Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
Something to think about during the school holidays.
This was written by Steve Reid, CFE/Rapid Incubator at False Bay college and husband to our Grade R teacher, Dayle Reid.
Our mindsets have a huge influence on our perceptions, beliefs, risk taking, career development and yes……entrepreneurship
These are the two mindsets we grow up with. This is the basis of Carol Dweck’s work on fixed vs. growth mindset. She’s a world-renowned Stanford psychologist who writes:
‘For twenty years, my research has shown that the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life’
Dweck’s study contradicts the popular belief that your basic abilities are inborn and do not change over the course of your life. The study shows us the power of developing a growth mindset and how it works wonders for you.
Let’s first have a closer look at what these two mindsets entail: What Is Fixed Mindset?
As the name implies, a fixed mindset is rooted in the belief that your basic talents are innate. You’re born with a certain amount of them and that’s that. People with a fixed mindset don’t try a lot of new things, out of fear of being criticized. Or merely because they don’t want to look dumb. Very little effort is observed when it comes to making modifications to their current skillset.
What Is Growth Mindset?
On the flip side, a person with a growth mindset will always be open to criticism. People with a growth mindset believe that their intelligence and learning grows with time. They realize that their effort has a direct impact on their success. Growth mindset emphasizes that basic qualities of a person are a starting point. These qualities can be further polished through effort and hard work.
How to Develop a Growth Mindset
1. Work on developing new habits. First things first, start working on creating new routines and habits. Trust your talents and skills to help you pave way for better opportunities. We know old habits die hard, but it’s not as difficult as you might think it is. As a starting point, identify what you should change for developing a growth mindset and focus more on opportunities.
2. Embrace challenges. Challenges are your new best friends. Don’t shy away from your weaknesses as you’ll never overcome them like that. When working on a project, be on a look out for new opportunities. Broaden your learning horizon and embrace what comes your way. Play around with your goals, but also give yourself ample time to achieve them.
3. Become curious. As Albert Einstein says, “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” To keep your focus on growth and learning, become curious. This is one of the most basic things that’ll help you transition easily from a fixed mindset to a growth one. Start questioning like a kid, and discover the new worlds that will unravel in front of you.
4. Stop seeking other’s approval. The person with a fixed mindset needs constant validation from other people. This is what you need to get rid of. Prioritize learning over approval and start taking criticism positively. Ask for feedback. It is going to drastically improve your perspective on growth and will set you up for development like never before.
5. Learn from other people’s mistakes. If you keep comparing yourself with other people, you’re signing up for destruction. Look up to people who have done it and learn from their mistakes. Rather than taking them as your contenders, take them as someone providing a valuable lesson to you.
6. Persist for longer. In order to develop a growth mindset, you need to have perseverance. Dedication towards a goal, without giving up on the way is a ladder to success. You should have the ability to overcome setbacks with optimism and give yourself the liberty to make mistakes.
Which of these 6 can you apply and grow in today?
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