Growth mindset people believe that when they fail, they get more information on what they need to do. They commit to not just looking up strategies and steps in order to succeed, but diving into the research to learn what experts have found out through their own trials and errors. And then they rework those steps until it becomes something even better than ever before.
Define Growth Mindset
HBR Defines Growth Mindset as
To briefly sum up the findings: Individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset. They tend to achieve more than those with a more fixed mindset (those who believe their talents are innate gifts).
Individuals with a “growth mindset” believe their talents can be developed, through hard work and good strategies. They tend to achieve more than those with a “fixed mindset”, who believe their talents are innate gifts because they worry less about looking smart. When an entire company has a growth mindset, employees feel far more empowered and committed; they also receive organizational support for collaboration and innovation. Conversely, people of primarily fixed-mindset companies report more cheating and deception among employees, presumably to gain an advantage in the “talent race.”
What is Growth Mindset?
Growth mindset is the belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed over time. This belief is based on the idea that our brains are like muscles – the more we use them, the stronger they become. People with such a mindset see failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, instead of as a personal attack or indicator of their worthiness.
This attitude has been shown to be incredibly powerful in achieving success. Studies have found that people with such a mindset are more likely to persist in the face of setbacks, persevere when faced with challenging tasks, and take on new challenges willingly. They are also more resilient in the face of failure, and more likely to recover from setbacks quickly.
The benefits of having a growth mindset don’t stop there. People with this attitude towards intelligence also tend to be more creative and open-minded. They are more likely to take risks and experiment with new ideas, which can lead to greater innovation and discovery.
What is the psychology behind Growth Mindset?
Growth mindset is the belief that intelligence and ability are not fixed traits. It’s the idea that you can improve your intelligence and abilities with hard work, good strategies, and perseverance. People with a growth mindset see failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. They believe that their intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort and practice.
People with a fixed mindset believe that intelligence and ability are fixed traits. They see failure as a sign of lack of intelligence or ability. They believe that if they don’t succeed at something, it’s because they’re not smart or talented enough.
The psychology behind the growth mindset is based on the work of Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck. Dweck’s research has shown that people with a growth mindset are more likely to achieve their goals than those with a fixed mindset. People with a growth mindset are more resilient in the face of adversity and more likely to persevere when things get tough. They’re also more likely to take risks and try new things.
Tips to Achieve Growth Mindset
1. Focus on effort, not IQ: One of the most destructive beliefs about intelligence is that it is something you either have or you don’t. If you believe intelligence is fixed, then it makes sense to aim for a “good” score on a test. But if instead, you focus on adopting the right study skills, working hard, and overcoming setbacks, then it becomes irrelevant how well other people do. Just focus on making progress with your own goals don’t look at how others are measuring up and don’t compare yourself with other people.
2. Use a longer reference point: When someone gets an “A” on a test and they feel proud of themselves (as they should), take some time to talk about where they were before they started studying.
3. See your challenges as opportunities: Every difficult circumstance in life can be overcome. Don’t see these challenges as anything other than an opportunity to push yourself forward and grow.
4. Create a daily reflection chart: Add a few minutes each day to reflect on the areas in which you do not succeed or struggle. Reflecting on your failures can help you learn from them.
5. Stop Approval Seeking Behavior: When we seek approval from others, the objective becomes wrong. We’re no longer focused on learning or growing. When you notice approval is your goal, remind yourself to stop seeking approval from others, and you will be more at peace with daily failures.
6. Network and Celebrate Success: When others around you succeed and share the information about their success, celebrate! Also, get curious about what made them successful. Even better, ask them. Connect with others to understand the actions they took and how they approached the challenge to get there.
7. Support Others in developing the mindset: The greatest power of a growth mindset-oriented brain is the ability to create synergy. Supporting others create synergy and help build an affirmative ecosystem. This helps in the propagation of positive energy which is extremely required for a growth mindset
8. Identify Failure as a Stepping Stone to Success: Don’t see failure as a bad thing instead view it as a learning opportunity. Failure and mistakes should not be seen as a sign of incapability, but as part of the process of learning to produce better work. Nobody is a perfect example of accomplishing their goal at first. Even the world’s greatest athletes, artists, and business magnates started out as kids with little talent or expertise.
9. Have a Clear Map of your limitations: The goals you set should be realistic because certain things just won’t happen. Recognize that there are some things that will never happen to you because of your genes and make the best of those situations.
10. Be humble, and let your actions speak for your abilities: A growth mindset is synonymous with a learning mindset. Being humble and working in silence for a better future goes a long way.
Growth Mindset Vs Fixed Mindset
| Growth Mindset | Fixed Mindset |
| Generally Embraces Challenge | Generally avoids Challenge |
| Very Rarely Gives Up | Resigns to fate or act of nature |
| Gritty when the going gets really tough | Shows signs of mental fatigue in cases of failure |
| Motivated by Success of peers – Draws inspiration | Feels threatened by the success of others |
| Curious, eager to learn | Mostly rigid in thought process |
| Agile, have very good risk management generally | Rigid, Manages risks from individual perspectives |
| Embraces positive criticism | Not very receptive to criticism |
A fixed mindset can be beneficial in some situations. For example, if you’re already good at something, then there’s no need to try to improve. Why bother? You’re just going to end up wasting your time. Additionally, a fixed mindset can help you stay motivated because you know that you can’t improve no matter how hard you try. This can be helpful when things are tough and you need that extra push to keep going.
However, a fixed mindset can also hold you back. If you believe that your abilities are set in stone, then you won’t put in the effort to improve. Worse yet, if you don’t believe that your abilities can be improved then how can you even expect to improve? A growth mindset, on the other hand, has some obvious (and very beneficial) advantages.
The first and foremost of these is that it helps people persevere when things get rough. When faced with challenges and obstacles, a person with a growth mindset will say “Well I just need to work harder or change my strategy.” On the other hand, someone who believes they have a fixed ability would likely think that their efforts are in vain and give up. Next up is the knowledge that your abilities exist within you rather than being something that is set in stone by fate.
Growth Mindset at the Workplace
Growth Mindset for an individual
A growth mindset is a belief that we can learn and grow through our experiences. This type of mindset is common among successful people, and it can be a powerful tool in the workplace.
When you have a growth mindset, you see challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. You’re not afraid of failure, because you know that it’s part of the process. You’re also more likely to take risks and try new things because you believe in your ability to learn and grow.
Research has shown that people with a growth mindset are more successful in their careers than those with a fixed mindset. They’re also more likely to persevere in the face of setbacks, and to recover from failure more quickly.
If you want to succeed in your career, develop a growth mindset. Embrace challenges, view failures as learning opportunities, and be open to new ideas and ways of doing things. By doing so, you’ll set yourself up for success.
Growth Mindset for a Leader
One of the most important things for leaders to have is a growth mindset. This means that they are always looking to improve and grow, both as individuals and as an organization. Leaders with such a mindset are always learning and trying new things, and they encourage their team members to do the same. They create an environment where everyone is constantly growing and learning together.
Leaders with a growth mindset create an atmosphere of cooperation and collaboration, rather than competition. They believe that everyone can grow and improve, and that collective effort leads to the best results. They focus on what their team can do rather than what they can’t do. This allows them to identify strengths and weaknesses and helps them find ways to improve upon both.
Growth mindset leaders are flexible and adaptable, able to pivot when necessary in order to achieve their goals. They’re also resilient, able to recover from setbacks and learn from their mistakes. Overall, leaders with a growth mindset are able to create an environment of constant learning and improvement, which leads to better results for their team.
Growth Mindset in a Business Scenario
The power of a growth mindset has been well documented in the field of education. However, its effects are not limited to the classroom. In fact, a growth mindset can have a profound impact on businesses and the workplace. Here are four ways that a growth mindset can help your business succeed:
1. Improved Employee Retention
Employees who feel that their efforts are valued and that they have room to grow are more likely to stick around. On the other hand, those who feel stagnant in their position are more likely to look for new opportunities. By fostering a culture of growth and development, you can improve employee retention and reduce turnover.
2. Greater Innovation
A growth mindset encourages employees to take risks and experiment with new ideas. This willingness to try new things can lead to greater innovation in your business. After all, it is only through trial and error that we can find new and better ways of doing things.
3. Enhanced Collaboration
Employees with a growth mindset are more likely to be open to feedback and constructive criticism. They see these things as opportunities to learn and improve, rather than as personal attacks. This enhances collaboration within teams and helps to create a more positive work environment overall.
4. Greater Accountability
Individuals with a growth mindset know that they are responsible for their own success and performances, rather than blaming circumstances or other people for results. This sense of independence and personal ownership leads to greater accountability in the workplace
5. Better Bottom lines
This environment for growth allows higher innovation or breakthroughs in processes that enhance competitive advantages or increase the financial bottom lines and more profits for the organization.
Business Leaders Must understand, that a Growth Mindset is a cultural change and requires a lot of time to embrace from an organization’s perspective. It cannot be implemented overnight, hence patience and the right direction will be required.
What are some examples of a Growth Mindset?
A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence and ability can be developed. This belief leads to a love of learning and a willingness to take on new challenges. People with a growth mindset see failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. They view effort as a positive sign that they are making progress.
One example of a growth mindset comes from renowned Stanford professor Carol Dweck. She studied the mindsets of children and found that those with a growth mindset saw their intelligence as something that could be improved upon, while those with a fixed mindset saw their intelligence as static and unchangeable. The children with a such mindset were more likely to persevere in the face of difficulties and believe that their hard work would pay off.
Another example can be seen in sports. Michael Jordan is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. But he didn’t become great overnight – it took years of practice and dedication to reach the top. His success was due in part to his mindset; he believed that his skills could be continuously developed through hard work and persistence.
There are many other cases of scientific discoveries which can be attributed to a Growth Mindset. For Example, Edison tested and failed in more than 1000 filaments before tasting success in the revolutionary electric bulb.
Samrat is a Delhi-based MBA from the Indian Institute of Management. He is a Strategy, AI, and Marketing Enthusiast and passionately writes about core and emerging topics in Management studies. Reach out to his LinkedIn for a discussion or follow his Quora Page