Categories
Journal

Having A Growth Mindset

What is actually a Growth Mindset?
Here is my definition about having a Growth mindset and understanding the real truth behind it. Talent versus skill.

In a nutshell, a Growth Mindset refers to someone who is continuously learning to improve themselves.

This has something to do with Talent and Skill. Both of these terms are often misunderstood.

Talent is something you have naturally — it’s innate. Skill is developed through hours and hours of beating on your craft.

Individuals who believe their Skills can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a Growth Mindset. They are able to achieve more than those having a fixed mindset (those who believe their Talents are innate gifts).

This is because they do not worry about how they are perceived by others (be themselves) as they are putting more emphasis into themselves learning. That is a Growth Mindset.

The reality is that we all have both a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. There is no one who has a “pure growth” mindset. It simply does not exist.

Here are some common misconceptions of a Growth Mindset:

  1. A Growth Mindset does not equate to someone who possesses flexible, positive or open outlook.
  2. A Growth Mindset is not just praising or rewarding someone for their efforts. But it also applies to their learning and progress, with emphasis on the processes that help them achieve it through seeking help from others, trying out new strategies, and overcoming setbacks to progress further.
  3. A Growth Mindset leader encourages calculated risk-taking and understanding that some risks would not work out.
  4. A Growth Mindset leader rewards employees for important and useful lessons learned, even if a project does not meet its original goals.
  5. A Growth Mindset leader supports collaboration across organisational boundaries rather than just having internal competition amongst employees or functional groups.
  6. A Growth Mindset leader is invested in the growth of every member, not just in words but in action, such as development and advancement opportunities.

Ultimately, with a Growth Mindset, it will help individuals understand who they are, what they stand for and become an X-shaped employee. The sky is the limit.