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Unlock Your Career Growth Mindset With These Tips

Growth is about moving forward – and so is developing a growth mindset.

Psychologist Carol Dweck coined the term “growth mindset” in her 2006 book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Her studies show that those who believe they can develop their talents tend to achieve more than those who feel their abilities are innate, fixed, or “just what I was born with.”

A fixed mindset is a belief that one’s skills and talents are stagnant: No matter what they do, those capabilities will not significantly improve.
A growth mindset is a belief you can progress through hard work and dedication: Even if you’re initially incapable of doing something new, this can change.

How to Develop a Growth Mindset

Not everyone can achieve everything – and it’s important to realize that no one has an entirely fixed or an entirely growth-oriented mindset. Realistically, most people fall somewhere in the middle. But, that being said, there are ways you can move the needle towards personal and professional growth versus stagnancy.

To unlock and benefit from your career growth mindset, try these tips:

Identify your current mindset. Where do you fall on the fixed vs. growth scale? Consider how you approach challenges at work and in your personal life. This awareness is the first step toward change.
Look at improvements you’ve already made. Think of something you’re better at now than you were in the past. Why is it easier now, and how did you make it happen? These thoughts will help steer you toward a growth mindset.
Look at the successes of people you admire. Picture something you’ve seen someone else do, against the odds. Think about how they achieved their success, what it says about their ability to develop their strengths, and how you may be able to model that behavior.
Seek feedback. Seeking – and listening to – feedback from others is a great way to develop a growth mindset. It may not always be easy to hear, but it will give you the needed insight into what needs improvement in your own life.
Embrace the concept of “yet.” Dweck addressed this idea in a TEDx talk. It’s about acknowledging there are things you’re not good at – yet. But with work and perseverance, you can improve in these areas.
Challenge yourself to learn something new. Pick something that piques your interest and at the same time, pushes you out of your comfort zone. Maybe it’s a second language, a musical instrument, or kick boxing. It’s a significant step toward continuously being more open to learn new skills.
Don’t be afraid to fail. Are you familiar with the quote by coach Jimmy Dugan in the movie A League of Their Own? “It’s supposed to be hard. The hard is what makes it great.” Rather than think mistakes equal ineptitude, look at them as learning opportunities.