6 Tips to Promote Growth Mindset
Mindset refers to an established set of attitudes we have developed overtime from influencing factors like upbringing, culture and past experiences. Our mindset shapes our everyday lives. It affects the beliefs you have about who you are and what you are capable of.
In Adam Khoo’s bestselling book: ‘I Am Gifted, So Are You!’, he shared about how a dumb kid (himself) can be gifted after benefiting from attending a school holiday programme. And the secret? – A shift in mindset.
What you need to know about Fixed vs. Growth Mindset.
Fixed Mindset
Fixed mindset assumes that qualities, like creativity and intelligence, are simply static traits that cannot be changed or improved. Hence, they do not invest time to develop these traits. People with fixed mindset usually face difficulties in areas like:
- dealing with setbacks
- confronting mistakes
- believing in their own capabilities
- managing emotions
- accepting & overcoming new challenges.
Growth Mindset
Growth mindset, on the other hand, is all about believing that these qualities can be developed through dedication and hard work. This view creates a love for learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Traits of a person with the growth mindset include:
- welcoming new challenges
- embracing change
- accepting failure & learning from them
- believing that anything is possible with the right strategies
- take responsibility for own learning
While it is possible to gravitate towards a more useful mindset, we need to acknowledge that all individuals are a mixture of both. It takes practice and a conscious effort to constantly be in a state of growth mindset.
Here are 6 tips for promoting Growth Mindset:
1. Understand that our Brain is a Muscle.
Like all muscles, our brain has the potential to grow. Through hard work, determination, and lots and lots of practice, we have the capabilities to expand our skill sets and knowledge to get better at what we do every day.
2. Be results-driven by Focusing on the Process.
It’s all about how you got there. Spend time to discover the best strategy that will help you get from point A to point B. Ask the questions and more importantly, find the right people and ask the right questions to help you get to where you want to be more effectively and more efficiently.
3. Embrace the Power of ‘Yet’
Your potential is affected by what you tell yourself, so choose your words wisely. ‘I cannot remember’ vs. ‘I cannot remember YET’, ‘I do not understand this Math formula’ vs. ‘I do not understand this Math formula YET’. This simple addition of the word ‘yet’ changes the entire feeling of the comment. It makes it more hopeful and encouraging all at the same time.
4. One Milestone at a Time
Set a good for yourself, find out how to get there and enjoy the process of getting there. The power of goal setting brings about the spirit of continual learning. It helps boost confidence, gives a sense of direction and attracts success. More importantly, start small and move on to the next milestone and let success breed success!
5. Accept Failures & Recognize that they are but Learning Opportunities
Giving your best at everything you do does not always guarantee results; but it guarantees that you learn the most even when you fail. Failure is a big part of the learning process. There is nothing like the feeling of struggling through a very difficult problem, only to finally break through and solve it! The harder the problem, the more satisfying it is to find the solution.
6. Encourage participation and collaboration
Be immersed in a topic, get involved in heated discussions and be brave to voice your views and options. Surround yourself with other like-minded individuals to brainstorm ideas and inspire one another. You will be amazed by how much more you receive when you start to give and how much faster you can grow when you are open to opinions and discussions.
You probably realize by now, that if it is possible for others, it is possible for you too. It is only a matter of finding the right strategy. You and almost everyone else around you are born with basically the same brain and nervous system. What set you apart is the choices that you make and the strategies that you take.
Article by:
Danny Tong, Senior Trainer
(I Am Gifted!TM Programmes)
