Embracing a Growth Mindset: Overcoming Self-Doubt

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A buzz word I’m hearing and seeing a lot these days is “Growth Mindset.” I even mentioned in a recent episode.

Full disclosure: While I have an idea of what a Growth Mindset is, I didn’t really know until I did the research for this episode.

As I’ve said before, sometimes my topics come from what clients and prospective clients are asking me, sometimes from what I’m reading and hearing in the zeitgeist, and sometimes from my own knowledge gap.

Here’s a definition of a Growth Mindset:

“The belief that a person's abilities can be improved through effort, learning, and persistence. It's about how a person approaches challenges, processes failures, and adapts and evolves as a result. People with a growth mindset believe that their skills and intelligence can be developed, and that they can continue to learn and become more intelligent. They tend to be more willing to engage in deliberate practice and continuous learning and are more likely to seek out new opportunities for learning and skill acquisition.”

Stanford professor Carol Dweck first discussed the concept of growth mindset in her 2006 book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, which was based on her study of students’ and children's attitudes towards failure. Some key elements of a growth mindset include: 

• Intelligence can be developed

People with a growth mindset believe that intelligence is not static but can be developed. 

• Embrace challenges

People with a growth mindset are willing to take on challenges and persist in the face of setbacks. 

• See effort as a path to mastery

People with a growth mindset understand that skill development requires effort and believe that their success depends on time and effort. 

• Learn from criticism

People with a growth mindset are open to learning from criticism and input from others. 

• Find inspiration in the success of others

People with a growth mindset can find inspiration in the success of others. 

On Sunbright Education’s website, I found this comparison of a Growth Mindset vs. a Fixed Mindset:

Believes that intelligence and talent can be improved VS

Believes that intelligence and talent are fixed

The Growth Mindset leads to embracing flaws and mistakes as opportunities for growth, accepting setbacks as part of the learning process, and feeling empowered to reach goals.

The Fixed Mindset leads to hiding flaws and mistakes, feeling ashamed about “failures,” giving up easily, and being unmotivated to strive for, or achieve, goals.

Here are some keyword comparisons:

Developed IQ vs. Innate IQ

Motivation vs. Resistance

Effort vs. Inertia

Acceptance vs. Guilt

Inspiration vs. Comparisons

Feedback vs. Criticism

There has been a lot of neuroscientific research into Growth Mindset, with studies showing differences in brain chemistry, improved academic performance, reduced burnout, fewer psychological issues, and others. What we’re really talking about here is neuroplasticity – which has been directly correlated to things like Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders.

I’m pretty sure that most of my listeners have a Growth Mindset – after all, you’re listening to this podcast to grow professionally, aren’t you?

There may, however, be areas where you haven’t developed your Growth Mindset as well as in other areas. Here are some tips for practicing some Growth Mindset self-talk:

“This task is really hard because I’m still developing my problem-solving skills in this area” VS. “I’m finding this task hard because I’m stupid/I’m not naturally good at this sort of thing.”

“I’m not a “math person” – yet! I just need to keep working at it!” VS. “I’m not a math person. I’d like to be, but it’s just not one of my strengths.”

“When I struggle with something, it means I’m learning.” VS. “When I struggle with something, it means I’m a failure.”

“I didn’t do great, but I don’t have to get it perfect this time. I just need to grow my understanding step by step.” VS. “I didn’t do great, but I tried my best. What’s the point in trying again if I didn’t get it perfect this time?”

Here’s a mantra I say to myself whenever I’m tackling something new and difficult:

“This is hard, and I can do hard things.”

I have talked often on this podcast about Winning vs. Learning, rather than Winning vs. Losing. The only way you lose is if you stop trying.

How can we develop a Growth Mindset? Here are 10 strategies, according to the website futurelearn.com:

#1 – Identify your own current mindset (awareness)

#2 – Revisit areas in which you’ve already made improvements (self-efficacy)

#3 – Review the success of others (self-efficacy)

#4 – Seek feedback (openness)

#5 – Harness the power of “yet” (weaknesses aren’t fixed)

#6 – Learn something new (get out of your comfort zone)

#7 – Make mistakes (practice learning from them)

#8 – Be kind to yourself (self-talk)

#9 – Look at examples (study others)

#10 – Set realistic goals (challenge yourself, but don’t set yourself up for failure)

I thought I would leave you with some Growth Mindset quotes I like:

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” Colin Powell

“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” Roger Crawford

“Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.” Samuel Johnson

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