Empowered Coaching Series: Considering Options, Unlocking Solutions

This week, we continue my Empowered Coaching series, a journey of bite-sized educational articles on coaching focusing on the GROW model of coaching conversations.?

Here’s a quick refresher on what each alphabet in GROW stands for:

G – Goal Setting

R – Reality?

O – Options?

W – What’s Next?

We explored Goal-setting in the first article in the series. In the second article, we understood how to check the current Reality of the coachee by applying the techniques of open-ended questions.

Today, we’re looking at the third alphabet in the GROW model for coaching conversations.?

The third alphabet, O, stands for Options. In the Reality stage, the coach and coachee have gained a clear and common understanding of the situation, including the coachee’s strengths, weaknesses, and the specific issue they want to work on. The next step, Options, is when the coach works with the coachee to explore and generate potential solutions and strategies to address the challenges or goals that were identified.?

Embracing a Growth Mindset

Collaborating with the coachee in the Options stage is an empowering and creative process. Instead of applying quick fixes, and employing the same old strategies, the coach encourages the coachee to explore multiple options, explore different viewpoints and imagine various possibilities. Viewing the situation from different angles prevents the coachee from being stuck in a limited mindset.

In a gentle probing process, get the coachee to think creatively and outside the box by asking some of these questions:

What are your options?

What could be your first step?

What do you think you need to do to get a better result (or closer to your goal)?

Who else might be able to help?

What would happen if you did nothing?

What is the hardest/most challenging part of that for you?

What's the best/worst thing about that option?

Notice that these questions are open-ended and don’t have a direct Yes or No answer. Such queries encourage the coachee to think beyond their current reality and be open to new possibilities.

Empowering Decision-Making

At the Options stage, the coach plays a highly important role. The coach initiates the process with a wide variety of open-ended questions, guiding the coachee toward having an attitude of flexibility and possibility during the exploration process.

The coach also provides a supportive environment for the coachee to consider various approaches that may not have been considered. Additionally, the coach increases the confidence of the coachee by reminding them about previous instances when their strategies were successfully implemented.?

More importantly, when the coachee is actively involved in brainstorming multiple options, it gives the coachee a sense of control and ownership over the decision-making process. Such empowerment builds commitment and accountability in the coachee to act upon the chosen solution.

Exploring Options and Overcoming Challenges

Let’s take a look at a sample coaching conversation that takes place during the Options stage.

In this case study, a manager (coach) is having a conversation with their executive (coachee) who is feeling overwhelmed in their new role. The executive wishes to gain more confidence in performing their tasks and see some improvement in communicating the challenges faced.

Manager: Thank you for sharing your current reality with me. It's clear that you're facing some challenges in your new role. Let's explore potential solutions and strategies to help you be more confident and improve communications with the team, shall we?

Executive: Yes, I'd really appreciate some guidance. I feel overwhelmed by my tasks currently. I want to perform well in this role and feel more at ease.

Manager: Great! Let's start by brainstorming some possible options together. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers here, so feel free to share anything that comes to mind. What do you think you need to do to overcome your sense of overwhelm concerning your tasks??

Executive: I was thinking to get more support from my colleague, especially Mr. A. I'm a bit hesitant to ask him, as he seems so busy and I don’t want to bother him with my problems.

Manager: It's natural to feel that way, but keep in mind that everyone faces challenges in their roles, especially when starting something new. Sharing your concerns with your colleagues could be the first step in creating support for yourself. What’s another thing that you could see yourself doing to have more confidence?

Executive: I sometimes feel lost and overwhelmed when it comes to my list of tasks. I think it would help if I could check in with you regularly or you could assign me a mentor to discuss my progress and to seek advice.

Manager: That’s a great idea! I would love to hear about your progress or advise you whenever you need assistance with your tasks.?

Executive: Thank you for this. It would provide me with a clearer sense of direction and keep me on track. I think I'd feel more confident knowing I have someone to turn to for feedback.

Manager: I'm glad to hear that. Having regular check-ins can help you stay focused and feel more supported. Let’s look at another challenge you mentioned earlier – you’d like to improve communication with your colleagues. How do you currently do this, and is there anything else you think you could attempt right now?

Executive: I’ve tried being friendly and greeting them warmly whenever I see them. However, I feel unnatural doing this and find it too disruptive to my workday as I need quiet, focused time to do my work. Perhaps I could schedule some time to socialise with them like during lunchtime or at meetings.

Manager: I see. Those are great suggestions. What other communication strategies would you like to try??

Executive: I’d like to build a better relationship and get more guidance from Ms. B. She only comes in once a week. Perhaps I could book her time for short sessions whenever she comes in so that she could share her expertise and teach me the ropes?

Manager: That's the spirit! I’ll have a word with Ms. B and get her to work with you on this. It's all about exploring different options and finding the best approach for you. Let's recap the options we've discussed: seeking support from Mr. A, checking in and communicating with your manager regularly, scheduling time to socialise with your colleagues, and booking Ms. B’s time so you can learn from her. Next, we'll identify the chosen options and create an action plan to help you gain more confidence and improve your communication. Remember, I'm here to support you throughout this process.

Executive: Thank you, I already feel better having some potential solutions in mind. I appreciate your guidance very much.

Catalyst of Personal and Professional Growth

The Options stage within the GROW coaching model serves as a driving force for the coachee’s growth. Providing the right tools for the coachee to explore a range of possibilities and potential solutions empowers them to embrace creativity, expand perspectives, and step out of their comfort zones. As the coachee becomes more skilled at generating and evaluating options, they gradually develop deeper self-confidence, better decision-making abilities, and become more adaptable in the face of challenges.

Furthermore, the process of exploring options instills a proactive and solution-oriented mindset in the coachees. This is an invaluable mindset that enables them to approach obstacles with resilience and hopefulness. After having an awareness of the multiple options available, coachees gain new insights and a deeper understanding of their capabilities.?

Ultimately, the Options stage provides the possibility for the coachee’s transformation. This is done by helping them put on a “continuous improvement” hat while equipping coachees with the tools they need to thrive. Therefore, embracing the exploration of options is a pivotal step toward unlocking one’s true potential and achieving sustainable success in all aspects of life.