In the simplest of terms, your mindset is a collection of your beliefs. And these beliefs that you keep close to your heart are related to your worldview and overall philosophy of life.
Most individuals have a fixed mindset which makes them think that their intelligence or basic talents are fixed. Individuals with a fixed mindset believe that talent alone can make one successful in life. They rarely focus on developing their talent or intelligence because they don’t believe in taking the effort.
On the other hand, individuals with a growth mindset believe they can develop their basic abilities through hard work and dedication. It is this outlook of theirs that fosters curiosity and resilience – attributes that are so essential for great achievements.
Say for example you are working on a large project. The launch goes horribly wrong. If you have a fixed mentality, you'll feel that all your efforts were wasted. You might tell someone you are not the right person the next time they ask for your assistance in launching a project. Instead, you focus on what you are good at. If you are someone with a growth mindset, even though a failed launch is still disappointing, it allows you to be grateful for all that you have learned. The outcome is secondary when you are focused on the process. This failure is a temporary setback that can be used for your personal growth.
You Can Grow Intelligence?!
It is believed that intelligence can be "grown" incrementally through hard work, positivity and resilience. People can then be placed on a continuum according to the implicit views of their capabilities.
Contrary to popular belief, the adult brain does not have fixed neuronal circuits. It is actually quite flexible. It's the brain's ability to adapt and change throughout your life. Synapses can change over time and brain activity associated with a function can be moved to another location. This can be seen at all levels of the brain, including microscopic changes in individual neurons and large-scale changes that occur most often in response to injury.
This means that your brain continues to change, adapt and form new connections, even as you age. It also means that your cognitive abilities do not have a fixed status. There is nothing that can stop you from learning new things, taking on new challenges or moving beyond your comfort zone. This is the essence of a growth mindset.
Fixed Mindset Triggers
It is important to recognize your fixed mindset triggers before we can explore ways to foster a growth mindset. You may have a false mindset of growth if you are unable to pinpoint any triggers that affect you.
Hard work – a mindset trigger
People like to think they are hard workers. In reality, society values being "gifted" and "naturally gifted." Have you ever felt proud of your ability to pass an exam without having to work too hard? You may feel overwhelmed by tasks that take a lot of effort and you'll be more inclined to give up if hard work is a mindset trigger. If you are prone to comparing yourself to others and feel discouraged when they seem to be making more effort to reach the same goals, it could also indicate that hard work is a mindset trigger. It doesn't necessarily mean you are lazy if you find yourself working hard. This is a sign that you believe other people are more talented than yourself, regardless of how hard you work.
Managing Setbacks
We can get sick, end up jobless or not sign important contracts. There can also be an oversight, mistake or accident. The challenge lies in what you are trying to accomplish. An extrinsic setback can be devastating. Imagine that you are trying to lose weight and a co-worker celebrates their birthday at work. You feel forced to accept a slice of their birthday cake. This wouldn't matter if you have a growth mindset. However, if setbacks become a mindset trigger, you might stop following the diet because you feel like your efforts have failed.
Receiving Negative Feedback
Not everyone handles criticism well. Let's take a look at professional athletes. Their coach provides a lot of feedback. Sometimes, the feedback is quite harsh. They listen, they learn and they act on the suggestions and feedback. Some of us have trouble separating our performance and our identity. We think we aren't good enough if we don't perform well. Consider how you react when someone criticizes you. Is it one of your triggers for your mental state?
Being Challenged
Being outside your comfort zone is a sign you're learning and growing. You don't need to be challenged if you aren't learning new things. Some people don't like being at the edge of their abilities. Your mindset trigger could be challenged. This means that if you attempt to solve a problem and it doesn't work, your goal is too difficult. You might quit.
Promote a Growth Mindset
If you have a growth mindset, whatever you're dealing with is only a beginning to personal growth. You can create a new way of looking at failure and effort in your life. HiCounselor brings a few interesting strategies to help you develop a growth mindset.
Focus on the process and not the end result. Learning is all about the process. Do not worry about the final result. Learn as much as you can.
Recognize your weaknesses. You'll never improve if you ignore them. Recognizing and accepting your flaws will help you identify the areas you need to improve.
Develop a sense of purpose. People who have a growth mindset feel more fulfilled. Ask "Why" and consider the meaning of your work.
Don't view a failure as a defeat. Instead, see it as an opportunity to learn.
Work hard and be a good person. You won't be regarded as smart if you aren't willing to work hard.
Look at challenges as opportunities. They are an opportunity to improve your self-image. You can tackle them and, regardless of whether you succeed, learn as much as you can.
Learn slowly and grow. Learning quickly doesn't necessarily mean learning well. Learning well also requires that you allow for mistakes. You need to be realistic about the effort and time it will take to learn a new skill. Do not expect to be able to master all the skills in one go.
Don't chase approval from others. You will be sacrificing your potential for growth.
Consider criticism a gift. Don't wait to receive constructive criticism. All criticism should be analyzed. Don't let criticism ruin you. Instead, use it as data.
Share your growth with others. Take risks and learn from others' mistakes. Do not try to be perfect, but instead show that you are willing to work hard and enjoy experimenting.
Take time to reflect. Use journaling or metacognition to examine your personal growth.
Develop perseverance. Grit will help you overcome obstacles. Remember all the times that you have overcome a difficult situation. It's possible to do it again.
It takes a lifetime to develop a growth mindset. Many people fall for the "false growth mindset" and never develop a true growth mindset. You can make your personal growth journey more rewarding if you are aware of your assumptions.
HiCounselor has forged technical advances to transform the hiring landscape for job seekers and recruiters alike. Our career accelerator program provides job seekers with coaching and mentorship from industry leaders employed at FAANG companies while recruiters ally with HiCounselor to empower their hiring strategy and hone in on the best candidates. Learn more about HiCounselor here and reach out to us on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
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