Developing a growth mindset in the face of challenge

1
MINDSET

• Developing a growth mindset in the face of
  challenge

2
High Performing Teams

• Does your team have a fixed mindset or a growth
  mindset?
• Do you feel judged or are team members helping
  you develop?
• START WITH YOURSELF
• Are there ways you can be less defensive about
  your mistakes?
• Could you profit more from the feedback you get?
• Are there ways you can create more learning
  opportunities for yourself?

3
Fixed vs. Growth Mindset

• PEOPLE WHO HOLD THE GROWTH MINDSET BELIEVE
• Intelligence can be developed, the brain is like
  a muscle that can be developed and trained.
• Success and therefore a positive self image
  comes from a desire to learn and grow through
  effort

• PEOPLE WHO HOLD THE FIXED MINDSET BELIEVE
• People are the way they are and that doesnt
  change.
• Success and therefore a positive self image
  develops by performing well and looking smart

4
Challenges

• Fixed Mindset

• Growth Mindset

Rather than risk failing and negatively impacting
their self-image, Fixed Mindsets will often avoid
challenges and stick to what they know they can
do well.
Growth Mindsets embrace challenges because they
know that theyll come out stronger on the other
side.
5
Obstacles

• Fixed Mindset

• Growth Mindset

Obstacles do not discourage Growth Mindsets.
They believes self-image is not tied to success
and others image of them. Growth Mindsets
believe failure is an opportunity to learn, and
so whatever happens, they win.
Fixed mindsets give up easily. When faced with
an obstacle, they decide that it is not worth the
effort to overcome.
6
Criticism

• Fixed Mindset

• Growth Mindset

Fixed Mindsets ignore useful negative feedback
or take feedback as an insult. They believe that
any criticism of their capabilities is criticism
of them. This usually discourages the people
around them and after a while they stop giving
any negative feedback, further isolating the
person from external influences that could
generate some change.
Growth Mindsets view criticism as a source of
information. They do not always integrate or
agree with the criticism, but believing they can
always change and improve, they weigh the value
of the criticism to see if it can help them grow.
7
Effort

• Fixed Mindset

• Growth Mindset

Fixed Mindsets believe effort is an unpleasant
thing that doesnt really pay dividends, and
therefore avoid effort as much as possible.
Growth Mindsets see effort not as something
useless to be avoided but as necessary to grow
and master useful skills.
8
Success of others

• Fixed Mindset

• Growth Mindset

• Fixed Mindsets believe that if someone else
  succeeds it makes them look bad.
• When others succeed, they will try to convince
  themselves and the people around them that the
  success was due to either luck or objectionable
  actions.
• In some cases, they will even try to tarnish the
  success of others by bringing up things that are
  completely unrelated (Yes, but did you know
  about his).

Growth Mindsets see the success of others as a
source of inspiration and information. They
look to see what that person did to become
successful to help them with their own success.
9
Recognize that you have a choice

• How you interpret challenges, setbacks and
  criticism is YOUR CHOICE

IT IS UP TO YOU
10
Talk back with a Growth Mindset voice

• When you approach a challenge

The Fixed Mindset Voice says The Growth Mindset Voice Responds
Are you sure you can do it?
What if you fail? Then you will be considered a failure!
If you dont try, you can protect yourself and keep your dignity.
Im not sure I can do it this instant, but I can
learn to with time and effort
Most successful people had failures along the
way.
If I dont try, I automatically fail. Where is
the dignity in that?
11
Talk back with a Growth Mindset Voice

• When you hit a setback

The Fixed Mindset Voice says The Growth Mindset Voice Responds
This would have been easy if you really had talent.
You see, I told you it was a risk. Now you have gone and shown how limited you are
Its not too late to back out, make excuses, and try to regain your dignity
That is so wrong. Basketball wasnt easy for
Michael Jordan and science wasnt easy for Thomas
Edison. They had a passion and put in tons of
effort.
How great would it be if you learned how to do
this better and then tried again and succeeded.
If you back out now or make excuses not to try
again, everyone will know why, including you.
12
Talk back with a Growth Mindset Voice

• When you face criticism

The Fixed Mindset Voice says The Growth Mindset Voice responds
It wasnt my fault, it was someone or something elses fault
Who does that person think they are for giving me advice? Im not listening to them.
I guess the person who gave me feedback doesnt think I can do it. They might even want to see me fail.
If I dont take responsibility, I cant fix it.
Let me listen- however painful it is, and learn
whatever I can.
Let me hear what they have to say, maybe they
know what they are talking about.
Maybe they are trying to help because they
actually want me to succeed, otherwise they might
not be offering any advice at all.
13
Take the Growth Mindset Action

• Learn to recognize when you hear a Fixed Mindset
  voice
• and when you hear a
• Growth Mindset voice.

14
Act on the Growth Mindset voice
Take on the challenge wholeheartedly.
Learn from setbacks and try again.
Hear the criticism and act on it.
Succeed.