22 October 2024

Over the coming months, many of you will have your first GROW conversation with your manager. GROW was introduced across the university at the start of this faculty year and stands for Gesprekken over Resultaat, Ontwikkeling en Welzijn – an opportunity to speak openly with your manager about your performance, development and well-being.

During this conversation, you’ll not only reflect on the past year – you’ll also look ahead. So, it’s important to prepare for your GROW conversation well in advance. Use this step-by-step plan to help you get ready.

1. You can schedule the conversation with your manager yourself. You’ll receive a reminder by email when it’s time to schedule your annual interview. But you can also take the initiative to arrange a meeting with your manager before then.
2. The GROW toolkit offers guidelines on how to prepare for your start interview or annual interview. These documents provide all the necessary information.
3. You need to complete the ‘GROW Interview Report’ form before your interview. You can find this in the GROW tile in the Service Portal. You will use the form to reflect on the results you’ve achieved over the past period, as well as on your development and well-being. You will also consider your own contribution, including how you contributed to your team, as well as your wishes for the months ahead.
4. The GROW tile in the Service Portal provides questions to help you complete the form:

• Preparation questions start and annual interview for non-academic staff
• Preparation questions start and annual interview for academic staff
• Preparation questions start and annual interview for PhD candidates

5. Use the feedback form to obtain feedback from colleagues in preparation for your interview.
6. One week before your interview at the latest, send the report to your manager via the GROW tile in the Service Portal. This report will guide your GROW conversation.

All the best with your GROW conversation!

You can also watch this instruction video (in Dutch) on how to produce a GROW report.