Our genetics are not the only factor that determines what we think, how we act and who we become. We all have the ability to grow and stretch and change regardless of our genes and regardless of how we have been brought up. This belief that we can develop and transform through dedication and consistent effort is what is called having a growth mindset. It is the pursuit of continual improvement.
Of course, it is much easier to embrace this growth mindset if we have been born and brought up in a family, in a community where there is an underlying belief that we all have control of our own destiny, but if this is not the case, it takes real courage to step into that mindset.
In this ever-changing business environment, adaptability and creativity are required if we are to remain resilient enough to deal with all the uncertainty and challenges that are being thrown at us. That is why tapping into our courage muscle to ensure we don’t get stuck with a fixed mindset is so important, otherwise the problems we may be experiencing at work will continue to hold us back.
G.R.O.W.T.H. Formula
Here are six steps to courageously move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset so you can become that professional, leader, colleague, or mentor that you aspire to being.
G-oals are Important
You have to want to change and be prepared to set yourself goals that will stretch you. You have to believe that the idea of a growth mindset is something to prioritise and must be worked on. You also want to constantly create new goals so you continue to be stimulated. As Nelson Mandela so wisely said, “After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”
R-eflect on Your Strengths
Yes, take a little time to reflect on what you struggle with because this allows you to recognise your roadblocks, but more importantly reflect on your strengths and acknowledge what you know you are good at. These strengths are what will continue to give you the courage to try new things and move forward even when it feels uncomfortable.
O-pportunities for Learning
Where are the opportunities for you to learn more? Seek them out. Keep asking yourself, “how can I continue to improve?” Don’t focus just on the end result or what the perfect result would look like. Spend your time and efforts recognising what you can learn along the way? Where can you get the training that you need? Who can you talk to? Is there a course that will guide you? A workshop you can go to. Who can inspire you with their story of what they have already done? I’m a great believer in that ‘we can’t be who we can’t see’.
W-elcome Feedback
This is how we continue to improve. It is not failure when someone gives us ‘constructive criticism’, it is our chance to find those little shifts that we can incorporate, to learn from our mistakes so we can progress from wherever we are currently at. Feedback from people we trust is truly a gift. If you feel like their feedback is a little off-track, before you react, sleep on it or go for a walk around the block and get some clarity on how their advice will help you to improve.
T-ake on Challenges
Put the effort in. Is it hard? Good. You’ve done hard things before, and you will do them again. Take on challenges whenever you can so you continue to grow. Remember you don’t need to accomplish it all straight away. Regularly include the word ‘yet’ in your vocabulary when talking about challenges that you have not ‘yet’ grasped.
H-ave Fun
Celebrate the progress you have made and share this progress with others. Be proud of the efforts you have put in, knowing how easy it is to be complacent and let the world pass you by. Also, remember to not take yourself too seriously. You will stumble and make mistakes, but that’s completely OK. Laugh at yourself when this happens so you don’t get paralysed with the fear of failure. Not taking yourself or your stumbles too seriously helps you to take more risks knowing that it is not the ‘be all and end all’ of your life if it doesn’t work out the way you thought it would.
My favourite saying in the whole world is, “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me”.
It would be fabulous if we could take a magic pill or jump on a magic carpet and end up where we want to be without having to put in effort. Unfortunately though, this is not how the world works and if we do want to be that professional, leader, colleague, or mentor that we aspire to being, then we must find the courage to do what it takes to move from where we are now to where we want to be.
Embracing a growth mindset is a necessary component if we want to be resilient enough to deal with this changing and challenging world. It takes courage to step into this mindset especially when times are tough but the rewards will be lifelong.
If your team members seem stuck and are struggling to find the opportunities within their daily ordeals, why not book a conversation with me to see how I can support you.
