3 Strategies For A Growth Mindset

3 Strategies For A Growth Mindset

Having a growth mindset is critical to career success. As you advance in your career, you will be faced with challenges. How you react to these challenges will either propel you forward or keep you stuck.

People with a growth mindset believe they can learn or achieve anything.

In contrast, those with a fixed mindset believe the skills they currently possess are the only ones they will ever have. When presented with a challenge, a person with a growth mindset believes they can figure out a solution. While the person with a fixed mindset believes the problem is too great to overcome. 

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VIP Pass Communications Video – Turning Negatives Into Positives

 

Growth Mindset

A growth mindset gives people the authority to believe they can develop their skills and abilities. Without it, people doubt they can achieve more.

This is why you must develop a growth mindset. It is never too late to start.

Below we've put together 3 strategies to help you develop a long-lasting growth mindset.

 

1. Turn Negatives Into Positives

Most people would love to skyrocket to success early in their careers. However, most people will face multiple challenges and setbacks as they advance through their careers. No one wants to experience these setbacks or challenges, but you can use them to grow personally and professionally if and when you do. When you turn a negative into a positive, it reframes how you think about each situation.

Consider the following.

• Failure - When developing a growth mindset, you will want to change how you think about failure. Think about failure as part of the learning process instead of fixating on how you didn't get the outcome you were looking to achieve. A famous example of this is Thomas Edison inventing the light bulb. It took him 1,000 attempts to create a working light bulb. And when asked about how he felt about failing so many times, he said he didn't fail 1,000 times; the lightbulb just took 1,000 steps. Changing how you think about failure will help you develop a growth mindset.
• Limitations - You may have a goal you want to achieve, but the key is to recognize your limitations. This means being very realistic about your current skillset. For example, if you've never managed a project before, but want to become a project manager, you need to write down your skills and those you don't currently have. From there, you can create realistic goals to achieve these skills. You can ask your superior for specific projects that give you these skills. Soon, you will find you've acquired the skills necessary to become a project manager. When reframing your limitations as goals, you develop a strong growth mindset.
• Challenges - People with a strong growth mindset are always looking for ways to learn. One way to turn a challenge into a positive is to think about the challenge as an opportunity to learn. For example, let's say you are tasked with a project. You have no prior experience with this type of project and have no idea where to start. This is a challenge. When you have a growth mindset, you look at this project and think, "I may not know how to do this now, but I know I can figure it out." Because the truth is, you can figure it out. With a little research, and some trial and error, this challenge now becomes an opportunity for you to add more skills and experience to your resume.

Learning to turn negatives into positives will help you develop a strong growth mindset.

 

2. Messaging

The messages you send yourself and others matter. If you want to develop a strong growth mindset, you need to pay close attention to what messages you are sending. This means being mindful of your word choice, how you carry yourself, and what mental barriers block you from growth.

Consider the following:

• Mental Barriers - Mental barriers are negative thoughts stemming from past experiences.  Most often, mental barriers present themselves as negative self-talk. When developing a growth mindset, you need to replace these negative messages with positive ones. For example, when you think, “I could never learn how to do what Jan does.” Replace that thought with, “I don't know how to do what Jan does, but if Jan can learn how to do it, so can I.” The more you practice positive messaging; the less these mental barriers will prevent you from achieving career success.
• Word Choice - The words you say matter. When developing a growth mindset, you need to be mindful of the words you think and speak. For example, one way to use your words to develop a strong growth mindset is to incorporate the word yet. You can say something like, "I don't know how to build the database, yet." Or, "I haven't found the solution yet." When you use the word yet, you open up the possibility of it happening. This will help you develop a growth mindset.
• Body Language - Your body language sends messages to others and yourself. It would help if you used confident body language so you believe you can achieve, and show others you believe in yourself. For example, your boss asks you to be the point person for your first project. When you accept, you don't make eye contact, you hunch your shoulders because you aren't sure you can do it, and you start fidgeting because you are nervous. Your boss may think they've made a mistake. The message you sent with your body language isn't confident. Instead, use confident body language even if you are nervous about this opportunity. This means making eye contact with your boss. Keep your shoulders back and head held high. 

Pay attention to the messages you are sending yourself and others. Be sure to reframe any messages that prevent you from developing a growth mindset.

 

3. Your Network

Tapping into your network is a great way to foster a growth mindset. This is because your network is most likely filled with people who have a strong growth mindset and can help you as you develop yours. Find a mentor who currently embodies a growth mindset, ask them for constructive feedback, and celebrate other people's successes.

Consider the following:

• Find A Mentor - If you want to develop a strong growth mindset, find someone you believe already has one. Seek this person out and see if they would consider being your mentor. For example, think about the people in your network. Is there someone who has succeeded despite many obstacles? Do you know someone who has persevered? This person most likely has a strong growth mindset. Ask them if they would consider being your mentor. You can learn a lot from this person, and they can help you in your career.
• Ask For Constructive Feedback - When you have a growth mindset, you are actively looking for ways to improve. This means asking for constructive feedback. For example, after you've finished a project, ask your superior what you did well. You can also ask how you could have made the project run more smoothly. You can also ask peers. Ask your co-worker if you are clear in your communications. Asking for feedback will help you target ways you can grow.
• Celebrate Others - You can learn a lot from other people's successes. When you see someone else succeed, celebrate with them. This can be a great way to develop a strong growth mindset. For example, if you know a thriving colleague, find out why and how they achieved their success. Reach out to them and ask what steps they took to get to where they are. Ask them about the challenges they faced along the way and how they overcame them. When you develop a growth mindset, you see other people's successes as a way to learn rather than a failure on your part. 

Tapping into your network will help you continue to develop a growth mindset.

A growth mindset is essential for career success. Your ability to tackle problems and overcome obstacles will help you become a life-long learner and stand out to the people within your organization.

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