An epic framework, for solving problems.

What is iGROW?

• A powerful, five step, sequential process/framework for problem-solving, and goal setting

• Used for facilitating individual (personal) coaching, and group (team) coaching

• Designed for situations in which you already know what the problem is you are trying to solve (if you don’t have clarity on what the problem is yet, I have other tools for defining this first)

• First developed as GROW in the late 1980s by business coaches Graham Alexander, Alan Fine, and Sir John Whitmore (and I added the ‘I’ to the model recently, as an important first step).

Why use iGROW?

As an Agile Coach, I use iGROW as an integral part of the iterative reflection and learning process, with teams, leaders, and organisations.

iGROW helps to strengthen an individual (or group’s) capacity to:

• Solve problems

• Adapt quickly to change

• Assume ownership of their problems

• Take action.

How to use iGROW?

• iGROW is best used by a coach or facilitator, to support anyone through any problem

• You can use it as a structure/outline for a coaching session, with either an individual or group/team

• There are five sequential steps to take a person (or group) through, and each step, includes asking a series of questions to the individual/group

• The goal is to support a person (or group) to move from having a problem, to having a set of actions they can take to try and solve the problem

• The number of questions to ask for each step is for the coach/facilitator to decide, but I recommend using at least three for each step (so that the person/people can dive into each step, fully).

NOTE: A full set of facilitator guidelines will be available soon, to support everyone using the iGROW model (watch this space!)

STep 2: Goal

A well formed goal is key to solving a problem & understanding the motivation to take action.

Questions to ask:

• If this problem was solved, what would that look like?

• How would you know, you’d solved the problem?

• What would be happening, how would you be feeling?

• What difference would this make on your life?

TIP:

• The key to tapping in to a person’s motivation is to make the goal very real and tangible - use this step to really explore that new reality

• Guided visualisations can be a powerful tool during this step.

step 3: Reality

Unpacking a solid reality can tap into to some great (often unrealised) insight and awareness of what’s currently going on, and creating this problem.

Questions to ask:

• Where are you now, in solving this problem?

• What have you done so far?

• What obstacles are you facing?

• What strengths have you have used in the past that could help you now?

• What resources do you have to help you?

• What will be the impact of things staying the same?

• Think of a time when you’ve solved a similar problem. What did you learn?

Tip:

• It can be easy for the person to come up with a solution during this stage, as they have realisations, and they may not feel they need to continue the rest of the steps - encourage them to keep going as there could be an unexplored option hiding in there.