Cultivating a Growth Mindset

We all have a mindset preference. Let’s take a short quiz to help you determine yours. Which of these statements do you most relate to, “if I don’t pick up on something easily, I tend to get frustrated and give up”, or “even when something is hard for me, I know if I persevere, I will figure it out”? Be honest. There’s no right or wrong answer, just insight into your natural tendency. Hold that thought. We’ll come back to this. 

In 2007 Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck asked a fundamental question, “why do some people achieve their potential while others who are equally as talented or even more so don’t?” Through her decades of research, Dweck discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset. Dweck concluded that it’s not intelligence, talent or education that sets successful people apart. It’s their mindset, or the way they approach life’s challenges.

She chronicled and popularized her findings in her best-selling book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Dweck shows how success in almost every area of human endeavor (e.g., school, work, sports, the arts, etc.), can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. Dweck proves that talent alone isn’t enough to achieve success. We all know someone who is hugely talented but doesn’t put that talent to use to achieve all that is possible. A certain amount of talent can help the process of achieving goals, but talent can also be a trap. You’re tricked into thinking that’s all you need. Particularly if getting better requires hard work or gets you out of your comfort zone. 

The main ingredients for success are talent plus practice. Dweck found you are far more likely to reach challenging goals and targets with average talent supported by dedicated practice, focus and determination rather than relying on exceptional talent with no commitment to practicing skills to enhance your abilities. Look at all-time NBA great Michael Jordan. There are many high school and college basketball players that have talent. Yet, 1.2% of NCAA men’s basketball players make it to the NBA. Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. His maniacal commitment to practice is legendary and the key to his unparalleled success. 

Dweck coined the terms fixed and growth mindset. People with a fixed mindset—those who believe that abilities are fixed—are less likely to flourish than those with a growth mindset—those who believe that abilities can be developed. Dweck found that while we might be predisposed to one or the other, we can move fluidly between growth and fixed depending on context and the specific situation. 

So where does Fixed Mindset come from? Much of how we respond to challenges are rooted in past experiences. Past experiences remind us of our challenges and failures. When stressed, the brain releases cortisol which curbs us from doing certain things, preparing us for flight, fight or even freeze mode. Our brain is trying to protect us. Brain programming has a long memory and can go way back into our lived experiences.

To cultivate a growth mindset, we need to focus on retraining the brain. The good news is the brain is a pliable muscle. So, if past experiences can dictate a fixed mindset, establishing a different track record and muscle memory can do the same for a growth mindset. For decades researchers thought the brain was wired in a way that meant you either had a skill or you didn’t, all based on genetics. Now we know the brain is far more adaptable than we realized. It can change and grow no matter what age, income, position, geography, culture…. In other words, you can reorient your brain to learn how to have more of a growth mindset.

One of the great things about growth mindset is that it isn’t about a complicated theory.  Those with growth mindset can behave in certain observable ways – you’ll know it when you see it. Let’s look at how growth versus fixed mindsets approach certain things.

Challenge: Fixed avoids it. Growth enjoys and embraces it.

Obstacles or Difficulties: Fixed gives up easily. Growth will persist for long periods even in the face of setbacks. 

Effort: Fixed associates it with failure. Growth understands effort is the path to mastery. 

Feedback and Criticism: Fixed tends to ignore it. Growth seeks out critical feedback.

Success of Others: Fixed feels threatened by comparisons to others. Growth is inspired by the success of others. 

Making Mistakes: Fixed will actively hide or ignore mistakes. Growth sees mistakes not as failure but as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Asking for Help or Support: Fixed turns this down. Growth seeks it out.

Your mindset has the power to change the game at work and in your personal life. It’s important to remember that you are in control of your mindset. You can change how you view the world and how you respond to situations and events. The key is learning how to make the shift toward a growth mindset or if you’re already there, how to maintain that way of looking at the world even when facing challenges.

So how do we cultivate a growth mindset? Here are some tips.

1. Embrace challenges: Rather than avoiding challenges, seek them out as opportunities to learn and grow.
2. View feedback and failure as learning opportunities: Failure and feedback are not a reflection of your incompetence, rather they are opportunities to grow and get better.
3. Adopt a positive attitude: Consciously focus on the positive aspects of a situation and look for solutions, rather than dwelling on the negatives.
4. Focus on the process and celebrate your progress: Breaking down the process into steps can help you focus on the larger journey. Recognizing your achievements, no matter how small they may be, will serve as motivation to keep you moving forward.
5. Emphasize effort over innate talent: Remember the core tenet here, effort is more important than inborn ability.
6. Cultivate curiosity and a passion for learning: Tap into your natural curiosity and desire for learning by reading, listening to podcasts, attending workshops, and/or taking courses. This will ignite your belief that you can always learn and improve.
7. Believe in yourself: Talk back to your fixed mindset when it wants to take over. Practice positive self-talk, reminding yourself of your strengths and potential.
8. Surround yourself with growth-minded people: Seek out individuals (friends, coworkers, mentors, etc.) who will guide, support, challenge and engage your emerging passion for growth.

Adopting a growth mindset can be a powerful tool for personal and professional success. It’s important to remember that most of us have a natural preference for either fixed or growth mindset and our past experiences shape that preference. Depending on context and the situation, we can move fluidly between mindsets. Adopting a growth mindset consistently can be developed, but there is no quick fix. It requires choice, commitment, and practice.

So now, back to where we began, with the two mindset statements and which one you most agreed with. By now you must recognize that the first statement reflects a fixed mindset, while the second accounts for a growth mindset. Starting from where you are is critical to getting to where you want to be.