When we’re chasing our goals, the secret to success might just be in the way we approach them. We can choose to adopt a growth mindset or a fixed mindset.
Being willing to put in the hard work and being open to learning are signs of a growth mindset. The trick is to believe that we can improve our skills and abilities if we put in the effort.
On the other hand, a fixed mindset has us believing that we either have what it takes or we don’t. This mindset can be limiting because it keeps us from learning and growing.
A simple example of a fixed mindset versus a growth mindset is ‘I’m not good at yoga,’ versus ‘I’m not good at yoga yet.’
Your mindset truly is your secret weapon when it comes to achieving your goals, says Octavia Goredema, a career coach and author of “Prep, Push, Pivot.”
Remind Me Again—What Is a Growth Mindset?
The concept of a growth mindset was first introduced by Dr. Carol Dweck, an American psychologist.1 Dr. Dweck posited that our mindset can play a major role in whether or not we succeed at anything, be it work, school, art, or sports. She has published several research papers and a book titled “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” based on her findings.
People with growth mindsets see abilities, talents, and intelligence as something one can learn and improve through their own hard work, Goredema explains. On the contrary, she says someone with a fixed mindset sees those same traits as set in stone and unchangeable.
Your mindset truly is your secret weapon when it comes to achieving your goals.
Our mindset can affect how we view challenges and obstacles. People with a growth mindset see challenges as opportunities for growth and discovery; whereas those with a fixed mindset see them as impossible obstacles and tend to confine themselves to the boundaries of their comfort zones, Peña adds.
A challenging situation can feel insurmountable to someone with a fixed mindset, because they don’t see room for improvement. They believe that if they don’t already have the skills to do it, they’ll probably fail. As a result, they may not even try.
What Are 5 Characteristics of a Growth Mindset?
These are five characteristics of a growth mindset:
- Embracing learning: People with a growth mindset make learning a way of life. They keep an open mind and are willing to learn anything they don’t know. In Dr. Dweck’s words, they worry less about looking smart and put more energy into learning.2
- Working hard: They recognize that achievement requires effort, and they’re willing to work hard in order to reach their goals. They’re not afraid of the grind.
- Welcoming challenges: Instead of seeing challenges as obstacles, people with a growth mindset see them as opportunities to learn new things and level up their skills.
- Taking feedback constructively: Instead of taking feedback personally, they take it constructively and work on it.
- Failing forward: People with a growth mindset learn from their mistakes and use their learnings to improve their next attempt, instead of getting disheartened and giving up. They figure out what went wrong and commit to doing things differently next time instead of assuming they’re not capable based on one mistake, says Goredama.
Examples of a Growth Mindset
These are some examples of a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset.
Learning a New Skill
Fixed mindset: “I can’t learn to play an instrument. I’m just not musical.”
Growth mindset: “If I practice regularly, I can probably learn how to play this instrument.”
Facing a Professional Challenge
Fixed mindset: “I’ve never given a presentation before. I’ll probably mess this up.”
Growth mindset: “This is my first presentation. I’m actually quite excited at the opportunity! I’m going to prepare thoroughly.”
Dealing With Feedback at Work
Fixed mindset: “My boss wasn’t happy with my report. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
Growth mindset: “My manager gave me some helpful feedback. I’ll definitely work on it.”
Approaching an Interview
Fixed mindset: “I don’t think I’m qualified for this job. I should decline the interview.”
Growth mindset: “This is my dream job. I can definitely learn the skills I need to be good at it.”
Navigating a Relationship Conflict
Fixed mindset: “We always have the same issues. This relationship is doomed.”
Growth mindset: “Let’s discuss things, I’m sure we can work them out.”
Working Toward a Physical Fitness Goal
Fixed mindset: “I tried doing a push-up but I couldn’t. I don’t think I’m cut out for this.”
Growth mindset: “Getting fit is a journey. If I work toward it every day, I’ll be able to do a push-up someday.”
Tackling a Challenging Task
Fixed mindset: “I can’t do this!”
Growth mindset: “Challenge accepted!”
Thomas Edison embodied the growth mindset. Although it took him over 10,000 tries, he persisted in his efforts to invent the first lightbulb. When someone asked him about the 10,000 failed attempts, he famously said “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”3
Benefits of a Growth Mindset
These are some of the benefits of a growth mindset:
- Promotes resilience: A growth mindset pushes us to keep going, even when we’ve faced a setback.4 On the other hand, a fixed mindset has us giving up and feeling helpless when we can’t do something.5
- Makes us more adaptable: A growth mindset makes us more flexible and adaptable, in our professional and personal lives.
- Increases our chances of success: Research shows us that having a growth mindset is linked to greater motivation and increased willingness to attempt new challenges, which is ultimately linked to better performance.6
- Reduces stress and anxiety: A growth mindset helps us deal with disappointment, anxiety, and frustration in healthier ways.5 It also helps us cope better with stress.4
- Keeps us humble: A growth mindset keeps us humble because it reminds us that there’s always more to learn.1 Remember that we’re just at the beginning, there’s so much room to grow, learn and experience new things, says Goredama.
- Helps us look beyond stereotypes: People with fixed mindsets tend to look for information that matches their idea of a stereotype; whereas people with growth mindsets are open to new information that contradicts stereotypes.7
We are all human and it’s almost impossible to avoid setbacks when you’re pursuing something that really matters. A growth mindset helps you get through the tougher times and encourages you to continue to bet on yourself, no matter what.
What Are Some Ways You Can Develop a Growth Mindset?
It’s never too late to change your mindset. Pena explains that shifting from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset is possible because our brains possess the capacity to evolve and expand, a trait known as neuroplasticity.8
These are some strategies that can help you develop a growth mindset:
- Cultivate curiosity: Develop a genuine interest in learning new things. Ask questions, explore new subjects, and meet different types of people.
- Face challenges head-on: Instead of shying away from challenges, face them head-on. Ask yourself what’s the worst thing that could happen if it doesn’t work out. It’s often not as bad as you think.
- Avoid negative self-talk: Pay attention to your inner dialogue. If your inner voice tends to discourage you, make a conscious effort to replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations that encourage you.
- Reframe “failure” as “learning:” We tend to avoid challenges because we’re scared of failing. Replace the word “failing” in your dictionary with the word “learning.” Reflect on past mistakes, and instead of beating yourself up for them, try to focus on what you learned from them.
- Seek feedback: Continuously seek feedback from those around you. For example, you can ask your manager or colleagues for feedback every few months to try to identify areas where you can improve. Check in with your loved ones once in a while and ask them what you can do to make them feel more loved, connected, and supported.
- Surround yourself with positive people: Goredama recommends surrounding yourself with positive people with a growth mindset. “Think of who you know in your circle who has a positive outlook and has a track record of pursuing their own goals. Just being in the same orbit as someone who is invested in their own momentum can have a positive ripple effect.”
- Curate your information exposure: Pay attention to the information you’re consuming, says Goredama. Instead of scrolling through social media, she recommends investing time in listening to uplifting podcasts or reading something educational.
Overcoming Obstacles and Setbacks with a Growth Mindset
These are some steps that can help you navigate challenges with a growth mindset:
- Shift your perspective: If there’s an obstacle in your way, think of it as a path to improvement rather than seeing it as a roadblock.
- Focus on solutions: Instead of focusing on the problem and panicking, start thinking of solutions. “When you move into problem-solving mode, you start to act, and that immediately starts to build new momentum of its own,” says Goredama.
- Create an action plan: Work out an action plan to overcome the problem. Break down the challenge into smaller, manageable steps, and set actionable goals to work through the difficulties gradually.
- Visualize success: Picture yourself successfully overcoming the obstacle. Research shows that visualizing it can help boost your confidence and motivation.9
- Stay persistent: Be patient with the process. Remember that change and growth take time. Keep at it!
- Adjust and adapt: Be willing to adjust your strategy based on the lessons you learn along the way.
- Celebrate small wins: Celebrate small victories along the way. Growth is a continuous process, and it’s important to celebrate our wins along the way.
- Reflect and learn: Reflect on your experiences, successes, and setbacks. Understand what worked and what didn’t.
- Don’t beat yourself up over mistakes: Even if things don’t work out, don’t beat yourself up over mistakes. Focus on learning from them and adapting accordingly.
Parting Words
A growth mindset can be a powerful tool. Luckily, research shows us that it’s never too late to change our mindset, and we can learn to develop a growth mindset if we want to. It’s all about keeping an open mind and looking at challenges as opportunities instead of obstacles.
So, the next time something difficult comes your way, step up and say, “Challenge accepted!” You’ve got this!