9 Inspiring Growth Mindset

Knowing the fundamental distinctions between a development and fixed mindset is crucial whether you are a manager, parent, business owner, educator, or in a committed relationship. A healthy mindset is a hot topic these days, and growth mindset examples are valued highly depending on your social group.

Dr. Carol Dweck is responsible for that because she discussed this idea in a best-selling book. Dweck discusses these mindsets throughout the book, although many of the examples she uses are related to education.[1]

There's certainly nothing wrong with that, but I think we can better understand what it means to succeed in life when we see examples of a development mentality that go beyond simply acquiring new knowledge.

What Is a Growth Mindset?

It's important to define "growth mindset" before diving into specific examples of this mentality.

Dweck's book provides insight into the difference between a "fixed" and a "growth" attitude. People with fixed mindsets consider their personality characteristics, skill sets, and IQ to be unchangeable. They're passed down from generation to generation.

But a development mindset is the conviction that we can strengthen our weaker areas and build on our strengths with practice and effort. This, in turn, fosters a love of learning and the fortitude to persevere through adversity, ultimately leading to achievement.

Despite how simple it may sound, this isn't always the case. Dweck studied the impact of her message years later, once she had learned more about the topic.

Others' output was also subpar at best.

The activities taken in response may have positive or negative effects on learning for everyone since students and teachers have diverse perspectives about learning and intelligence.[2]

Incorrect use of this knowledge has led, for instance, to the development of a "false growth mindset." This may have been the result of false or misleading encouragement on the part of parents or teachers (such as, "You are so smart.") or the conviction that success can be achieved only via strenuous exertion.

Dweck revisited her studies and came to the conclusion that factors other than work, praise, and perseverance play a role.[3] What I've just stated is part of a growth attitude, but there's more.

It's about being aware of and controlling the impulses that set off our negative, fixed-mindset responses. It's human nature to get defensive or uneasy when confronted with difficulties or criticism. This stifles our development. People that have a growth mentality are able to identify the root causes of these problems and work around them to see what may be done.

To help you visualize what a growth mindset looks like, here are nine case studies. In order to show how a growth mindset might help with particular problems, some of these instances will use fixed growth mindsets.

1. Receiving Criticism

As was previously discussed, our brains may interpret criticism as an attack on our character or identity, leading us to become defensive. These situations can arise in a variety of contexts, but discussing one's performance with one's supervisor is a common one.

An illustration of a growth mindset in this situation would be to enter such meetings with a state of mind that is open and accepting of feedback, including criticism. 

Remember that you and your boss are actually on the same side here. Know that your manager has your best interests at heart and that any discussion of your performance or potential for improvement is an invitation to self-improvement and professional development.

You might even improve your skill as a result of this!

2. Approaching New Tasks

It need not be brand-new work per se. It can be a new job opportunity or a different direction in your life. Whatever the reason, we often feel nervous when we're forced out of our usual routine and into unfamiliar territory.

Having a fixed mindset in this situation means convincing yourself that you will never succeed in pleasing them.

Having faith that you can overcome adversity is an indication of a growth attitude. It's possible, perhaps likely, that you'll mess up, but take that as a chance to improve.

3. Changing Roles

Permitting yourself to play a variety of roles is another great illustration of the growth mentality in action. Although it may seem like the steps outlined above, keep in mind that you are exchanging places with another person. If you're a manager, you might promote from inside and give the job to an underling.

This leads to a possibility for you to keep honing your skills in one area while the other individual begins building a new skill set.

4. Eagerness to Learn

Taking up new challenges is another great illustration of the growth mentality in action.This is a hallmark of a person with a growth mentality, but it's still a great illustration of the concept. This is an example that can be used to a wide variety of situations.

Taking on this perspective may cause you to reevaluate your social circle and the people you feel comfortable letting into your life, for instance.

If you're a manager looking to boost morale, it's crucial that your team members actively seek out opportunities to learn and grow professionally.

It's important to find a partner that is committed to growth, not just professionally but also in terms of who they are and how they relate to you.

Make sure the folks you bring onto your team have a hunger for knowledge.hire parts. Although it may seem like the steps outlined above, keep in mind that you are exchanging places with another person. If you're a manager, you might promote from inside and give the job to an underling.

This leads to a possibility for you to keep honing your skills in one area while the other individual begins building a new skill set.

5. Building on Failure

Jack Ma founded the massive online marketplace Alibaba, but his life story is a perfect illustration of the development mindset. He had already failed a number of times before he started the company.

Three times he tried and failed to pass the college entrance examinations.

Ten times he applied to Harvard and was denied.

And he was the only applicant out of twenty-three who was turned down for a job at KFC.

It took him almost 25 years to launch Alibaba after he came up with the idea for it.

Jack Ma has a growth mentality thanks to his natural perseverance and his willingness to always improve himself through new experiences and knowledge. He continued to put in effort, which showed that he was learning both during and before each try.

6. Learning to Adapt With the Times

A LESSON FROM NIKE

Nike, a global leader in athletic footwear, is guided by a set of core values that prioritizes experimentation, top-notch performance, environmental responsibility, and personalization.

These are consistently displayed in the many shoe styles they release. After all, many buyers are content with their purchases.

What about this exemplifies a growth mentality, and how? Think about what's important to them. Maintaining these core values requires that a company evolve and grow as the world around it does. People's preferences in footwear evolve throughout time, and we discover new materials that are more durable or more functional.

If a business is serious about succeeding and satisfying its clientele, it must evolve and discard outmoded practices and ideas. These actions are consistent with "growth mindsets," which adapt and mature as new information is learned.

A LESSON FROM NOKIA

Nokia is the polar opposite of Nike. Nokia hasn't always been so flexible in responding to changes in the mobile phone industry. The fact that every phone they put out was nearly indestructible was something people remember to this day and liked about this firm.

It wasn't the manufacturing process that was flawed, though. It was due to their openness to change. It's difficult to know for sure, but people with a fixed mindset tend to be resistant to change and adaptation. Nokia's competition from Android, Samsung, Apple, and Microsoft has made it impossible for it to reenter the market.

7. Openness to Change

Looking at Blockbuster is another example of a company with a growth attitude in action. Like Nokia, this business has faded into obscurity as subscription video on demand services like Netflix and Hulu have taken over the movie rental market.

Blockbuster's intransigence in not adjusting its overdue fee and rental price structures was a contributing factor to its demise.

This is a perfect illustration of what may happen when people have a fixed attitude and refuse to change with the times. If you refuse to adapt to the ever-changing environment around you, you will inevitably fall behind.

8. Venturing on to New Paths

A growth mindset emphasizes taking risks and trying new things, but it also requires a specific frame of mind. If you have a fixed perspective and you're succeeding in one area, it's likely that you won't try anything new.

A common example of this is when a child believes, "I'm really good at this, so I'll keep doing this so I don't disappoint anyone." Unfortunately, we often carry this outlook into adulthood. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut by hesitating to try something new or move into a different role.

In some circumstances, it can be that we're pleased with everything in our lives, but in some cases, it may simply be a hesitation to attempting something new.

Conversely, one may use the practice of risk-taking and experimentation as an illustration of a growth mentality. There is learning at the end of every road.

9 Final Thoughts

Now that you have some concrete growth mindset examples, you will be able to better interact with your own development mindset. In addition, these illustrations can help us better understand the potential outcomes of alternative courses of action and the constraints imposed by previous choices.

What's important is that we're maturing and adjusting to our surroundings as best we can, and that we're always expanding our horizons and expanding our knowledge.