4 Expert Tips to Develop a Growth Mindset

In your career, you’ve heard all sorts of ~buzz words~

ROI 

Deep dive 

KPI

Circle back 

Bottom line 

Leverage 

And, Growth Mindset. 

But, what exactly is a growth mindset? 

Let’s start at the beginning. Dr. Carol Dweck, a professor of psychology whose research specializes in motivation, found two mindsets: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. People with fixed mindsets believe that their talents, abilities, and qualities are carved in stone, whereas people with growth mindsets believe that their basic qualities such as talents and intelligence can be cultivated through their efforts (Dweck, 2006). 

Those with fixed mindsets are more likely to avoid challenges, give up when obstacles get in their way, ignore constructive criticism, and find the success of others threatening. Those with growth mindsets embrace challenges, persist through obstacles, learn from criticism, and are inspired by the success of others.

Dweck says, “This growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts. Although people may differ in every which way in their initial talents and aptitudes, interests, or temperaments, everyone can change and grow through application and experience.” Dweck’s research has demonstrated that when it comes to predicting success, it doesn’t matter if someone is gifted or not.

What matters is a person’s belief that they can succeed and prevail. 

How to Develop a Growth Mindset

The truth is, we can all achieve goals, success, and enhance our talents and abilities by working on changing our fixed mindset to a growth mindset. Here are our expert tips to develop a growth mindset: 

1. Listen to your internal dialogue.
   This is important to assessing your current mindset - you must be able to recognize your fixed-mindset triggers in order to work through them. How do you handle and receive criticism? How do you respond to comparison or how do you collaborate with others? Listen to this internal voice, recognize your mindset triggers, and learn how to respond to them to create a growth mindset. 

2. Recognize you have a choice.
   Applying a growth mindset is a regular and continuous choice. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in a negative spiral of “I can’ts” In that spiral, you have a choice to continue, or to hop of out the spiral. One of my favorite approaches is to toss the word “yet” into your “I can’ts” Here’s what that sounds like “I can’t figure out this problem…yet”  “I can’t write that kind of code…yet”When your internal dialogue tells you that you “can’t” or you “may fail” - you have a choice to accept that or work through it.

3. Practice.
   Put yourself in situations where you will be pushed to develop a growth mindset. Work with a new partner to collaborate on a project or volunteer to try something new in your role. Proactively choosing these opportunities will give you ample opportunities to practice your growth mindset.

4. Replace the word “failing” with “learning.”
   Failing is just a new way of learning! Embrace failure as an opportunity to learn and grow - rather than as an end all, be all. When you recognize this, you will be on your way to cultivating a growth mindset. A quick reframe from “I suck at this” to “I’m learning this” can go a long way. Remember, your brain believes what you tell it. 

A growth mindset is more than just “being positive.” Growth mindsets are about believing in your potential for growth, development, and success. It focuses on cultivating new skills through perseverance and practice. Cultivating a growth mindset doesn’t just have to focus on your career either - you can apply this to your personal life, too! 

So, tell us how you’re going to work on cultivating a growth mindset in the comments!