Exercise · Coaching and Team Leadership
GROW in Threes
Hold a short development conversation using the GROW model on a real work issue and get feedback.
Time50 minutes
ParticipantsGroups of three
MaterialsGROW session map in the workbook, observer checklists
From the trainingCoaching and Team Leadership
Why this exercise
The GROW model — Goal, Reality, Options, Will — is the best-known way to take a development conversation from a question to the first step. It was developed by Graham Alexander, Alan Fine and John Whitmore. In this exercise the participant brings a real issue of their own, so the session gives them not just a skill but a real solution. The observer notes the steps and counts how many times advice was given instead of a question.
How to run it
- The day before, everyone writes down a real work issue to which they have no ready answer.
- Groups of three: the manager leads the conversation using the GROW map, the employee brings their issue, the observer notes the steps and any advice given instead of questions.
- A round: a 10-minute session, 5 minutes of feedback.
- Three rounds of 15 minutes — everyone plays every role.
- A short general debrief.
Debrief questions
- Did you manage to go through all four steps in 10 minutes? Where did you get stuck?
- In the employee's role: did you come away with a new solution or a new view of the issue?
- Which question in the session turned out to be the most powerful?
Tips for the facilitator
- If the session gets stuck at Reality and the employee tells the story in great detail, suggest a bridge: "Which part of this matters most for your goal?"
- At the Options step it helps to keep asking "What else?" — the most interesting options appear on the third or fourth.
- If the readiness rating is below 8 out of 10, ask: "What would bring it up to an eight?" — and go back to the plan.
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