What Is a Growth Mindset?
A growth mindset is the belief that talents, abilities, new skills, and emotional intelligence can be developed with time and practice. Basically, it is the attitude that success stems from consistent effort and the ability to work through challenges. Conversely, individuals with fixed mindsets have the belief that intelligence and talents are fixed traits that cannot be developed. With this mindset, challenges are synonymous with failure, and effort put towards overcoming said challenges is considered wasted. Leaders with a growth mindset have the ability to focus on the process rather than the outcome compared to leaders with fixed mindset. Therefore, leading with a growth mindset is a predictor of a successful company.
Growth Mindset Culture
Adopting a growth mindset is essential for learning culture. It creates an environment that encourages people to grow, adapt, be curious, and embrace the learning process as an important aspect of personal development. When an individual has a growth mindset, they are more likely to try new things, take risks, and develop new skills compared to those with a fixed mindset
What is a Growth Mindset Example?
Differences Between a Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset
How a Fixed Mindset Hurts Your Business and Limits Your Leadership
Organizations that lead with a fixed mindset create a culture of fear. When problems inevitably arise, leaders with fixed mindsets view the challenges as failures and look for someone to blame. They may even fire and replace this person, as they believe skills cannot be improved, making mistakes a sign of inability. It is also common for them to step in and solve the problem on their own, as they don't believe they can trust others with the task. This fear inducing mindset limits teams from taking risks, embracing innovation, or expressing ideas as mistakes are viewed as unacceptable. It also affects their motivation, making company teams less inclined to perform at their full potential. Lastly, leadership that micromanages their teams can cause unnecessary burnout and stress.
Top Benefits of Shifting to a Growth Mindset
Growth mindset training for business
Leaders who embrace a growth mindset will expand their team’s potential and create a company culture built on accountability, responsibility, and business growth. Even during times of crisis, leaders will not seek someone to blame or view mistakes as failures. Rather, a great leader in business will take the necessary steps to overcome challenges and secure future success.
Growth mindset training for teachers
By effectively keeping a growth mindset, teachers can gain a great deal of professional development. Not only will this mindset enhance the experience of their students, but it can also serve the individual teacher as well. Teachers with a growth mindset will take responsibility for improving their practice, view setbacks as opportunities to learn, actively seek new challenges, keep high expectations for their students, and use the growth mindset language when interacting with their students.
Growth mindset training for students
Students with growth mindsets expand their potential compared to those with fixed mindsets. By holding the belief that intelligence and talent can be developed, they can experience higher levels of resilience, motivation, and achievement. Praising a student's efforts rather than their intelligence can influence them to pursue difficult challenges. A growth mindset can result in higher self-esteem, improved knowledge, deeper learning, and more diverse abilities.
Strategies for Developing a Growth Mindset for Leadership
The seven-stage framework of the LTAD model is structured around the following 10 factors:
1. Seek New Experiences
Expanding your world by learning new things, developing new skills, or trying new foods is crucial for neurological growth. This will help you cultivate a growth mindset and live a more fulfilling life.
2. Add "Yet" To Your Vocabulary
The next time you face a challenge, resist the urge to view the experience as a failure. Adjust your vocabulary and add "not yet" to the end of any negative thoughts. For example: "I don't know how to solve this problem...yet."
3. Find Room for Improvement
Personally or professionally, there are always areas an individual can improve. Identify areas of weakness, develop the skills you need to improve, and set yourself up for long-term success.
4. Help and Inspire Others
Creating a community where you build others up can improve collective and personal performance. When in a leadership position, practice active listening and empathy, and become a source of support for others. Most people will thrive under this form of leadership, leading to greater success overall.
5. Avoid Perfectionism and Embrace Mistakes
To have a growth mindset, accept that perfectionism is not real and that mistakes are an inevitable part of life. Doing so will minimize feelings of shame or judgement that come with facing obstacles and enhance the learning process.
6. Write Your Own Definition of Success
Avoid comparing yourself to societal standards and rate your progress by your own definition of success. Focus on what matters to you, reflect on previous accomplishments, set short- and long-term goals, make a list of steps to work towards your goals, and accept that everyone's journey looks different.
7. Embrace Constructive Criticism
Great leadership involves collaborating with others which opens the door for criticism. Rather than take criticism as a declaration of failure, view it as a teachable moment and an opportunity to give and receive productive feedback.
Thoughts Are Powerful
Mindsets impact every aspect of your life. It influences your capabilities, determines your opportunities, affects who you meet, and ultimately shapes the life you live. To get the most of your life, shift towards a growth mindset built on learning, development, and a positive way of thinking.
FAQ
Meet Kris Beech
My love of athletics grew as a kid. My desire to play was driven by pure enjoyment, and I developed the greatest appreciation for the game of ice hockey. I was fortunate that my skill, dedication and commitment to improvement allowed me to play in the NHL and have a 15-year pro hockey career.
Like any high-level athlete, there was a mix of success and adversity. As I navigated that experience as a young adult, I was not prepared to handle the ups and downs in the mental game. I had unknowingly encouraged and solidified some thinking and behaviours that would all but eliminate my ability to enjoy the game I so deeply loved. The support I received from family, friends, and professionals helped me realize I needed to make some changes to recover my skill and ability, perform at my best, and enjoy the game again.
Aimability Performance
Health Inc.
Contact Info
Email info@aimability.com
Phone (778) 318-7096
Address 1000 3rd St W Suite 300,
North Vancouver, BC
V7P 3J6