The GROW model (or process) is a simple method for goal setting and problem solving.
As with many simple principles, any user of GROW can apply a great deal of skill and knowledge at each stage but the basic process remains as written above.
The coach would then ask awareness questions to deepen understanding of what is happening when the client tries to lose weight, thus identifying the Obstacles.
These could include looking at which diets or exercise regimes work best, or finding a specific type of support.
Once the client knows the strategies that are likely to work they can establish a Way Forward which involves taking action steps.
For instance, one action might be asking a particular person for support, and another might be to buy a different selection of foods.
[10] Gallwey was a tennis coach who noticed that he could often see what players were doing incorrectly but that simply telling them what they should be doing did not bring about lasting change.
The problem with this sort of instruction is that a player will be able to follow it for a short while but may be unable to keep it in mind in the long term.
Once Gallwey saw how play could be improved in this way, he stopped giving instructions and started asking questions that would help players discover for themselves what worked and what needed to change.
Jonathan Passmore and Stefan Cantore suggested in 2012 that one "argument against behavioural-based approaches such as GROW is that their goal nature excludes the potential to explore philosophical aspects of life.
"[11] See also Whitmore, Kauffman & David (2013) for a response to this criticism suggesting that GROW has evolved to include transpersonal goals.