GROW with Archetypes

Archetypes are universally recognised patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving that shape the roles you play throughout life. When you combine Archetypes with the GROW coaching model you will add another dimension to assist you on your path to success.

You can incorporate archetypes into the GROW coaching model to bring a more holistic approach to goal-setting and problem-solving because you’re tapping into universal wisdom that resonates with your heart, mind and soul.

The GROW model stands for Goal, current Reality, Obstacles and Options or Opportunities, and Will or Way Forward. It’s a coaching framework used to structure conversations, facilitate problem-solving and goal-setting processes. The GROW model is flexible, adaptable and widely used in coaching and mentoring, in the context of personal and professional development.

There are two ways to incorporate archetypes into the GROW model.

The first way is to associate archetypes with each element of the GROW model to enhance personal meaning, motivation, and inspiration. It allows you to facilitate a more profound exploration of personal goals, reality, options, and the way forward. I find this approach can make coaching sessions more relatable, insightful and inspiring for personal and professional development, and goal attainment.

An expert coach trained to facilitate archetypes may use different archetypes to the generic archetypes I’ve chosen to use below. Every client, coach and situation is unique, therefore as a coach, archetypes need to be selected according to individual client and coach requirements.

Here’s an example of how to GROW with Archetypes.

Goal

The Leader archetype can assist you to achieve your goal. To set a goal, you need to take the lead in your own life. The Leader represents aspirations and the courage to pursue goals. In the GROW model, when a client embodies the Leader, it helps them to focus on their desired objective. Calling the Leader brings out your hidden ability to take charge. The Leader represents your aspiration to achieve something important to you. This archetype inspires determination and motivation to reach the defined goal.

Reality

Qualities of the Sage archetype can be used by the client to describe their current reality. When you call on the Sage archetype, it inspires wisdom, insight, and truth-seeking within you. In the Reality phase, the Sage can make an objective evaluation of the current situation. Embracing the Sage archetype encourages a deeper understanding of the present situation to facilitate an insightful assessment of personal strengths, weaknesses, challenges and obstacles.

Options and Obstacles

The Alchemist archetype can assist the client to generate ideas for options and ways to overcome obstacles. The Alchemist archetype symbolises transformation, creativity, and resourcefulness. Within the GROW model, the Alchemist embodies the phase of generating options and identifying alternative solutions. Calling on the Alchemist archetype will inspire creativity and innovation. It can bring forth your hidden ability to envision multiple pathways and strategies to overcome obstacles so that you achieve the outcome you desire.

Will and Way Forward

The Liberator archetype inspires action, freedom, and courage, and will challenge oppression and the limitations imposed on you, either by you and/or others. Identifying with this archetype inspires clients to take action, to break free from personal constraints. The Liberator ignites a sense of purpose and empowerment. It encourages you to strive for positive change. Embracing the Liberator archetype will tap you into your hidden capacity for autonomy and self-expression, and can inspire you to stand up for yourself and take action to move forward.

The GROW coach may, in the example above, represent the Guide archetype. The Guide steers you through the GROW process to achieve your goals. The coach as Guide archetype embodies, and therefore provides you with guidance, direction, and support. The Guide represents a supportive role, offering suggestions, encouragement, and accountability to ensure that you implement your plan for success.

The second way is Self-author a personal archetype according to the GROW model, and then write a narrative based on the archetypal associations to guide the way forward.

Let’s say Lisa has trouble sleeping for a few nights in a row. As her coach, you ask Lisa to turn her focus inward and ask her archetypes: Which archetype is keeping me awake at night? The Lover archetype comes to mind. So, with a relaxed mindset, and her journal and a pen in hand, Lisa begins a dialogue with this archetype by asking:

What is the problem? What’s keeping me awake at night? To answer these questions, you ask Lisa to deconstruct the archetype by brainstorming 10 positive associations and 10 negative associations.

Negative Lover	Positive Lover
dispassionate	passionate, passion
indifferent	making a difference
uncaring	caring
uninspired	inspiring
lack of motivation	motivated
flat	interesting
unexcited	exciting
distanced	close
pushing away	attracting
isolated	connecting, connections

Then, you ask Lisa to match her associations to the GROW model:

• Goal: To make a difference.
• Reality: Indifference.
• Obstacle: Being distant.
• Opportunity: To be caring.
• Way forward: To inspire others.

While completing this exercise, Lisa’s problem begins to emerge. It dawns on her that uncertainty around her career direction is keeping her awake. But after consulting the Lover archetype, Lisa’s goal is clear. As her coach, you then read her archetypal narrative for her:

“There is a part of Lisa that wants to make a difference, but at the moment, the reality is, there’s another part that’s indifferent about it. This indifference is creating an obstacle, one that puts a distance between Lisa and her co-workers. To overcome this, Lisa could take advantage of opportunities to be caring as they arise.”

By now, Lisa acknowledges that if she embraces these opportunities, she will find her way forward to inspire others.