Most managers will coach their staff at some stage. Being able to coach someone towards improved performance requires a huge range of skills. Asking effective questions in a structured way is really important, but it's just part of the total toolkit that great coaches need. Our Coaching Skills for Leaders course is based on the GROW coaching model.

As you can see from the questions below, the GROW model helps the coach guide their coachee through the steps needed to define a goal and take action to acheive it. Through this process the coachee will always be taking responsibility for their own achievement and any problem solving needed along the way.

G - Goals
R – Current Reality
O - Options
W – Way forward

Here are a few questions to ask that might help in your next coaching conversation. You'll find this really effective. This structure helps break the cycle of thinking about the problem, and getting stuck in the detail of what's going wrong now. It moves you on to the practical steps you have to take to resolve the problem.

Questions to help understand the Goal

  • Think about your challenge and project yourself forward to a time when everything is as you would want it to be. What will it be like?
  • How will you know that you have achieved your goal?
  • What does success feel like?
  • How will you know you have succeeded?
  • When would you like to see and feel these results?
  • Where is your control or influence over this outcome?
  • You've got lots of ideas here, which one do you want to focus on now?

Questions to check the current Reality

  • What is happening right now that might prevent you from reaching your goal?
  • What resources would you need?
  • What obstacles are in your way?

Questions to examine the Options

  • Imagine you can do absolutely anything you like, the sky's the limit, what could you do?
  • If you could take one action right now, what would it be?
  • What might a friend/colleague/manager suggest you try?
  • You've got lots of options available, which seems (easiest, cheapest, most practical, etc)

Questions to plan the Way Forward

  • So you've decided that (option agreed to in previous step) could work, when will you start?
  • How will this action move you toward your goal?
  • Can you think of anything that would prevent you from taking this first step?
  • What will you do to stop it or overcome it?
  • When will you complete this step? Is there anything else you need to consider before taking this first step?
Share this page