Use the GROW process to empower people

01/02/07 11:15 Filed in: GROW process
People you know want to grow. Your family members want to grow. Your work colleagues want to grow. Your fellow church members want to grow.

You can empower them to grow by using the GROW process. What’s the GROW process? A time-tested, 4-step process you can use that stands for:
  • Goal
  • Reality
  • Options
  • Will do
God is growing his people. And he uses GROW.
  • God asks us, “What’s your Goal? Whom do you want to live for?” Remember when God uses Joshua to ask the Israelites to choose whom they will serve?
  • Through his Word, God gets us to reflect on our current Reality, to reflect on the extent to which we serve Him and the extent we serve ourselves.
  • God gets us to consider our goal and our gifts to find Options for taking action.
  • Because he loves us and wants the best for us, God asks, “What steps Will you take to serve me and only me?”
Yes, God uses GROW, as do people who believe in others, people who empower others to grow.
  • People that believe in others ask, “What’s your Goal?” and “What’s God calling you to be and do?” They don’t tell others what their goals should be.
  • People that believe in others ask, “What’s your current Reality?” They don’t tell others what their reality is like.
  • People that believe in others ask, “What are your Options for taking action on your goal?” They don’t tell others what their options are.
  • People that believe in others ask, “What actions Will you take?” They don’t tell others what actions to take.
GROW targets motivation. And since growing is more about motivation than information, you can you use GROW to empower others to grow.
  • To target motivation, get others to state the Goals they want to work on.
  • To target motivation, get others to reflect on the current Reality they’re working to address through their goals.
  • To target motivation, get others to brainstorm appealing Options for taking action on their goals.
  • To target motivation, get others to identify 2-3 actions they Will take to achieve their goals.
In addition to targeting motivation, GROW empowers people to take responsibility. Since people grow as they take responsibility by defining, committing to, and achieving their goals, you can use GROW to help people to grow.
  • To empower people, get them to define their Goals and to make their goals SMART. Help them take responsibility by getting them to clarify and then state the goals they are motivated to work on.
  • To empower people, get them to explore the current Reality regarding their goal(s). Help them take responsibility by asking questions like “What’s going on?” and “How is God using ___ in your life?”
  • To empower people, get them to brainstorm Options for taking action on their goals. Help them take responsibility by asking questions like “What can you do?” and “What are your options?”
  • To empower people, get them to develop 2-3 SMART action steps they Will do. Help them take responsibility by asking questions like “What will you do?”
Use the GROW process to demonstrate you believe in others, to target motivation, and to empower others to take responsibility. Use the GROW process today.