee from taking any particular option. This may also be the stage where the coach will need to challenge any assumptions made; this can sometimes be uncomfortable for the coachee.
Box 2: Exploring options
Here are some suggestions of questions you might ask to encourage the coachee to explore options. Make a list of the ones you prefer for your practice coaching session and add any others, from your own experience, which you would find useful.
Actions
Which options do you think might work best for you? To what extent does this option meet your goals? When will you prepare an action plan? When are you going to start?
Support
What help or support do you need? What could I do, as a coach, to help and support you in your plans?
Obstacles to action
What could prevent you from taking action, and how will you get around it? How committed are you to taking the plan forward?
Evaluation/measures
How will success look and feel? How will you measure or evaluate success?
After generating some options for action, and agreeing on the ones which seem viable to the coachee, there is a final stage in the GROW model to seal these ideas and agree on an action plan to take forward.