Why Having A Growth Mindset Matters To You

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Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset explanation
Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset by Dr Carol Dweck

In recent years, the term ‘Growth Mindset’ has become very popular and employers are now looking for employees with a strong growth mindset as part of their personal brand.  Companies are seeking leaders with a growth mindset to lead the companies in uncertain times.  Many of my clients have also asked me to share more about growth mind vs a fixed mindset. 

Do you know that you were born with curiosity and creativity but your experiences in life, school and work can unintentionally mute these qualities. Now it’s time to take control and take it back with a growth mindset.

WHAT IS A GROWTH MINDSET? WHY SHOULD I BOTHER ABOUT GROWTH MINDSET?

First let’s talk about WHY Growth Mindset and what exactly are a “mindset”, a “growth mindset and a fixed mindset”.

Your mindset is the sum of your thoughts and beliefs that determine how you make sense of yourself, your immediate environment, and the world.

According to Dr Carol Dweck, a researcher and Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, there are 2 types of mindsets: a Growth mindset and a Fixed mindset.

Those people with a growth mindset understand that knowledge can be acquired, intelligence and skills can be developed. With a growth mindset, people focus on improvement instead of worrying about how smart they are. They work hard to learn more and get smarter. A “growth mindset,” thrives on challenge and views failure not as evidence of unintelligence but as a great chance to learn and build upon existing skills and abilities.  They believe that learning doesn’t stop the moment you leave school or university. With time and effort, their intelligence and knowledge can grow because they recognize that their effort influences their success, so they spend more time practicing or learning, which leads to higher levels of achievement.

As can be seen, adopting a growth mindset is not just essential in your life, it’s critical.

On the other hand, a “fixed mindset” assumes that our character, intelligence, and creative ability are innate characteristics that cannot be changed.  People with a fixed mindset only believe that they have been successful when their performance or intelligence measures higher than the standard. They constantly strive for success and avoid failure at all costs because they fear other people will view them as being innately unintelligent.

Having a fixed mindset leads to a belief that intelligence and talent are limited, so there is no use in working to develop or learn. And, because they believe they were born with a restriction on their talent, those with a fixed mindset put this same restriction on their effort– and subsequently, their success.

SUMMARY OF GROWTH AND FIXED MINDSET

To help you understand, here’s a pictorial form of the differences between Growth and Fixed Mindset.

Growth Mindset and Fixed Mindset explanation
Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset explanation based on Dr Carol Dweck’s model

ROLE MODELS OF GROWTH MINDSET

There are uncountable number of role models who practise growth mindset. Just to name a few famous ones

….Einstein’s teacher said that he was ‘academically subnormal’

…..Walt Disney was told that he lacked ‘creative imagination’

….Michael Jordan’s coach said that he wasn’t more talented than other people…  Here’s a video of Michael Jordan on his failures and successes.  What have you learnt about effort in Michael Jordan’s case?

Michael Jordan speaks of Growth Mindset

WHAT CAUSED US TO HAVE A FIXED OR GROWTH MINDSET?

Out of these two mindsets, which we manifest from a very early age, comes our belief about whether or not we believe we can succeed at whatever we want to be. We are not what other people said we were at a young age.  You might recall in your childhood someone saying to you, “Your composition writing is terrible. You just cannot swim. You are not a good swimmer.” Are they wrong?  Did you feel disempowered?  Here’s the good news. No matter your current mindset, you can adopt and nurture a growth mindset but you have to work at it.

WHICH MINDSET DO I HAVE?

Some people do have a combination of growth and mindsets, in different areas of our lives and whilst many have a more dominant mindset over the other. Just knowing about the two mindsets can make us think and act in new ways.

CAN I CHANGE MY FIXED MINDSET TO A GROWTH MINDSET?

It is possible to change your mindset from one that is fixed to one that is willing and able to grow. The first step is to recognize your fixed mindset tendencies and beliefs and correct them.

HOW DO I CHANGE MY MINDSET?

Once we can spot the thoughts, words, and actions that go with the fixed and growth mindsets, we start catching ourselves in fixed mode and we can learn to switch into growth mode.   

Here are 5 ways you can try to develop the habit of getting into the Fixed Mindset

  • Try new things. Experiment. Make mistakes and correct them along the way. Reject what doesn’t work after trying to see what might. Tweak, iterate, and maintain an upward trajectory in effort and progress. 
  • View challenges as opportunities: Having a growth mindset means relishing opportunities for self-improvement. Learn more about how to fail well. Attack a small challenge until you succeed. Learn how to code or cook.
  • Check and change your inner voice: What are your thoughts telling you? Check them for fixed mindset thoughts! And start re-framing your inner thoughts into growth mindset thoughts. For eg, after you have encountered a setback, instead of saying, “I am bad at this”, say “I can improve with effort and practice and I will see results.”
  • Stop seeking approval: When you prioritize approval over learning, you sacrifice your own opportunity for growth. Try doing something well at work and don’t tell anyone. Let the recognition come to you.
  • View criticism as a positive: You don’t have to use that over-used term, “constructive criticism” but you do have to believe in the concept of being positive leads to learning.

If you would like to arrange for a Growth Mindset/Fixed Mindset workshop or a Growth Mindset lunchtime talk , please contact us to customise based on your requirements. Do share with us WHY you would like to have the talk/course, your requirements and duration. Thank you.

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