What Is A Growth Mindset? And How To Develop One.

Ever wondered what the term Growth Mindset means? To have a growth mindset means to have the attitude that you can get better at anything if you put the time and effort in to it.

The opposite to this would be to have fixed mindset where you believe you are the way you are and that can't be changed.

"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I'm possible" - Audrey Hepburn

4 Reasons Why It Is Important To Have A Growth Mindset?

Learn new skills - The more you are open to growing the more you will seek it and will ultimately learn new skills. For example, if I am no good at presenting I can either learn how to get better at it (Growth mindset) or accept I am not very good at it and avoid it (Fixed mindset). This then leads on to...
Overcome obstacles - The more skills I learn and the more I grow the more obstacles I am able to overcome. I live out in the sticks with not very good public transport. This is an obstacle. However, with my growth mindset I can learn how to drive and thus I will overcome that obstacle.
Become more successful - If you grow and develop you are bound to be more successful. It will open up more opportunities and make you stand out from the crowd.
Make you happier - Success doesn't always bring happiness but feeling a sense of achievement will. Every time you grow and learn a new skill you will feel better than you did the day before. What can you do today that you couldn't do a year ago? Think back to how you felt a year ago and how you feel now. You feel happier right?

5 Ways To Develop A Growth Mindset?

Have a Personal Development Plan. This will focus your attention and will give you something to hold yourself to account. You can build momentum and create good habits by having a personal development plan.
Get yourself a mentor. Do not underestimate this. A mentor is able to look at a situation independently and share their personal experience. If it is the right person, they will challenge your way of thinking which will only improve you further.
Ask for feedback. This is always good to do as you will get a good feel about the perception you give others and you can then use this feedback to help with your personal development plan.
Make the time. Sounds obvious but with so many distractions in the world it is so easy to procrastinate and use al of your free time on non-value add activities. I schedule time in the diary for personal development and do my best to stick to it.
Reflect. To help build that momentum and belief that having a growth mindset works it is always a good idea to reflect. Look back at what you have achieved by having a growth mindset and you will realise the benefit it has.

What Is An Example Of A Growth Mindset?

I always thought of myself as lacking I creativity and being an accountant was always more comfortable with numbers rather than words. I was never good at the creativity subjects at school (English Literature, Art, etc.).

If I had a fixed mindset, I would believe that creativity cannot be taught and I should avoid it at all costs. However, I have a growth mindset so I set out to learn more about creativity and how I can develop this part of me.

I read the book Steal Like An Artist which inspired me to find out more and I can now call myself a writer with his own blog.

What Are Characteristics Of A Growth Mindset?

Open minded to learning new things
Enjoys a challenge and proving something is possible
Not afraid to make mistakes, as sees them as opportunities to learn
Being curious and finding new techniques
Believes effort can help improve talent and intelligence

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Thanks for reading,

Gav

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