Moving from a fixed to a growth mindset

So we ended the previous step, by asking the question how do you move from a fixed to a growth mindset? There are a number of techniques you can apply, and we explore them in more detail in this step.

Personal techniques

A good starting point is to acknowledge your weaknesses. For example, let’s say you are not very organized and often find yourself working long hours because you forget about important tasks until the end of the day when you are ready to wrap up and head home. Instead, you end up staying late. Once you recognize that you have a problem, you can ask coworkers, supervisors, or even family members to help you figure out how to solve it.

Of course, this implies that you are open to feedback. Being able to receive (and give) feedback is important for moving toward a growth mindset. When someone gives you some feedback, you shouldn’t argue with them and defend yourself. The best approach is to just acknowledge the feedback with a simple ‘thank you’ and then reflect on it.

This leads to another technique: reflecting on your journey every day. Journaling is a great tool for this. At the end of each day, think about how well you did and write about it.

Of course, in order to reflect on your progress, you should have a plan for where you want to go. Prioritize your weaknesses and start working on the first one. Build a process that allows you to improve.

For more on this idea, read James Clear’s Atomic Habits.

Organizational techniques

For more on this topic, read The Fearless Organization by Amy Edmondson.

It is important that we identify our mindset and our established set of attitudes and habits towards succeeding. But, behind every successful team, is a successful leader. Let’s explore the concept of servant leadership in the next step.