Embracing a growth mindset: Unlocking career success and personal growth by h2h Lead Consultant, Robbie Lightfoot

Having the right mindset is key to being successful. In sport for instance, it is widely recognised that an athletes’ mindset is just as important as their ability and training. But just what is a mindset? Perhaps the easiest way of describing it is the way we think about ourselves and our abilities and how we then apply this thinking to specific situations and events. Studies from neuroscience identify that what we think about a situation or event has a big influence over what we feel about it which in turn can have a big impact in how we then behave in that situation. The outcome we get from behaving a certain way can then serve to change or re-enforce our thoughts about that situation going forwards.

There are lots of different mindsets that are written about but one which can steer and support us in our work and careers is the growth mindset.  A growth mindset, as conceived by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck and colleagues, is “the belief that a person’s capacities and talents can be improved over time”. This is opposed to a fixed mindset where the belief is that you are born with a certain amount of talent and ability, and you can’t really change it that much.

Developing a growth mindset can also help us with life in general. If we are continually learning and developing as a person in different aspects of our life, we are more likely to be open to some of the everyday challenges that come our way and potentially better equipped to deal with them. Considering events that happen as an opportunity for learning can also help us have a more purposeful and meaningful life as there is always something new to learn.

Studies have identified that due to human nature and conditioning some individuals find it easier to develop and utilise a growth mindset than others, but we are all capable of working towards one. If we even believe that the concept is possible then we will have already started along the path to developing one.

So, what can we do to work on developing our own growth mindset. Here are our top 10 tips that may help: –

1. See failure as a learning opportunity
   Instead of seeing mistakes or failures as negative outcomes, embrace them as essential steps toward learning and improvement.
2. Be willing to try different approaches
   If something isn’t working, experiment with new solutions rather than giving up. This mindset encourages creativity and resilience.
3. View obstacles as challenges
   Shift your perspective on difficulties, seeing them as opportunities to grow rather than insurmountable problems.
4. Step outside your comfort zone
   Growth doesn’t happen in comfort. Be willing to challenge yourself and try new things, even if they make you uncomfortable.
5. Stay curious
   Instead of judging or dismissing an event, ask why it happened. This curiosity will lead you to learn new things about the world and yourself.
6. Give it one more try
   If you’re considering giving up, try one more time. You might surprise yourself with what you can achieve through persistence.
7. Replace “but” with “and”
   This simple linguistic shift can change your mindset. For example, instead of saying, “I want to go to the gym but I have work to do,” say, “I have work to do, and I want to go to the gym.” This removes the sense of contradiction and opens up possibilities.
8. Reframe negative thoughts
   When faced with a negative thought, try to turn it into something positive or constructive. For example, change “I’ll never understand this” into “I need more time to figure this out.”
9. Focus on potential benefits
   Instead of worrying about what could go wrong, focus on what might go right. Visualizing success helps reinforce positive outcomes.
10. Work on things that bring you joy
    Finally, pursue interests and activities that you genuinely enjoy and are passionate about. This will keep you motivated to improve and grow over time.

The power of the growth mindset lies in its ability to change how we see challenges, failure, and learning. By adopting the belief that we can improve our skills and abilities over time, we become better equipped to face life’s challenges and continuously evolve. Start applying these growth mindset strategies today and unlock your potential for long-term success and fulfillment.

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