THE GROWTH MINDSET
Growth Mindset. We make it a part of core values and refer to it in performance reviews. We even talk about it in team meetings, but do we really know what it means? Many organizations think that if we simply commit to being open to continuous learning, we’ve achieved a growth mindset. That’s a great start but it’s more than a commitment. The work comes in practicing the self-awareness that promotes learning. Think of it this way. It is a building block that increases one’s self-awareness, and self-awareness is the cornerstone of great management.
Mindset Characteristics: Belief and Focus
Mindset is the result of our beliefs about how we acquire skills and how we focus on improvement. The belief that we are born with a finite set of skills makes us tend to focus on how we perform because good performance enhances and protects our image. On the other hand, if we believe we can improve those skills through knowledge, experience, etc., then we focus less on performance and more on the processes that lead to improvement.
The Spectrum: Fixed or Growth
Fixed: When we are in a fixed mindset, we believe that the skills and abilities we are born with are finite They can’t improve because they’re set in stone and no amount of effort will change them. We all have these thoughts about something in our lives but if it is the overarching belief, learning stagnates and stunts our growth. As a result, we don’t put in the effort to accept challenges as a part of learning. If that’s just the way we’re hardwired. So, if this is who we are, mistakes are not our fault, so we tend to discount suggestions for and instructions to improve. It’s not our fault.
Growth: Conversely, when we adopt a growth mindset, we think that change is possible and we become open to exploring different ways of looking at problems. We don’t worry as much about our self-image which allows us to fail forward. This is incredibly important because learning is impossible without failing. It’s also important to note that our mindsets are fluid and depend upon the current situation and our levels of skill and confidence at the moment.
Understanding the Components
Trevor Ragan, founder of Learner Lab breaks down the Key Ingredients to Growth in his YouTube Video Growth Mindset Introduction: What it is, How it Works, and Why it Matters. The ingredients (definitions are mine):
- Effort – Doing more to get better
- Challenges – using difficult situations/circumstances as a catalyst for growth
- Mistakes – Accepting miscues as part of the learning process
- Feedback – Accepting information and instruction to improve
Here’s my simplified version of Ragan’s ingredients how they impact the ability to learn
The Bottom Line
Developing a growth mindset starts with belief. Your job, as a manager and a leader, is to encourage those around you to reach beyond where they started and embrace where they want to finish. Your team’s potential for success is only limited by your belief in their growth.
Resources:
https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/develop-a-growth-mindset/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-happiness/201904/15-ways-build-growth-mindset
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