World-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck has spent decades studying why it’s not just our abilities and talents that bring us success but whether we approach things with a “fixed” or “growth” mindset. Here are some key takeaways from her amazing book, Mindset, and seven questions to determine which mindset you currently have and ways to make changes to accomplish true career success.
1. What is your mindset on life?: Dweck says how you answer the following four true or false statements will tell you whether you have a growth or fixed mindset: (1) You are a certain kind of person, and there is not much that can be done to really change that; (2) No matter what kind of person you are, you can always change substantially;
(3) You can do things differently, but the important parts of who you are can’t really be changed; and (4) You can always change basic things about the kind of person you are. Answering “true” to statements 1 and 3 are the fixed-mindset questions and questions 2 and 4 reflect a growth mindset. 2. Are you more concerned with how you’ll be judged or are you concerned with improving? The above questions relate to your personality mindset and reveal qualities dependability, cooperativeness, caring or social skills. Your goal in life should be about learning (a growth personality mindset) and not about caring how others assess your ability or trying to get everything “right” on the first or tenth try (a fixed personality mindset).
3. Do you want to change your mindset?: As a child, someone may have praised your intelligence, looks or ability. However, words alone don’t foster our self-esteem and enable us to accomplish things. In fact, being praised solely for your outcome can jeopardize your success. Redefine success to include the effort and process, and not just the end result. Remember you can be smart and talented but you need a growth mindset to cultivate the coping skills required for life.
4. Do you have the CEO disease? Dweck gives a great example in her book of the downside of a fixed mindset when it comes to business and your professional life. She talks about former Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca who, after a period of initial success, kept bringing out the same car models again and again with only minor tweaks. Meanwhile Japanese companies were redefining how cars should look and run – and eventually led the market. Where in your professional life are refusing to welcome a challenge and finding new ways to approach things? Learn ways to embrace your shortcomings and thrive, not cower, after setbacks and “failure.”
5. Do you only like doing things that you know you’ll do well? If you are living your life thinking I have mastered “X” and therefore don’t need to continue learning more about it – STOP THAT TODAY.
The bigger the challenge the more we learn to “stretch” ourselves, something many great athletes have shown us from their example. Many sports greats often trained with people who were older, bigger, better and even more talented. It was challenging themselves in this way that helped them become a phenom.
6. Do you feel “smart” when you are “flawless” or when you are “learning?” I love the feeling of having that “aha” moment when I realize why that “thing” that I did wasn’t working – because now I know how to “fix it.” Do you feel the same way? Start embracing the power of the process of things and not just the energy of doing things “perfectly.” Perfection doesn’t invite progress and effortless success doesn’t teach us anything. Remember, change and progress is essential to success in our work and careers.
7. What are you trying to prove and who are you trying to prove it to? People with a fixed mindset opt for success over growth. Doing so begs the question, what are they really trying to prove? If you are living with a fixed mindset stop trying to prove that you are intelligent, unique or special – you are. Imperfections are not shameful it’s what makes us great.
“Failure is an action NOT an identity.” Everything you try will work out. Your inability to do something perfectly or instantly does not define who you are but rather opens the potential of who you can become. Things are not “either or” – you can have great ability but still need to embrace putting forth effort. Even if you are a genius be willing, as Dweck says, to “upgrade your genius.” This week think about whether you have a fixed or growth mindset. If it’s fixed, ask yourself – “At the end of your career do you want to look back and see that you only did those things in life that you knew you could succeed in – or do you want to say that you explored, tried to improve and enjoyed the journey and not just the destination?”