In the face of adversity, the difference between surviving and thriving often comes down to your mindset. It can have a profound effect on how you approach challenges and setbacks, your ability to learn and acquire new skills, personal relationships, and professional success.
The concept of growth and fixed mindsets was developed by psychologist Carol Dweck, and made popular through her book, “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success”. In her research, Dweck questions the consequences of thinking that intelligence, talent or personality is something that can be developed, rather than being a fixed trait.
Carol Dweck
People with a fixed mindset believe they were born with a fixed level of intelligence, talent, ability - and that’s it. It cannot be modified. They want to appear intelligent to cover their fear of looking incompetent to others. They tend to document their talents, rather than working hard to learn and improve. With this view, talent leads to success, not effort and persistence.
Those with a fixed mindset have a tendency to:
Avoid challenges
Give up easily
See effort as fruitless
Ignore useful negative feedback
Feel threatened by the success of others
As a result, they may plateau early and achieve less than their full potential.
People with a growth mindset believe that with enough effort and experience, they can become smarter, more capable, and more talented. Effort has a direct effect on their achievements, not talent alone. So they put in the time to learn and develop, leading to higher levels of success.
Those with a growth mindset are more primed to:
Embrace challenges
Persist in the face of setbacks
See effort as the path to mastery
Learn from criticism
Find lessons and inspiration in the success of others
As a result, they reach ever-higher levels of achievement.
People with a growth mindset are not discouraged by failure. In fact, they view those situations as an opportunity for self-improvement. Dweck writes:
Carol Dweck
Don’t hide from your weaknesses. Acknowledge and embrace them in order to overcome them.
Each challenge, setback or obstacle is an opportunity for self-improvement.
When it comes to learning, there’s no one-size-fits-all model. Find what works for you.
Making a mistake doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it means you’ve learned.
Prioritising approval over learning sacrifices your potential for growth and development.
Enjoy the learning process and don’t be concerned when it continues beyond the expected time frame.
People with a growth mindset feel a greater sense of purpose by focusing on the bigger picture.
Genius is not about talent alone, it requires hard work - myth busted.
Well-intended, constructive criticism is an opportunity for improvement - for the self and the team.
If you’re struggling with a task, just tell yourself you haven’t mastered it “yet.” This is also an effective technique to use with others.
There’s simply not enough time to make all the mistakes yourself. Learn from others. We’re all human, after all.
You’ll never be done learning. People with a growth mindset are constantly creating new goals to keep themselves stimulated.
Don’t be afraid to fail. Giving yourself permission to make mistakes now and then makes it easier to take risks in the future.
Learning takes time and effort. Don’t be disheartened if you can’t master a topic in one sitting.
Develop, acknowledge and be proud of your growth mentality. Let it guide you through the tough times and the good.
Developing a growth mindset is like tending to a garden. It requires continued, intentional nurturing. But, with the right tools, persistence and care, you’ll bloom. It’s key to building mental resilience to help you thrive - even in the toughest of times.
Thomas Edison
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