How to GROW as a Leader: The Power of the GROW Coaching Model (and Why We Coach Together)

One of the biggest mindset shifts new managers must make is this: You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to ask better questions.

That’s the magic of coaching. And when it comes to coaching your team to clarity, ownership, and momentum, there’s a model that’s stood the test of time, and it fits beautifully inside The Coaching Formula framework.

It’s called the GROW model.

What Is the GROW Coaching Model?

The GROW model is a simple but powerful structure for coaching conversations. It stands for:

G – Goal

What do you want to accomplish?

Every great coaching session begins with clarity. The “G” is about setting a specific, meaningful goal. Not a vague intention, but a clear outcome the person wants to reach.

As a coach, your job is to help your team member define what success looks like. This gives direction to the entire conversation.

R – Reality

Where are you right now?

This step gets honest. It’s about understanding the current situation, the facts, the emotions, and the obstacles. This is where the leader-as-coach learns to listen deeply without jumping in to fix.

The power here is in helping your team member reflect on what’s working, what’s not, and what’s really going on.

O – Options

What could you do?

Now that the goal is clear and the current reality is on the table, you can guide your team member through a brainstorming session. But here’s the twist, you don’t give the answers. You facilitate the exploration.

Ask:

• What are some ways you could move forward?

• Who else could help?

• What have you tried before?

You’re encouraging ownership by letting them come up with their next steps.

W – Way Forward (or Will)

What will you do next?

This is where clarity becomes commitment.

You move from possibilities to a concrete plan:

• What will you do?

• When will you do it?

• How will I know it’s done?

This creates accountability and momentum, two cornerstones of high-performing teams.

Why GROW Works So Well with The Coaching Formula

Inside The Coaching Formula, we talk about:

• Developing a coaching mindset

• Managing by walking around (MBWA)

• Focusing on your Most Valuable Priorities

• Creating a winning culture

• Leading change and innovation

• Protecting your time and energy

The GROW model is a practical way to live these out. It’s how you coach in real-time, during hallway chats, one-on-ones, performance conversations, or informal check-ins. It keeps your coaching focused, consistent, and productive even when time is tight.

Introducing: Grow Together Sessions 🌱

In The New Manager Club, we’ve taken the GROW model a step further with our Grow Together Sessions, group coaching conversations where members practice coaching each other using the GROW framework.

Here’s how they work:

• One member brings a real-life challenge.

• Another member acts as the coach, using GROW.

• The rest of us observe, support, and learn together.

It’s a safe space to:
✅ Practice the art of asking powerful questions
✅ See how coaching creates breakthroughs
✅ Grow your confidence and coaching skills in real time

No pressure. No judgment. Just managers growing together, learning how to stop managing and start coaching.

Final Thoughts

Coaching isn’t just a leadership tactic. It’s a culture builder. And when you use the GROW model consistently, your team starts thinking more like owners, problem solvers, and leaders.

The question is: Are you ready to coach instead of manage?

Join us in The New Manager Club and come experience a Grow Together Session for yourself.

You don’t have to go it alone. Let’s grow together.