I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’ – Muhammad Ali
Have you ever faced a situation in which you struggled to accept your flaws and mistakes? What does it feel like to give up on something you really want to work on? Is giving up your only option?
It is true that we have difficulty accepting misfortunes at times, and despite our best efforts to strive during these trying times, we have never been able to break free from the prison of our mistakes; these are clear signs of a fixed mindset
Is having such a mindset really that bad?
It's natural to have that mindset, especially when you're just starting, but let us shed some light on you by discussing one of the mindsets you should have in order to be a successful leader — The Growth Mindset.
Growth mindset is an attitude and belief that intelligence and talent are qualities that can be developed over time through consistent efforts while a person who has a fixed mindset believes that the aforementioned basic traits or qualities are all fixed and cannot be enhanced or developed further. Leaders with a growth mindset consider and focus on the process rather than results and they also recognize setbacks as an essential part of learning while leaders who have a fixed mindset are results-oriented and see challenges as defeats.
The first person to describe the growth mindset was a Psychologist from Stanford University, Dr. Carol Dweck. According to her book, “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success”, a growth mindset is a belief that both skills and intelligence can be improved with effort and persistence. Her research revealed that the high school students who were challenged with puzzles (ranged from easy to difficult), embraced failures and saw it as their learning experience. This positive attitude of the participants was coined the ‘growth mindset’, and people with this kind of mindset stay resilient during crises.
Leading effectively in leadership necessitates many things, such as empowering and motivating those you lead, good communication skills, preparedness, and so on. Aside from these, having a growth mindset that influences all aspects of leadership is essential. A leader with this mindset can foster a positive environment, see endless opportunities, and multiply their team's potential, all of which will drive business growth. In times of crisis, they are the ones who believe that every effort counts and refuse to point fingers. They make a difference by viewing failure as a temporary setback and believing that practice leads to mastery. They also welcome challenges and risks, which they can later utilize.
Cultivating a growth mindset leads you to a world full of possibilities. It can help you improve yourself in a variety of ways, including how you perceive situations, being open to lifelong learning, and setting more realistic and achievable goals, not only for yourself but also for the teams you lead.
Break free from the influence of preconceived notions and limited potential. Start your leadership with a mindset that brings out the best in you; open new doors of opportunity without being constrained by any fear, particularly of failure.
“Love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort, and keep on learning.” – Carol S. Dweck
Reference
“Mindset: The New Psychology of Success”
(n.d.). Retrieved from Farnam Street: https://fs.blog/carol-dweck-mindset/