Today I would like to show how the GROW method in which I work can be wonderfully applied to self-coaching. Each of us can be an effective (and understanding) Coach for ourselves. And over time, by polishing your self-observation skills and working with your thoughts, you will become your best ally.
Self-Coaching and the GROW method
The GROW model, designed by Sir John Whitmore, consists of 4 steps:
Goal
Reality
Options
Will
It is worth working with a piece of paper and writing down your thoughts, observations, options, and choices. This greatly increases the effectiveness of this process. In addition, in the future, you can go back to your notes and notice with surprise how much progress has been made in the area of our self-awareness.
Step 1. Goal - WHAT do you want to achieve?
Identifying the goal is a key stage in the coaching process. It is worth taking the time to analyze it very carefully.
Is this really MY goal? Or maybe something that I want to implement under the influence / for the sake of someone else?
How specific, realistic, relevant, and time-limited is my goal?
Why do I want to achieve it? What will it do for me? How will it benefit me?
How will I know that I have achieved my goal? What will change in relation to the current situation?
Step 2. Reality - Where are you NOW? What's going on?
Taking time to analyze the current situation allows, firstly, to make it real (i.e. to separate the facts from our speculations or interpretations), secondly, to look at it from different points of view (and thus broaden our perspective) and thus prepare a solid ground for determining and selecting an option in the next step.
What is happening at this point? How is it now?
What do I see? What can I hear? What do I feel? What am I doing? How do I behave?
If I would assign the number 10 to the ideal situation (goal achievement situation), how would I rate the current situation on a scale of 1 to 10? Is achieving the desired progress worth my effort? Maybe in this context, the current situation is not as bad as I thought.
What actions have I already taken? What works? What is not working?
Step 3. Options - What can I do? What are the POSSIBILITIES?
This stage is used to generate possible solutions by looking at yourself and your surroundings as broadly as possible.
How can I achieve my goal? What could I do to get closer to my goal?
What else can I do? (this question is worth repeating often) What should I stop doing so that I can achieve my goal? (smart question!) What else?
Who could help me achieve my goal? What resources could I use to achieve my goal? Do I know anyone who has already achieved such a goal? What can I learn from this?
What other options do I see for reaching my goal?
If I wasn't limited in time, what else could I do? If I wasn't limited by any other obstacles, what else could I do?
Step 4. Will - What WILL YOU DO? How MUCH DO YOU WANT to do this?
This is the stage at which you make a decision about what specific actions you will take.
Which of the options do I choose? Which one is the best for me at this stage? Why?
If the maximum level of motivation was 10, how would I rate my willingness to implement the selected option on a scale of 1-10?
What do I want to do with this choice? What will be my first step? Where will I start? What can I start doing right now?
How will I check if the selected actions are bringing me closer to my chosen goal?
How will I celebrate my progress? How will I appreciate myself for the results achieved?
Good luck and I encourage you to go on a self-coaching journey. The treasures that are discovered along the way can be priceless.
See also: