Framework 2: The GROW coaching model for better 1:1s

The core idea

GROW stands for Goal, Reality, Options, and Will. It is one of the simplest ways to stop a coaching conversation drifting into abstract advice and half-baked reassurance.

New managers often jump straight to solutions because solving feels productive. GROW forces a better sequence. First get clear on the outcome, then understand what is true now, then explore options, then decide what will actually happen next. It creates enough structure to be useful without taking the life out of the conversation.

A practical sequence for the next 1:1

• Goal: What does success look like here?
• Reality: What is getting in the way right now?
• Options: What are the realistic paths forward?
• Will: What will you actually do before the next check-in?

Why it works

The model creates momentum without making the conversation robotic. It is especially useful when a direct report shows up with a messy problem, partial frustration, and no clear ask yet.

It also improves follow-through because the conversation ends with an owned commitment instead of a vague sense that someone should probably do something. Used well, it gives the conversation a constructive shape. You can acknowledge what is hard without letting the whole 1:1 stall there, which matters a lot when teams are navigating change and need to keep moving.

Common mistake

Managers often treat Options like a hidden step and skip straight from Reality to their own advice. That usually makes the other person less invested in the outcome.