Growth Mindset 2

(Wednesday)

Context:

To some degree, all of us have a growth mindset. Even those who are currently dominated by a fixed mindset. In this lesson, we’ll look at ways that we can continue to develop and build our growth mindset.

Why it’s important: Employers value employees that are willing to take on challenges. This is because on a daily basis managers and companies are facing challenges. Companies, services, and technologies are developed to solve problems. In order for anyone to be a problem-solver that will rise to any challenge, a growth mindset is essential.

Fuel your growth mindset.

There are many ways to develop a growth mindset. Let’s consider two specific ways to develop your growth mindset. Both take effort and time to develop. Will you be willing to do what it takes to maintain or strengthen your growth mindset?

Watch the video.

**Growth Mindset**: Six additional ways to strengthen your growth mindset.

See your challenges as opportunities.
Reflect each day on what you've failed at (and learned from).
Stop seeking approval from others.
Identify opportunities to celebrate the success of others.
Focus on rewarding actions, not traits.
Start using the word "yet" more often (see our Yet Method lesson).

Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset

Carol Dweck studies human motivation. She spends her days diving into why people succeed (or don’t) and what’s within our control to foster success. Her theory of the two mindsets and the difference they make in outcomes is incredibly powerful.

**Growth Mindset** **vs. Fixed Mindset:**
**Which is more dominant in your thinking?**

Growth mindset:
Embrace lifelong learning
Believe intelligence can be improved
Put in more effort to learn
Believe effort leads to mastery
Believe failures are just temporary setbacks
View feedback as a source of information
Willingly embraces challenges
View others’ success as a source of inspiration
View feedback as an opportunity to learn
Fixed Mindset:
Believe intelligence and talent are static
Avoid challenges to avoid failure
Ignore feedback from others
Feel threatened by the success of others
Hide flaws so as not to be judged by others
Believe putting in the effort is worthless
View feedback as personal criticism
Give up easily
www.mindsethealth.com

Try this activity.

Write the first thing that comes to your mind (tail-enders) as you read or say the following:

1) I am very smart.

2) I will be successful in the future.

3) I hate to work hard.

4) I love a challenge.

5) I will never have the life I want.

When you read, said, and thought about the statements, what did your mind say after each sentence?

Analyze your tail-enders and your self-talk. What did your answers reveal?

Do you lean towards having a ‘growth’ or ‘fixed’ mindset?

Write down your observations in your journal. What did you learn about yourself and which mindset dominates your thinking at this moment? Do you need to make any changes?