Fixed mindsets are like fixed gear bikes. You can only go so far until you’ll face a hill or a mountain and when you do, it's no easy task.
Success at work and in life generally has nothing to do with luck—but it has everything to do with your mindset. Fixed mindsets lose heart when the going gets tough. Growth mindsets are inspired by challenges, and know that when they push though the hard times, they’ll come out stronger on the other side. And they do.
When a company has a growth mindset, its employees tend to flourish because they know they are appreciated and valued. They’re encouraged to be more, not to just sit on the sidelines and execute orders. They own their work, and they’re committed to driving innovation and creativity to keep their company ahead of the competition—because they care and they know that the seemingly impossible is always possible.
Not all growth mindsets are created equal
But some “growth mindsets” aren’t that at all, despite our best intents. These
faux growth mindsets might confuse positivity and open-mindedness with a growth mindset, or believe that simply embracing the idea is indicative of having the mindset. But when all is said and done, such people might still be in the realm of the fixed (and limited) way of thinking.
If you’ve been sitting on the career sidelines, making excuses for why you can’t, tap these 8 tips to start developing your own growth mindset.
1. Redefine your beliefs
You may have been shot down your entire life (even by yourself), but you don’t have to stay there. Create a new reference Point A. This will be the place where every action and belief originates. If you lack certain skills or talents, you can create them. Tell yourself this.
Believe this. Live this.
2. Redefine failure
Thomas Edison was said to fail 10,000 times before he had the light bulb moment—that is, before he created a model that worked. Failure isn’t the absence of success, or the implication that you are incapable or less than. It’s simply
the opportunity to better yourself and try again as you gain ground where on the first time (or 9,999
th time), you missed the mark.
3. Know yourself
Don’t relegate yourself to the realm of despair.
Know who you are and what you bring in any given situation. You have an array of talents, whether you’ve realized them or not. Everyone has sets and combos of strengths. Earn what yours are so you can maximize them as you achieve and expand your potential.
4. Get curious
Stop believing the old saying that curiosity killed the cat. If you want to succeed on the job and at life, you have to have an open, eager mind for learning. That means you need to start asking questions about what’s happening around you.
Be interested in the people you meet. Everyone has a story, and everyone has at least a nugget of inspiration from their own journey to share. Ask. Learn. Grow.
5. Embrace challenges
Challenges, like failures, are
opportunities to rise above. Challenges whittle away the rough edges to shine the diamond underneath. And we’re all diamonds inside. But some will never realize their potential simply because they never tried. The next time a challenge arises, face it head on. Be positive and realize that even if you fall down, it’s okay. You can (and must) get right back up and keep pushing through. On the other side of challenges are victories. They may be small, or they may be the epitome of success. But they are there, waiting for you.
6. Get some grit
Grit. Tenacity. Commitment. Dedication. Stickabiity. Whatever you call it, just don’t give up. The daily training and drive to go the distance, no matter what may come, is what puts champions on podiums, and everyone else somewhere in the background. More often than not, people take the easy way because they don’t have the stamina to go the distance. You must either rise with the challenge of be left in the dust.
7. Be inspired
Learn from others who have gone (and succeeded) before you. Their experiences lay a foundation for your own journey, and light the path with inspiration for what's possible.
8. Welcome criticism
Criticism can hurt. But it can also be the
key to growth. Opening yourself to understand your failures and what others perceive you lack is vital to breaking away from arrogance and the inflated sense of self that remains stagnant. Getting feedback and taking action to fix problems (instead of taking offense) will take you far.
Growth mindsets believe in potential. They believe that talent can be developed and that they can learn from others. They receive feedback and criticism graciously knowing that it’s their key to greatness. And they don’t give up. The ironic thing is many people will read this and realize they have a fixed mindset and turn away dejected. Instead, see this as a call to tap into the things they’re lacking, and achieve greatness. And that is the foundation of growth in every part of work and life.
