Understanding the Concept of Growth Mindset

Imagine you're at a Karaoke night. You are determined to perform, however after a few minutes your voice begins to crack. You are embarrassed, and you think, "I'm just not a good singer." But what if instead, you believed, "I need more practice; I'll improve." This shift in mindset is what defines the growth mindset.

The term was coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, a growth mindset is the conviction that intelligence and abilities can be developed through commitment and perseverance. It's the belief that difficulties are opportunities to develop and not obstacles that are insurmountable.

Contrarily, a fixed-minded view is one that believes that our strengths are fixed and indefinite. If you believe that you're intrinsically poor at math, public speaking, math, or even cooking, or no amount of effort is going to make a difference, you're operating with an unchanging mindset.

The way we think influences the way we tackle life's challenges. A growth mindset:

• Failures become lessons. Instead of interpreting an unforeseen setback as a death-knell one sees it as a step towards.
  
  
• It is important to be able to work hard. It is viewed as an opportunity to improve and is not an indication of lack of competence.
  
  
• It is a good thing to embrace challenges. Achieving difficult tasks is an opportunity to improve skills.
  
  

In contrast, a rigid mindset can result in:

• Avoidance of problems. Fear of failure could keep you from trying new ideas.
  
  
• Doing nothing to address feedback. Criticism that is constructive is viewed as an attack on one's self.
  
  
• Plateaued development. If you don't work, your skills will are in a rut.
  

Think about these scenarios:

• Career Development: An employee is told that their presentation skills are in need of improvements. A fixed mentality could cause them to not attend future presentations. Growth mindsets encourage the participants to pursue education and to work.
  
  
• Personal Relationships: Following an argument, a person who is a fixed-minded person might conclude, "I'm just bad at relationships." Growth mindsets prompt an examination and the desire to enhance communication.
  
  
• Learning new skills Learning a new musical instrument or a brand new language is a challenge. Believing that the struggle is an element of learning is an essential part of the growth mindset.

1. Take on challenges: Get outside of your comfortable zone. Every challenge offers an opportunity to improve.
   
   
2. Be Persistent Despite Obstacles: Know that setbacks are a part of the process. Persistence is the key to success.
   
   
3. Value Effort: Understand that effort is a key factor in success, and not just natural talent.
   
   
4. Take lessons from criticism: See feedback as a way to improve, not as a personal attack.
   
   
5. Be proud of others' achievements. The achievements of others should encourage you, not deter you.

Imagine your brain as muscles. The more you work at it, the more powerful it becomes. Like lifting weights increases physical strength, facing problems and learning new skills increases the strength of neural connections. Therefore, each time you are struggling to master a new idea or skill, remember that your brain is getting exercis

It's normal to have places where a fixed mentality is a factor. The key is to be aware. If you find yourself thinking, "I'm just not good at this," include"yet" to the end of "yet." The simple addition changes the sentence into "I'm not good at this yet," which opens the way to progress.

Inviting others to grow with you can help to strengthen your own outlook. Be part of communities that promote the process of learning and perseverance. At the Attitude Makeover, we believe in creating environments that promote professional and personal growth.

A growth mindset isn't about being apathetic. It's about realizing that with the right effort, strategies and encouragement it is possible to improve our skills. It's a process of continual improvement and learning.

The next time you're faced with an obstacle, take a moment to think: "What can I learn from this?" Accept the challenge, and see yourself improve.