Decoding 'Grow', a mantra for business success

This coaching model may make you rethink your approach to target setting and personal growth

- Pankaj Gupta

As we step into 2025, many of us reflect on the goals we set for the past year and assess how successful we were in achieving them. Resolutions often fall by the wayside within a few weeks, and goals may require tweaking sooner than expected. Like many others, I faced these challenges until I came across a coaching model called G.R.O.W., developed by British author John Whitmore.

This model helped me rethink my approach to goal setting and personal growth, and it may do the same for you.

The G.R.O.W. model consists of four simple but powerful stages: G: Goal-What do you want to achieve? R: Reality-Where do you currently stand? O: Options/Obstacles What are your choices, and what might get in the way? W: Way Forward - What actions will you take to move forward? The G.R.O.W. model emphasises starting with, yes, a goal. It's important to define clear, actionable goals, ideally using the Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound (or Smart) framework. For example, in corporate workshops, clients often set goals to increase sales, but I encourage them to consider the bigger picture: How does this affect profits, resources, and team well-being? Focusing solely on growth can lead to resource strain. A well-balanced goal considers the long-term health of your company or personal life.