What’s the best way to adopt a growth mindset? One way is through mindset coaching to identify where you have fixed mindset tendencies, so you can work towards fostering a mindset geared towards growth. Everyone lives somewhere on a mindset continuum, and knowledge to continually self-assess helps you to live your best life.

If you want to achieve greater productivity and success in your career and personal life, developing a growth mindset is a good start!

Growth Mindset Coaching Began with Carol Dweck

Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, created in her insightful Mindset: The New Psychology of Success — an inquiry into the power of conscious and unconscious beliefs, and how growth mindset coaching can have a significant impact on all aspects of an individual’s life.

Subsequently, Carol Dweck and colleagues came up with the term ‘growth mindset’ over 20 years ago. The psychologists were inspired to investigate the theory after becoming aware of students’ differing attitudes about failure. Dweck noticed that while some students recovered quickly after experiencing failure, others were devastated by even the smallest of setbacks.

As a result, the ‘fixed v’s growth mindset’ was born following their study of the behaviour of thousands of children and became used to explain the underlying belief systems people have about learning and intelligence.

Basically, the theory goes that when people think they can increase their intelligence or ability, they become motivated to exert effort that makes them stronger. So, when those with a growth mindset put in extra time and effort, it leads to higher achievement.

Fixed V’s Growth Mindset – Two Basic Mindsets That Shape Lives

A fixed mindset

The belief is that basic abilities, intelligence, and talents are fixed traits that cannot be changed.

A growth mindset

A theory that prescribes the fact that talents and abilities can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence.

Neuroscience Proves Growth Mindset Gains

Advances in neuroscience are demonstrating that the brain is malleable, and as such prove the theory that a growth mindset is possible.

Interestingly, recent research on brain plasticity has shown how connectivity between neurons can alter with experience. So, with practice, neural networks can grow new connections, reinforce existing ones, and build protection that speeds the transmission of impulses.

How is this relevant to growth mindset coaching?  This research proves that individuals can increase neural growth through the actions they take. So, in learning, students that ask questions, study and maintain their physical wellbeing (through nutrition, exercise, and sleep hygiene) can improve their ability to succeed.

These neuroscientific discoveries highlight the link between mindsets and potential achievement. Accordingly, when people believe that their brains can change, they behave differently – a recipe for success.

Signs of a Fixed Mindset

Do you identify with any of these traits? If so, you’ll benefit most from growth mindset coaching.

• Believe intelligence, ability and talent are fixed
• Think effort is useless
• Believe failure defines you
• Hides flaws
• Avoids challenges
• Ignores feedback
• Thinks feedback is criticism
• Threatened by others’ success

Do you have an in-built ability to foster a growth mindset? If you demonstrate all of these traits naturally – you’re lucky, you’ve got a growth mindset mentality! But if you don’t identify with these characteristics, don’t worry, you can learn.

Signs of a Growth Mindset

• Believe intelligence, ability, and talent can be developed
• Considers effort is the key to success
• Thinks mistakes are an essential part of learning
• Sees failure as an opportunity
• A belief that failure is temporary
• Invites feedback
• Views others’ successes as inspiration

 

Have you ever heard the expression, ‘Whether you think you can, or you can’t – you’re probably right’? It’s a saying that perfectly expresses the power of the growth mindset.

So, if you’d like to do better, whether professionally or personally, consider the role your mindset plays in your ability to achieve your goals. Do you believe that you can improve, or are you stuck in a fixed mindset that keeps you trapped in a career or a life that doesn’t fulfill you?