WHAT
All of us look at the world through particular mindsets (assumptions, beliefs, and attitudes). According to researcher Carol Dweck, our mindset towards our abilities can be categorized as either a growth mindset or a fixed mindset. People with a growth mindset believe that core capabilities (such as our creativity, intelligence, willpower, etc.) can be developed with time and effort, and that challenges give us an opportunity for learning and growth. People with a fixed mindset, on the other hand, assume that our capabilities are determined and finite, and that at the end of the day, we are who we are and there’s not much we can do about it.
WHY
In her work, Dweck found that when we see human qualities as finite and unchangeable (a fixed mindset), we value talent as the key to success and believe that the truly capable don’t need to work hard. This mindset undermines our ability to push through challenging situations - especially when we believe we don’t already have the skills to handle them. On the other hand, when we believe we have the power to develop our capabilities (a growth mindset), we value effort and focus our attention on improvement. By focusing on what we can control, we can grow more resilient in the face of adversity.
HOW I CAN USE THIS
According to Dweck, one way to develop a growth mindset is to use the word “yet.”
Notice when you say things like: “I don’t know how to manage a virtual team” or “I’m not very good at managing stress”.
Practice a growth mindset by adding the word “yet” at the end of the sentence. When you say to yourself, “I am not very good at managing stress, yet”, it tells your brain that you’re on a learning curve. “Yet” says that somewhere in the future, lies the possibility that you will improve.
HOW I CAN HELP OTHERS
When you catch a member of your team using statements demonstrating a fixed mindset, try explaining how using “yet” can help them build self-efficacy, or the belief in their capability to learn and grow - something all of us are capable of.
When encountering failures, as we all inevitably do, celebrate them as opportunities to learn. By reframing challenges as growth opportunities and applying consistent and intentional effort, we start to believe that positive change is within our reach.
Recognize and praise effort and hard work. This encourages people to focus on the learning process and what they can actually control. Doing so helps others be more likely to persist and eventually attain a successful outcome.
Resources
Authors
Eudaimonic by Design is a global network of consultants, facilitators and systems thinkers who share a passion for the science of well-being and believe that organizations must be designed to enable it. We harness the best of scholarly thought and years of practical experience to help people be truly engaged, act ethically and pursue excellence.
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