People who have a fixed mindset tend to believe that one’s abilities and capabilities cannot be changed – you either have it or you don’t. On the other hand, a growth mindset, proposed by Stanford professor Carol Dweck in her book Mindset, is defined as someone who possesses the belief that their skills and capabilities can be continuously improved with effort and persistence.
When put into the context of work-life and career, developing and maintaining a growth-like mindset is crucial to aligning with your unique momentum. Psychological research has proven people who operate from a growth mindset are more successful in learning and moving forward in their careers.
There’s a practice of vulnerability in growing. In order to truly grow, you are opening yourself up to failure, looking awkward, and the uneasiness of learning your craft. You unlock your ability to grow when you set your mind to the unlimited possibilities that are present.
Here are some tips to foster a growth mindset to advance in your career:
1. Understand the power of your words and use them to your advantage – phrases like “not yet,” and “it will come,” shift your perspective from limitations to infinite possibilities.
2. Consistently fuel your inspiration – engage yourself in conversations, watch films, visit gallery exhibitions, read new books, listen to podcasts and seek feedback to study from.
3. Use challenges and failures as exercises to engage your creativity to find effective solutions for future experiences.
4. Intentionally do things that are out of your comfort zone, and often.
