5 ways to cultivate a growth mindset
World-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck, after decades of research, discovered and showcased a relatively simple idea: that human endeavour in every area including work, sports, the arts and at school can be significantly influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. She called this influence the power of the mindset, and popularised the terms ‘growth mindset’ and ‘fixed mindset’ in her book: Mindset: the new psychology of success.
People with a fixed mindset believe that character, intelligence, and creative ability are given and finite. In contrast, those with a growth mindset believe that it is within their control to develop their abilities and that hard work and dedication forms the route to success. Rather than seek approval, they seek opportunity to learn, and failures are often not seen as such, but rather viewed as a springboard for growth and stretch. The research shows that growth mindsets assist people to flourish, likely because the ‘can do’ approach epitomised by the growth mindset, synonymous with a love of learning, builds resilience and paves the way for greater accomplishment. What we believe about our abilities and potential can fuel our behaviour and predict our success. It is possible to slowly rewire our cognitive habits. The growth mindset, as described by Maria Popova on brainpickings, can be both ‘fruitful and nourishing’.
So how do we develop a growth mindset?
1. Start using the words ‘not yet’, with yourself and others. Struggling with a task? You have not mastered it, yet.
2. Think of your brain in training. See the brain as a muscle that can be trained and developed, rather than an organ that is fixed and finite (or worse, slowly declining). It takes time to learn, so be realistic about time and effort required.
3. Turn ‘failures’ into opportunities to learn. What can I do differently in future? Learn from others too – what challenges have they approached and what worked well / not so well?
4. Praise and reward effort and hard work over talent or inherent skill.
5. Set a new goal for every goal that you accomplish. And celebrate your growth with others.
A growth mindset is essential for adapting, evolving and thriving into the future. In what ways are you developing yours?
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