Encouraging a Growth Mindset

The original concept of a Growth Mindset came out of the research of Carol Dweck, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University and author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. To sum up her findings:

Individuals with a fixed mindset are people who believe their basic qualities - their intelligence, their talents, their abilities, are predetermined and finite. They have a certain amount, and that’s that. Individuals who have a growth mindset believe their talents can be developed through hard work, good strategies and input from others. Dweck’s research shows these individuals tend to achieve more than those with a fixed mindset.This is because they’re not always worried about how smart they are, how they’ll look, what a mistake will mean. They challenge themselves and grow.

In a growth mindset, challenges are experienced as exciting rather than threatening. So rather than thinking, oh no, I’m going to reveal my weaknesses, you say, wow, here’s a chance to grow. If you find yourself afraid of challenges, you can get yourself into a growth mindset by thinking about all of the growth potential you can realise by following this opportunity, even if it’s out of your comfort zone. 

If you react to a setback defensively, wanting to hide it, wanting to make up excuses for it, you’re in a fixed mindset. And instead, ask what can I learn from this experience that can help me to go forward next time? 

In the fixed mindset, you’re so focused on the outcome. Will I look good? Will I live up to my reputation? Will people think I’m brilliant? However, in a growth mindset, you’re focused on the process - the reflection, learning and development process that you engage in to bring about your successes.

So, every time you feel yourself sinking into fixed mindset thinking, worrying about a challenge, feeling measured by a setback, worrying about the outcome rather than the process, try to shift yourself over into more growth mindset thinking. While you may wish to have a growth mindset all the time, in reality, it's an ongoing journey.