Cultivating Growth Mindset in Your Organization
Growing up, I often heard the phrase, “You can’t teach old dogs new tricks.” It was meant as an insult to those resistant to change or improvement. The truth is, while some “old dogs” may struggle to learn new tricks, it's not because they lack capability—
It is the lie of the fixed mindset.
The fixed mindset asserts that qualities, talents, and ways of thinking are immutable over time. Here's how to determine if your company or team operates with a fixed mindset:
Does your team avoid or embrace challenges?
Is failure shamed, or is it viewed as a learning opportunity?
What is your team’s stamina for hard work?
Is there a culture of constant feedback?
Does one person's success inspire or threaten others on your team?
Embracing Challenges:
Work presents two types of challenges for our teams: those they choose and those they don’t. Teams that embrace challenges drive company growth, but they must be encouraged and trusted to do so. Some Life Languages™ might have a harder time delegating, but everyone can learn to empower their teams to embrace challenges.
Embracing Failure:
Failure is inevitable, especially when teams embrace challenges. However, failure doesn't have to be devastating; it can be viewed as an opportunity for growth. In a growth mindset, not trying is worse than trying and failing. Embracing failure encourages a culture of experimentation and resilience within your team.
Giving Effort:
In a growth mindset environment, teams willingly put in effort. This effort cannot be demanded but must be inspired. Hard work flourishes when team members have their questions answered, needs met, can pursue their passions, and have their strengths celebrated.
Receiving Feedback:
In a fixed mindset culture, there's limited space for feedback. When performance is prioritized over growth, feedback tends to be negative and can damage relationships. In a healthy feedback culture, there's a constant flow of specific and overwhelmingly celebratory feedback. Constructive feedback is given with a clear pathway back to success.
Celebrating Success:
In a growth mindset team, members are inspired by their colleagues' success. Conversely, in a fixed mindset culture, others' success may be viewed as a threat. As a team leader, your ability to honor and celebrate your colleagues will inspire your team to do the same.
Remember, a growth mindset asserts that qualities, talents, and ways of thinking are developable over time. The equation is simple: experience + reflection = growth. By fostering a growth mindset within your leadership team, you cultivate a culture of innovation, resilience, and continuous improvement.
Life Languages Workshops™ provide both inspiration and practical tools to develop a growth mindset. Contact me for a free roadmap to fostering a growth mindset in your team.