It is hardly news to anyone how fast-paced and ever-changing professional life is today. Nor is it a surprise how crucial adaptability, curiosity, and openness are as traits. All of this is part of developing a Growth Mindset.
Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
It is almost impossible to discuss a growth mindset without mentioning Carol S. Dweck, who wrote the seminal book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success in 2006. Her central argument is that the best starting points do not always guarantee the best results.
Dweck speaks about two mindsets:
- Growth Mindset: Those who adopt this believe that skills and qualities are the result of effort—and therefore, we can develop them ourselves.
- Fixed Mindset: Those with this mindset assume that skills and qualities remain unchanged throughout our lives.
It is clear that a growth mindset is the key factor in professional and personal development. According to Dweck, everyone can adopt a growth mindset.
Failure is Part of Learning
Enjoying success comes naturally to most—we want to celebrate it and tell our loved ones. But if success is the yin, failure is the yang—one cannot exist without the other. The next time you succeed in a task you've worked particularly hard on, stop and think about the moments of failure that preceded it. They are a central part of the final result.
Failure is not easy or fun, but those with a growth mindset do not fear it. Instead, they understand that failure is a form of learning.
Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
A core part of the growth mindset is going into your "discomfort zone"—taking on things for which you may not yet have all the necessary skills. The discomfort zone is often where the biggest leaps in growth happen. Growth requires time and effort, but it is worth it.
Lifelong Learning
Regardless of when you finished your studies, graduation is not the endpoint of your learning. Technology evolves, processes shift, and tools change. Lifelong learning is the key to individual growth. Only through continuous learning can you stay at the forefront of development.
In addition to degrees, you can accumulate expertise in daily life: a colleague showing you a time-saving trick, or finding a relevant tutorial on YouTube. Following industry influencers and trends on social media is a "light" way to maintain your skills. The better learning is applicable to daily work, the more successfully you can handle your tasks.
A 7-Step Quick Guide to the World of Growth Mindset
- Acknowledge and accept imperfection: We all have weaknesses and quirks. What are your imperfect sides?
- Face challenges bravely: If fear takes over when facing a difficult challenge, rename the situation in your mind. View the challenge as an opportunity.
- Pay attention to your word choices: If your language is negative or gloomy, you unconsciously steer yourself toward a negative outcome.
- Trust yourself: Excessive seeking of approval can hinder growth. Develop kindness toward yourself and learn to trust your own judgment.
- Be authentic: Pretending to be someone you aren't is disrespectful to your true self. Becoming your authentic self is a continuous process.
- Develop a sense of purpose: Does your life feel purpose-driven? If not, try to discover what brings a sense of meaning to your life.
- Examine criticism until you find the opportunity: The purpose of criticism is to improve things.
Growth Mindset is a core part of the DNA of our sister company, Brights.