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Growth mindset vs fixed mindset

Growth mindset vs Fixed mindset

In most families, the go-to question for parents is, “What did you learn at school today?”
The Blakelys, however, had a different approach to dinnertime discussions. Instead of focusing on achievements, Sarah’s father would pose the question:

What did you fail at today?

As a child, Sarah sometimes struggled to come up with an answer. Wasn’t she supposed to avoid failure at all costs? But her dad gently persisted, reframing failure not as something to be ashamed of but something to be celebrated.

Sarah’s dad applauded failures and asked his kids to learn from them. In his eyes, the biggest failure was “not trying” and avoiding challenges altogether.

Those early lessons stayed with Sarah as she created Spanx and built a billion-dollar business from scratch. When manufacturers scoffed at her footless pantyhose idea, Sarah didn’t crumple. In Sarah’s mind, failure isn’t the end of the story. It’s just another stepping stone for new insights and progress.

The power of a growth mindset

How you perceive challenges, respond to setbacks, and approach learning directly impacts your personal and professional success. Believing that you, yes you, you, yourself, you alone, yes you, can develop abilities and skills with hard work and dedication is known as having a growth mindset.

The science behind growth mindset

The groundbreaking work of psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck revolutionized our understanding of achievement and success. Her research on implicit theories of intelligence laid the foundation for the growth mindset concept. Studies have consistently shown that individuals with a growth mindset embrace challenges, learn from criticism, and persist despite setbacks. Key ingredients for success.

Research studies

Numerous research studies have explored the impact of mindsets on learning and achievement. These studies collectively demonstrate that:

Fixed mindset vs. growth mindset

A fixed mindset assumes that intelligence and talent are static traits. People with this perspective often avoid challenges, view effort as fruitless, and feel threatened by others’ success. In contrast, a growth mindset thrives on challenge and sees failure as an opportunity to stretch existing abilities. Shifting from a fixed to a growth mindset opens up a world of possibilities.

Fixed mindset
I don’t know what I’m doing. It’s only a matter of time until I’ll have to stop.

Growth mindset
I don’t know what I’m doing. It’s only a matter of time until I’ll figure it out.

Examples of fixed vs growth mindsets

  • “I’m just not a math person.”
    I need to practice more to improve my math skills.
  • “I’m too old to learn a new language.”
    It’s challenging, but I’m making progress every day.
  • “The experiment failed. This will never work!”
    I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” (Thomas Edison)

Strategies to cultivate a growth mindset

Numerous studies have demonstrated the impact of mindsets on learning outcomes. Students with a growth mindset consistently outperform their fixed-mindset counterparts. They embrace challenges, persist through obstacles, and view effort and failures as the path to mastery. This resilience translates into enhanced academic performance and a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom.

  1. Embrace challenges
    Seek out opportunities to step outside your comfort zone. View difficulties as chances to grow and learn.
  2. Reframe failure
    Failure is not an endpoint but a stepping stone to success. Treat setbacks as valuable feedback and use them to inform your growth.
  3. Praise the process
    Focus on effort, strategies and progress rather than innate talent or intelligence. Recognize and celebrate the journey of learning.
  4. Learn from criticism
    View constructive feedback as a gift. Use it to identify areas for improvement and refine your skills.
  5. Celebrate others’ success
    Find inspiration in the achievements of others. Their success is a testament to the power of effort and perseverance.
  6. Cultivate grit
    Develop perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Embrace the effort required for mastery and maintain a resilient spirit.

Growth mindset in business

Companies like Microsoft and Google have embraced growth mindset principles to foster innovation and employee development. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, is another example. He built a business empire on the idea of constant learning and experimentation. He is famous for saying, “Our success at Amazon is a function of how many experiments we do per year, per month, per week, per day.” This is a growth mindset in its purest form. He is not afraid to fail. He sees failure as a learning opportunity.

Successful individuals across various fields, from athletes to entrepreneurs, embody the tenacity and resilience of a growth mindset. They see challenges as opportunities. They learn from their mistakes. They keep growing.

Bottom line

You might think talent is destiny. You are either born gifted, or you aren’t. You may believe intelligence, creativity, and skill are fixed traits wired into your genes, immutable and predetermined.

Well, think again. These beliefs are a self-imposed limit on your potential. It holds you back from trying, growing and overcoming obstacles. When you start to challenge these beliefs, new possibilities emerge.

When you adopt a growth mindset, you recognize that talent and ability are not fixed but can be cultivated through effort and practice. Challenges become chances to learn and improve rather than threats to your identity. Setbacks shift from permanent roadblocks into valuable lessons. Next time you think, “I’m just not gifted enough,” remember: your potential is not predetermined.

“Not trying” is the only failure. “Not yet” is the right mindset. You’ll get there. Of course, you will!

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