This concept has become a real focus in education and in a wider wellbeing context in the past few years thanks to the work of Carol Dweck, world-renowned Growth Mindset expert.

Its application has spread amongst educators, in organisations and even within families as many parents realise the importance of assisting their kids throughout their lives by helping them develop an ongoing ability to take on new information.

 

Why is it important?

Simply put, cultivating a growth mindset can help us improve our performance and our outcomes and it enables us to strike out into unexplored territory, perhaps yielding valuable unforeseen opportunities.

Although it might sound obvious that trying something new and then improving on it will eventually lead to mastery (in comparison to not trying at all) many of us are afraid to give new things a go for fear of getting “it” wrong, looking like a failure or exposing our flaws and weaknesses. Where does that lead? Over time it will narrow our experience of life and cost us a sense of our own movement and improvement – impacting our self-confidence along the way.   If we don’t learn how to adopt a growth mindset we’ll be limiting our opportunities and options, which will keep us constrained and likely frustrated. We’ll be snugly tucked within the restricted confines of our well-established comfort zone rarely getting (or creating) the opportunity to experience anything new or different.

I love this cartoon – but what’s the magic, you might ask?

I see the magic as new, different experiences, existing potentials unknown to us, inspiration, growth, energy, satisfaction, as well as a sense of improvement and mastery leading to self-confidence. To me these factors are what elevates a humdrum existence into a richly rewarding and stimulating life.

I believe that we are wired to grow and evolve and that when we’re not growing we feel stagnant and lacking in energy. However it takes courage to put yourself out there to learn, to expose yourself as a novice. Mostly we’re afraid to try anything that’s too new and different, and who can blame us? People might think we look stupid. And we can’t be having that, can we?

 

What is it?

In a nutshell a growth mindset is habits of thinking and behaviour that enable a person to grow, learn and develop rather than to stay static.

More and more we’re finding out that so much about us is not nearly as fixed or rigid as was once believed. With every year that goes by, neuroscientists are learning more about the brain and realising that its structures can change, it’s more in flux than previously thought. We can learn well into advanced old age, we just need to know how!

Up until about the mid-20th century it was believed that intelligence itself was fixed and that talent was something you’re born with – or not as the case may be. Although we may be endowed with a certain base level of talent, we possess the capabilities to develop what we do have.  How awesome is that?! And those lucky souls who have the “X-factor”? That’s where talent and development powerfully combine.

 

Fixed Vs Growth mindset

Before I talk a little about the differences between the two mindsets, I think it’s important to mention that we move between them – this too isn’t fixed! Often we’ll revert to a fixed mindset if we are out of our comfort zone learning something new (we don’t want to reveal our ignorance or look stupid) or if we’re with someone who is obviously more accomplished in a certain area compared to us.

Here are some of the differences between fixed and growth mindsets:

Fixed Mindset

  • Believes intelligence and talents are fixed, something we’re “born with”
  • Believes talent trumps effort
  • Sees themself as a failure if they get a less than perfect result
  • Hides flaws and conceals weaknesses
  • Avoids challenges rather than risking exposing weaknesses
  • Ignores or avoids feedback, viewing it as personal criticism and/or possible evidence of failure
  • Feels threatened by others’ success

Growth Mindset

  • Believes intelligence and talents can be developed
  • Believes effort is the path to mastery
  • Believes mistakes and “failure” are an integral part of leaning
  • Views failure as an opportunity to learn and grow
  • Relishes challenges as growth opportunities
  • Embraces all feedback and uses it constructively to learn and grow
  • Views others’ success as inspirational

 

Warning signs of a Fixed mindset

Perfectionism

A fixed mindset is usually aligned with perfectionism, as unless something is “perfect” it is not good enough to expose, utilise or enjoy fully. This can so often keep us stuck or procrastinating because we don’t want to launch a creation or take action unless it’s “right first time”. This is a recipe not only for missed growth and learning opportunities, but it keeps us bound in a reduced comfort zone, which despite its name doesn’t actually feel all that comfortable. People with perfectionistic tendencies will attempt to manage their environment to avoid anything too risky or challenging, therefore confirming their deepest fears – they’re not good enough…and nor is anyone or anything else.

Going to great lengths to avoid looking stupid

This is where we don’t want to try a new idea, behaviour or experience because we don’t want to risk looking stupid or a failure. It breaks my heart that this is how so many people (women especially) live, and it’s something that many parents mention to me about their children. No surprises that it’s especially common in girls.

 

Ways to develop more of a growth mindset

Anyone can develop a growth mindset! You just have give yourself permission to start somewhere.

After all, in the words of Carol Dweck:

Becoming is better than being

Here are a few ideas to try on:

Instead of saying “I can’t”, say “I can’t yet”. Have a go at adding the word “yet” at the end of a sentence and notice how things start lightening up a bit.   If there’s something you want to learn, this gives you permission to just start wherever you are and give it a crack. By adding “yet” you’re presupposing that one day you will be able to do whatever it is that you’re trying. Simple yet powerful.

Give yourself permission to try something new and different knowing that you are a beginner at it. What’s the worst that can happen? Is it really that bad? Is holding yourself back from learning something a higher priority than pleasing others? And think about what you might stand to gain if you try? A new interest? A new skill? New relationships? Pride and satisfaction in trying something new? Be more concerned about self-approval rather than approval from others.

Seek and embrace feedback and take on challenges using these as opportunities to learn. Enjoy the journey knowing that it’s never finished!

Realise that Rome wasn’t built in a day – nothing worthwhile ever was. Expect to have to persist and learn how to delay your gratification a bit.

Don’t’ focus too much on talent or genius. Don’t listen too hard if someone praises you for being smart or talented (or says that about someone else). Gritty persistence and effort are far more valuable in the long run because they’ll be habits that you can apply broadly.

Acknowledge and embrace imperfections – your own and other peoples’. We all have them but while we’re focussing on concealing them we’re likely to be blocking our ability to grow and develop.