Growth Mindset & Fixed Mindset applied to organizations

Date

13.06.22

The mental attitude with which you face life, obstacles, and goals – the so-called “mindset” – is crucial for your success.

Growth Mindset & Fixed Mindset applied to organizations

I’m sure you have heard the phrase: “Willpower is key to success” – well, it’s true! The mental attitude with which you face life, obstacles, and goals – the so-called “mindset” – is crucial for your success. It is not merely a personality trait, it is what makes us optimistic or pessimistic, successful, or not. It defines our relationship with work, with people, and represents a decisive factor in reaching our maximum potential.

How the concepts of Growth Mindset and Fixed Mindset can help you?

First, let’s clarify these concepts:

According to Carol Dweck, PhD in developmental psychology, there are two mindset profiles: the fixed and the growth mindset. This theory was formulated from studies on human behavior, in which two groups of children had to deal with different challenges being presented to them. While one group gave up easily when faced with obstacles and difficulties the other showed resilience and interest, achieving creative and surprising solutions. The first group was identified as having a Fixed Mindset, while the second group, showed a Growth Mindset.

The Fixed Mindset: is a characteristic of people who believe that their abilities are fixed, with no room to grow and evolve, who have a hard time dealing with their mistakes, seeing them as a personal defeat.

The Growth Mindset: is a characteristic of people who believe they can develop their skills and see their mistakes as opportunities to grow and become better.

People’s Mindsets are not fixed. Once you decide to look at yourself and recognize that your mental attitude affects the quality of your work and of your relationships, you can move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset! Nothing is lost!

How to apply the Growth Mindset in your company?

1. Create connection: Observe and then act. First, observe how your teams work, what their needs are, ask questions and challenge them to share their ideas. By understanding individual difficulties, limiting beliefs, values, and desires, you can lead people to their ideal mindset and create a real goal. Then, show them that by simply trying, and especially setting aside their fears of making a mistake, they can change and achieve this goal.

2. Anticipate your team’s problems: By recognizing behavior patterns in certain elements of your team that generate defensiveness and conflict, you can implement strategies to change your team’s mental picture before the problems arise. An example of this is having the leaders visit the facilities to discuss problems and help find the best solutions. This simple change in attitude helps break down barriers and creates a comfortable and productive work environment Instead of looking for fault and promoting blame, lead the discussion toward finding the solution.

3. Anticipate the customer’s problems: Teams with a growth mindset are better prepared to recognize and deal with demanding customers and last-minute changes in orders or projects. They are able to anticipate possibilities and the most appropriate solutions for each situation. By reducing tension and conflict, they can improve customer relations and speed up resolution, while developing effective solutions with agility.

Your company is your people, the mindset of your people is the mindset of your company, and positive mindset brings positive results a growth mindset is also key to your company’s success.