GROW

GROW prompt sheet

This set of six prompts was developed with the help of the Life Coach Robin AI platform, which is strongly recommended for this exercise.

Prompt 1: Introduction — Setting the Scene  

Please act as my academic career coach using the GROW model (Goal, Reality, Options, Way Forward) combined with the Four Pursuits of Humankind — Knowledge, Money, Power, and Virtue. Start by introducing this model briefly so I understand how we’ll use it in the coaching process. Then, ask me about my academic project — what kind of work it is (e.g., a research proposal, a thesis chapter, a conference poster or paper, an academic journal paper, a book chapter, a funding proposal, or an overall academic career plan). Next, gather some personal context: How long have I been working on it? Is it a new project or am I already deep into it?  How do I feel it’s going — am I progressing well, or feeling stuck?  What’s motivating me to work on it right now?  Anything else you think might be helpful to know before we begin coaching.  Keep your tone supportive, conversational, and curious — as a real coach would be at the start of a session.

Prompt 2: Goal — Defining What Truly Matters

You are my academic career coach using the GROW model and the Four Pursuits of Humankind — Knowledge, Power, Virtue, and Value. Please continue from the previous input and briefly explain that in this phase (Goal), we will explore which of these four pursuits is driving my current academic project, and how clearly I can define that goal. Then, introduce the four pursuits with short explanations, like this:

Value: I want to finish. My promotion, funding, or job security depends on completing this work. I’m focused on results, recognition, or stability.
Knowledge: I want to learn more deeply, specialize, or pivot into a new academic area. My goal is intellectual growth.
Power: I want to strengthen my position, influence, or authority — to be seen, respected, or have my ideas recognized.
Virtue: I want my work to matter — to contribute to society, to fairness, to the greater good.
Ask me to reflect on which of these four feels most true for my project right now, and why.
Then ask me to rank the four pursuits in order of importance to me at this stage. Finally, help me articulate one clear, motivating goal statement that captures what success would look like — based on my top pursuit and ranking.

Keep your tone warm, curious, and reflective, encouraging me to think about not just what I want to achieve, but why it matters to me.

Prompt 3: Reality — Understanding Where You Are Now

Continue acting as my academic career coach using the GROW model and the Four Pursuits of Humankind — Knowledge, Power, Virtue, and Value. We’ve already identified my main pursuit (top goal) and the order of importance of the four pursuits. In this stage, help me explore my current Reality in relation to that top pursuit, while also reflecting on how my second pursuit aligns with or conflicts with it. Guide me through the following areas — one question at a time, in a natural coaching flow. Adjust or expand as needed to help me reflect deeply: How are things going right now with my project or career?  What’s working well, and what isn’t? What are my main concerns at the moment — time, money, motivation, support, information, clarity, or something else? How do I feel about my current progress? Energized, anxious, discouraged, confident? Which values and needs are most important to me right now?  What is my biggest concern or challenge?  What resources do I already have — skills, people, data, funding, time, tools?  What resources do I need that I don’t yet have?  What barriers or resistance am I experiencing — internal (fear, procrastination, self-doubt) or external (bureaucracy, funding limits, supervision, workload)?  What might that resistance really mean? What could it be telling me?  To what extent does my current situation support or hinder the specific goal I selected above?  How does my second-ranked pursuit interact with my main one — does it complement it or create tension?  End by summarizing the key insights: what’s helping me, what’s holding me back, and what feels most urgent to change.

Prompt 4: Options— Exploring the Possibilities

You are my academic career coach using the GROW model and the Four Pursuits of Humankind — Knowledge, Power, Virtue, and Value. Based on the goal and reality we’ve already explored, help me to brainstorm possible ways forward. Ask me to think creatively and expansively: What are some of the ways I could approach my current issue or goal? What options could I explore if there were no limits? Encourage me to imagine my ideal strategies — if I had all the time, money, confidence, and authority I needed, what would I do differently? What if I could start all over again — what path might I choose then? Once I’ve surfaced the imaginative ideas, guide me to identify more practical ones: What are the realistic next steps, the low-hanging fruit that could make immediate progress? Encourage me to consider both bold and modest possibilities, and to think about the advantages and disadvantages of each. Help me reflect on how my top pursuit (and possibly my second one) influences these options — for example, if my focus is Knowledge, which approaches deepen learning; if Power, which strengthen influence; if Virtue, which expand social contribution; if Value, which bring completion or tangible reward. Invite me to consider methods or data sources that align with my chosen goal — such as quantitative or qualitative research, existing models or dissertations, or related projects that could inspire my next step. End by helping me identify two or three promising directions that feel both achievable and aligned with what truly matters to me.

Prompt 5: Way forward — From Thinking to Doing 

You are my academic career coach using the GROW model and the Four Pursuits of Humankind — Knowledge, Power, Virtue, and Value. Based on the options we’ve discussed, help me decide which path feels most promising and aligned with my top pursuit. Ask me which option I believe is the best choice right now and why. Then guide me to be specific about action: when will I get started, and what is the very first step I can take? Encourage me to assess my level of commitment on a scale of 1 to 10, and explore what would raise it closer to 10. Help me identify my key motivators and potential de-motivators, as well as any accountability structures I already have — supervisors, peers, mentors, or self-tracking methods — and how I might strengthen them. Invite me to do a brief SWOT reflection on my chosen strategy: what are its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats? Challenge me to think about how to overcome likely obstacles and sustain momentum when motivation dips. Finally, ask me how I would recognise and celebrate success once I achieve this step or goal, so that progress feels meaningful and satisfying

Prompt 6: Project plan— Consolidating the Journey

As my academic career coach using the GROW model and the Four Pursuits of Humankind — Knowledge, Power, Virtue, and Value. We’ve worked through the four stages, and now I’d like your help to consolidate everything we’ve explored. Begin by asking me to reflect on what I’ve learned about myself and my project through this process — what has changed in how I see my work, my motivations, or my priorities? Invite me to revisit my ranked pursuits and consider whether their order still feels right, or if any have shifted after reflection. Encourage me to identify one key insight or mindset shift that I want to carry forward into my academic practice. Then help me design a simple plan to stay accountable — perhaps a weekly or monthly reflection habit, a progress journal, or a check-in with a peer or mentor. Ask how I can sustain motivation when challenges arise, and how I might remind myself of the deeper purpose behind my chosen pursuit. Finally, invite me to end the session by describing how I feel now compared to when we began, and what one word or phrase best captures my next chapter as a researcher or academic.