The concept of fixed and growth mindsets was introduced over 30 years ago. It was developed in order to explain how individuals perceive intelligence and learning. Those who have a growth mindset are people who believe that intelligence and skills can be developed as a result of persistence and effort.
For those who have a growth mindset this makes it easier to embrace challenges, refine your skills, and also seek opportunities which can help you to improve. This can be in professional development, learning, or even personal relationships. Those who adopt this form of mindset tend to be those who achieve greater success. This is because they approach obstacles with determination resilience and also are willing to grow. At a time when change is constant, and competition is strong, those businesses that thrive are those who embrace learning resilience and innovation.
Read on as we explore how you can cultivate a growth mindset. This will helpsustain success within your business. There are three practical steps you should take to ensure this approach is embedded in your workplace.
Secure leadership buy-in
If you want the growth mindset culture to really take root,then it is important that you start with those at the top. Employees look for cues from leadership be this on how to handle challenges, failure, or development. If the leaders of a company model curiosity, resilience, and also a willingness to learn then their team are far more likely to follow suit.
There are several different ways in which you can achieve this. You should encourage transparent leadership which means sharing stories of setbacks that you have overcome and highlighting the lessons that you have learned from this. You should also foster a culture that is feedback driven. Consider replacing right or wrong thinking with a more constructive feedback loop that focuses on achievements. There is also other language that you should consider changing. For example, instead of using the terms strengths and weaknesses consider using words like current abilities, and areas for growth. In this way you will openly and actively encourage your employeesinto a growth mindset.
Invest in training and continuous learning
Growth mindset isn’t simply about the desire to improve, it is also about making the right environment where learning will happen. For this reason, it is important to prioritise continuous professional development and training . Thiswill help to empower your employees and give them the skills and mindset that they need to excel and adapt to everything around them.
This can be done through regular skill building sessions, by encouraging cross functional learning, and by supporting coaching and mentoring within your teams.
Recognise effort, not just outcomes
One of the biggest challenges faced within a growth mindset culture is rewarding only results, instead of progress and effort. When a company solely focuses on performance metrics its employees may fear failure. This can lead to them becoming reluctant to take risks or be innovative within their roles.
Place greater emphasis on recognising improvements that are continuous where there is resilience and effort rather than just the final results. It is also a good idea to consider aligning your performance reviews with learning goals. This will help you to move beyond performance that is static and will also include progress-based recognition
