There are two main types of mindsets: growth mindsets and fixed mindsets. One views every new challenge as an opportunity for personal or business growth. The other avoids facing new challenges in the first place! In this article, we’ll cover the ins and outs of how to develop a growth mindset.
When you learn how to build a self-growth mindset, you’ll discover how to welcome fresh challenges and stay on the lookout for opportunities to succeed. It’s a much more successful path than a fixed mindset, which is inherently limiting to your potential.
Major research studies have shown the positive effects of having a growth mindset. One of the world’s largest studies, which included 78 countries, found that a growth mindset was linked with more academic success, a higher willingness to persevere in difficult circumstances, and a greater sense of personal well-being.
What is a Growth Mindset?
A growth mindset is a way of thinking that encourages people to develop their skills and abilities. It can make people better at almost any skill. It helps people see failure as a learning experience, and it helps them set realistic goals.
What is a Fixed Mindset?
A growth mindset is the opposite of a fixed mindset, which is often associated with failure. People with fixed mindsets believe that their abilities are fixed and that they need to use their skills perfectly. They focus on how much effort they must exert in order to succeed. In addition, they often dwell on not making mistakes, which they view as a personal weakness.
What’s a Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset?
Wondering whether you have a growth mindset or a fixed mindset? Here’s how to tell the difference within yourself and in others. Look at the approach to change.
A person with a fixed mindset stays stuck in the past and is strongly averse to change. Even when they’re suffering from being in a bad situation, they still view change as a threat. Their fixed mindset tends to keep them in a rut, always feeling fearful of what’s to come.
By contrast, a person with a growth mindset welcomes changing conditions. When they encounter new information, they’re curious and open to altering their perspective. They might experience a twinge of fear about the future, but they don’t let it hold them back. They continue pushing forward with optimism.
Why Does a Growth Mindset Yield Success?
Having a growth-focused mindset is essential in the business world because your company’s circumstances are always changing. That’s simply part of doing business.
A strong, thriving business relies on its employees to continually solve problems and achieve goals, even when the business environment is extremely demanding. Interpersonal conflicts must be resolved quickly and skillfully enough that they don’t hinder the forward evolution of the business.
This is particularly important when a company is experiencing a period of change, like rapid business growth, serving new clientele, launching a new product line, starting a rebranding campaign, or approaching an acquisition/merger. These activities need plenty of flexible thinkers who are open to change and opportunities.
One of the most famous growth mindset examples is Oprah Winfrey, who founded her media empire on the belief that people can accomplish things even under the most difficult circumstances. Oprah encourages people to become lifelong learners and to believe that they can choose to be excellent.
“The choice to be excellent begins with aligning your thoughts and words with the intention to require more from yourself.”
Oprah Winfrey
Can You Learn How to Develop a Growth Mindset?
Yes! You can learn how to develop a growth mindset and become someone who embraces change with open arms. You don’t have to do it alone.
A leadership coach helps a person or company learn the techniques for developing a growth mindset. Your coach supports you and encourages you to gain perspective on a challenging situation. A skilled coach is also savvy enough to identify gaps in learning and share leadership tools that will help you and your team make measurable progress toward success.
Developing a growth mindset is a process that takes time and dedication. That’s why a comprehensive and customized leadership development approach is much more effective at this task than simple employee training sessions.
Leadership Resources offers the Accelerate Leadership program, which is a proven leadership and learning program for nourishing a growth mindset. We’re here to show you how growing minds lead to growing businesses!
