What is a growth mindset? Why do we want one?

You will probably have heard the term ‘growth mindset’ and have been told that it is something that you ought to be aspiring to. Certainly, it is gaining traction in the business world. However, like so many buzzwords, not everyone knows exactly what a growth mindset is, let alone how it differs from a fixed mindset, and why it is so valuable in both business and personal development.

A growth mindset is all about believing that our existing abilities and attitudes are not fixed in one place[1]. That it is possible to grow and evolve, gaining experience, confidence and skills. Having a growth mindset means always searching for ways to improve and improve. It means that you can face challenges and setbacks with a more positive attitude around how you can use them to learn and move forward, rather than letting them get the better of you.

People with a strong growth mindset will see unexpected problems as opportunities, rather than barriers. I’m sure you will be familiar with that famous quote from Henry Ford of Ford Motor Company fame:

“Whether you think you can or that you can’t, you are usually right.[2]”

This succinctly describes how what we believe creates our own internal reality. If we can turn all of our “can’ts” into “cans”, how much more powerful could be become? That is what growth mindsets are all about.

Here comes the science bit…

Mindset studies go back as far as the 1980s, when American psychologist, Peter M. Gollwitzer researched how our plans, goals and ambitions affect our emotions, behaviours and understanding of the world around us[3]. He defined a “mindset” as the sum of our core values, emotions, attitudes and philosophical view of the world around us. In other words, how we feel about ourselves and our role within the wider society.

The concept of a “growth mindset” is also based on research by fellow US psychologist, Carol Dweck, who found that people who held the belief that it is possible for talent and intelligence to evolve through work and experience were better able to improve their skills and abilities[4]. Conversely, those who believed that their abilities were firmly set in stone and could not improve found it far harder to develop and grow.

Dweck discovered that it is not talent alone that sets successful people apart. Innovators like Thomas Edison, who invented the light bulb, didn’t wake up one morning with the idea fully formed in his mind. It took a lot of hard work, curiosity, and dedication – and doubtless the odd failure along the way – to fulfil his goal and bring his invention to life. Getting out of our comfort zone to explore new ideas is a major part of embracing and developing a growth mindset. Building on that with effort and drive is the next step – and the key to ultimately achieving our ambitions and goals.

How to develop a growth mindset

Dweck suggested that offering someone praise for doing something well, while a very encouraging and kind thing to do, reinforces the idea of a fixed mindset. It rewards them for completing something that they usually already know they can do well. Whereas praising someone’s efforts and hard work in working towards their goal helps support a growth mindset by rewarding their dedication to the process of learning and keeps them motivated to carry on going[5].

There are several steps involved in developing a positive growth mindset for ourselves. We need to start by listening to our inner voice and question any beliefs that seem to come from a fixed mindset. Thoughts such as “I can’t do that – I don’t know how to,” or “If I fail, it will be embarrassing, so I had better not try,” are clear examples. Using previous negative feedback as an excuse not to challenge yourself with something new is also very common – and unhelpful!

Next, recognise that you don’t have to listen to these types of thoughts. You have a choice in how to face up to the obstacles, challenges and opportunities being presented to you. If you want to try something but don’t have the right knowledge, how can you gain the facts you need? What training could you do, or where could you go to find out information online or in a book? Seeing potential problems as opportunities for growth could take you in brand-new directions that you never even considered before.

So, challenge yourself each and every time you find your mind drifting back to fixed mindset thoughts and ideas. Be kind to yourself – we all need to practise before we can fully master a particular skill or ability. See mistakes as a chance to learn and improve, rather than a reason to give up altogether. Help others see beyond their own fixed ideas of what they can and cannot do too. If you (or someone else) see an obstacle as insurmountable and beyond your abilities to defeat, you will be put off from trying from the very beginning. By turning it into a challenge instead and thinking about what you need to do or learn to get by, the goal suddenly becomes far more interesting. The potential for growth and developing skills and experience along the way becomes huge – and really rather exciting!

If-then planning

As part of his mindset theory, Gollwitzer devised the concept of ‘if-then’ planning. In other words, giving development goals greater precision by breaking them down into stages and creating a plan for what will happen when[6]. It helps you anticipate potential challenges and work out in advance what you will do to overcome them. “If X happens, then I will do Y.” If I lose my pen, I will go and take another from my desk.”. This may seem obvious, but it helps develop a growth mindset by getting into the habit of seeing challenges and problems as something to solve, instead of causing us to stall and give up.

It also encourages positive self-talk, as you can build confidence by planning what you will do if something happens, rather than just worrying and hoping nothing goes wrong. The situation and proposed action become linked in your mind, so that when something does crop up that you need to act on straight away, you know what to do. Your brain recognises the situation as an opportunity to develop – the perfect link back to that all-important growth mindset.

Growth Mindsets and NLP

Working on developing a growth mindset is a hugely important part of NLP methodology. A key NLP technique is known as reframing, or changing our beliefs and how we talk to ourselves in order to change our negative or limiting beliefs for the better. Sound familiar? Changing beliefs like this can help us in so many ways, including at work, when coaching or managing others to improve their performance and when seeking to fulfil our own personal potential.

Combining a growth mindset with NLP reframing techniques can help us to stop seeing challenges as impossible to overcome and to start working proactively to combat negative thoughts and build self-confidence. It can help us with goal setting, breaking things down into ‘if-then’ plans and using past experiences to inform future approaches and ideas.

For more information about NLP and its links to growth mindset theory, get in touch with me today

[1] Source: https://www.wework.com/ideas/professional-development/business-solutions/growth-mindset-definition-characteristics-and-examples. Accessed 12 April 2023.

[2] Source: NLP for Business Success, Jeremy Lazarus, published 2013, p173

[3] Source: https://www.wework.com/ideas/professional-development/business-solutions/growth-mindset-definition-characteristics-and-examples. Accessed 12 April 2023.

[4] Source: https://www.mindtools.com/asbakxx/dwecks-fixed-and-growth-mindsets. Accessed 12 April 2023.

[5] Source: https://www.mindtools.com/asbakxx/dwecks-fixed-and-growth-mindsets. Accessed 12 April 2023.

[6] Source: https://www.buildinglearningpower.com/2019/05/making-goals-work/. Accessed 12 April 2023.