Essential Question: Develop a plan that introduces the fundamental ideas introduced by Dr. Dweck as you develop and support a growth mindset in yourself and in others within your organization.
Do you often try new things and push yourself into uncharted territory in your development?
More often than not, I try to push myself into uncharted territory as I continue to grow. In most areas of my life, I seek to grow and develop. However, are times when I get “stuck” in my thinking. For example, my thinking around finances is very fixed and I struggle to learn and grow. I often give into stress. Also, when I’m confronted about certain opinions around politics or my core beliefs, I notice a lot of self-justification and the need to be “right” in arguments. Finally, as I challenge myself to grow as a leader, I feel a great deal of anxiety that I will not be able to do it. I worry that “no one will listen,” or that my ideas aren’t “right” or “important enough.” I recognize that while I exhibit a growth mindset in general, I can definitely improve my fixed mindset in these areas.
Compare and contrast growth and fixed mindset. What are the dangers of a fixed mindset? Why is the growth mindset so important?
As I explained in previous posts, Too Close to Home and Growth Mindset: Useful Tool or Parlor Trick, individuals with a growth mindset view effort over talent and constantly seek development (Jeffrey, n.d.). Individuals with a fixed mindset see their talents as, well, fixed. They seek external validation and often give up in the face of failure (Jeffrey, n.d.). No one falls completely into one category or another. Most people have a growth mindset in some areas and a fixed mindset in others, although some people might have more of a fixed or growth mindset overall (Jeffrey, n.d.).
The fixed mindset is a dangerous trap to fall into. People with a fixed mindset believe in natural-born talent and that some people just can’t do certain things. Because of this, they see growth and effort as a waste of time, which creates no chance to develop potential (Jeffrey, n.d.). This can cause an aborted sense of self-actualization in a person with an overall fixed mindset.
The growth mindset is important because with this mindset, “you can develop any ability through dedication and hard work” (Jeffrey, n.d.). The growth mindset increases your desire to embrace challenges and persevere when you encounter setbacks. Also, the growth mindset is the “essential ingredient on the path to mastery” (Jeffrey, n.d.). According to Carl Jung’s work, self-mastery is the “commitment to never-ending improvement; it’s a process of becoming” (Jeffrey, n.d.). Self-actualizing individuals experience more peak, life-affirming moments, improved relationships, and greater productivity in their life goals (Jeffrey, n.d.). In other words, approaching life with a growth mindset ensures that you will continue to learn and face the challenges life throws you. It creates a more rich and meaningful life experience.
Most of us hold both a fixed and a growth mindset around certain topics or areas of development. Fortunately, mindsets are just beliefs and you can change your mind. You can choose a path toward self-actualization.
How are mindsets formed?
Praise and labeling from influential adults in our lives develop growth or fixed mindset. Think about this. If a person has a fixed mindset, they desire external validation for their skill and ability. In other words, they probably received a lot of that as a child. If a person has a growth mindset, they must have been praised on what they value – the process they use, the effort they put in, and their personal improvement.
How does understanding how the brain learns work to lay the foundations to develop a growth mindset? How does practice develop learning? How can it be used to learn to have a growth mindset?
How can we go about changing our minds? A 1998 study determined that adult brains continue to create new cells. As a result, the concept of neuroplasticity exploded along with research into adult learning (Remedium, 2005-2013). While the knowledge that adult brains can continue to learn was revolutionary, what we know about how we learn is similar in adults and children. As you learn a new skill your brain makes connections. Through repeated practice, your brain builds myelin along the axons. The more myelin you build, the faster the signal moves. The more you practice, the stronger your brain gets, and the more automatic the skill or knowledge becomes (Jeffrey, n.d.).
This process is observable externally with the concept of the Four Stages of Learning.
Jeffrey also suggests changing our thoughts around practice. The comic below provides the perfect explanation:
If we make a conscious effort to shift our praise from fixed to growth, our mindset is sure to follow.
What resources will you use to promote the growth mindset?
- Four Stages of Learning
- Moving from the Fear Zone to the Growth Zone | Succeed On Purpose
- Maslow’s Motivation Model
- Questions that Activate a Growth Mindset
- The Four Steps
- The Feeling Good Handbook
How will you incorporate the four steps?
Why 4 Steps:
In The Feeling Good Handbook, Dr. David Burns teaches readers how to use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT to retrain their brains (Burns, 1999). He talks about the reaction chain that happens in split seconds and how it leads to unconscious behaviors. He takes the reader step-by-step through this process, helping them identify what they are feeling and the thought that causes that feeling. Then, the reader can look through thought distortions to if any fixed mindset – or distorted – thinking affected their feelings. Finally, he guides users through useful tips on reframing their thinking for a more positive outcome. CBT is a well-known, often used process for overcoming depression and anxiety and improving relationships.
How 4 Steps:
The Four Steps are similar to the process Dr. Burns used to teach people how to reframe their thinking. Using the four steps, someone should be able to:
- take on a new challenge,
- learn from setbacks,
- persist without exception,
- and adjust their actions based on feedback (Jeffrey, n.d.).
That is because they learn to notice their feelings and thinking, and they learn to reframe their thinking to achieve positive outcomes.
What are the four steps:
Scott Jeffrey (n.d.) shares the four steps in Change Your Fixed Mindset into a Growth Mindset.
Step 1: Learn to hear your fixed mindset “voice.”
Step 2: Recognize that you have a choice.
Step 3: Talk back to it with a growth mindset voice.
Step 4: Take the growth mindset action.
Using these steps is similar to using CBT to work through distorted thoughts. The only difference is that the outcomes apply specifically to mindsets around learning.
How will you communicate the message of “yet” to others? When and how often will you promote the growth mindset?
My Brainstorm:
- Coaching questions to use with individuals and in training sessions.
- What can I learn from this?
- What steps can I take to help me succeed?
- Do I know the outcome or goal I’m after?
- What information can I gather? And from where?
- Where can I get constructive feedback?
- If I had a plan to be successful at [blank], what might it look like?
- When will I follow through on my plan?
- Where will I follow through on my plan?
- How will I follow through on my plan?
- What did I learn today?
- What mistake did I make that taught me something?
- Is my current learning strategy working? If not, how can I change it?
- What did I try hard at today?
- What habits must I develop to continue the gains I’ve achieved?
- Modeling the behavior myself.
- Twitter Campaign.
- Incorporate graphics/information into staff training.
- In coaching and professional/individual interactions.
- Preemptively Create a graphic that can be used throughout the district.
- When? Soon and often – especially when learning new content. A lot of the people I work with will need a lot of support when learning technology.
THINK BIGGER…
Conclusion: How will the growth mindset influence or impact the way you approach your work in this course and the program?
Scott Jeffery says “Mindset places learning in the context of our thoughts and beliefs” (Jeffrey, n.d.). He refers to Jung’s work, stating that we exist with two opposing forces. One of those forces pulls us toward safety and another pulls us toward growth (Jeffrey, n.d.). How can we work in the Growth Zone? By facing our fears. To do this, we must “become aware of the fear driving your behavior, welcome it, and realize it has no basis in your present reality” (Jeffrey, n.d.). In addition, through small repeated actions and consistent practice with The Four Steps, we can change our mindset and spend more time in growth and learning (Jeffrey, n.d.).
I use CBT on a regular basis in my life. I already noticed a fixed mindset thinking around my leadership capabilities and started “talking back” to that voice. It helps that I have supportive teammates who will gladly call me on my thinking. Above all, my hope is that applying the concepts from Dr. Dweck’s research to my own life will help me move from the Comfort Zone throughout the Applied Digital Learning Program and beyond.
References
Andersen, S. (2015, September 5). Sarah’s Scribbles by Sarah Andersen for September 05, 2015. GoComics. Retrieved January 23, 2022, from https://www.gocomics.com/sarahs-scribbles/2015/09/05
Burns, D. D. (1999). The Feeling Good Handbook (Plume). Penguin Publishing Group.
Jarrard, B. (2019, May 14). Four Stages of Learning: Are They Enough to Make Innovation Happen? –. Mindwerx. Retrieved January 23, 2022, from http://mindwerx.com/four-stages-learning-enough-make-innovation-happen/
Jeffrey, S. (n.d.). Change Your Fixed Mindset into a Growth Mindset [Complete Guide]. Scott Jeffrey. Retrieved January 23, 2022, from https://scottjeffrey.com/change-your-fixed-mindset/
Maxwell, T. (2020, April 20). Moving from the Fear Zone to the Growth Zone. Succeed On Purpose. Retrieved January 23, 2022, from https://www.succeedonpurpose.com/post/moving-from-the-fear-zone-to-the-growth-zone
McLeod, S. (2020, December 29). Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Simply Psychology. Retrieved January 23, 2022, from https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
Remedium. (2005-2013). Neuroplasticity: An Extraordinary Discovery of the Twentieth Century. A to Z of Brain, Mind and Learning. https://www.learninginfo.org/neuroplasticity.htmWarren, P. (2020, August 18). Getting Out of the Comfort Zone and into the Growth Zone. eyeTHRIVE by GPN. Retrieved January 23, 2022, from https://eyethrive.net/getting-out-of-the-comfort-zone-and-into-the-growth-zone/