The Fixed Mindset
The learners believe that they have the ability to change, and set about learning what they need to do in order to make the change a reality. The non-learners, on the other hand, are quite clear about the fact that “things are the way they are,” and that there’s no sense in trying to change them.
Children from the age of four exhibit the behaviour of somebody with a fixed mindset. Everything that happens in life from that age onwards seems to enforce the belief that “things are the way they are, and that’s all there is to it.” We start identifying some kids as “more intelligent” than the other kids.
The Growth Mindset
Where the fixed mindset people saw a world full of judgments and fear, the growth mindset people saw a world full of things to learn.
People with a growth mindset find success in giving their best shot, and learning according to Dweck. Moreover, they can take control of the process that brings success and be consistent.
Leadership
Dweck believes that the success fixed-mindset leaders seem to have never sticks for long, because they fall apart when confronted with failure. When things go wrong, they are driven to place blame on other people, and usually don’t take accountability for their mistakes.
The most valuable trait as employee can bring to his/her workplace is their growth mindset. For some employers, that is worth more than a degree. If you truly notice successful people, they are more likely to have a growth mindset rather than a fixed mindset in an ever evolving world.
In order to succeed, Dweck recommends to adopt the growth mindset. But what about other people? The most powerful thing you can do in this situation is always ask what a person is learning. Focus on the journey and ask what it taught them. If they are your direct reports at work, don’t focus on the success or failure of their work directly, but focus on what they learned through the experience. If they want to excel at work, they have to learn and grow.
Conclusion
There are two mindsets you can have in this world, and the one you choose will make all the difference. It will require a great amount of effort from your side, but make sure it is one you enjoy. We would highly recommend the growth mindset.