?? “Cultures of Growth: How the New Science of Mindset Can Transform Individuals, Teams, and Organizations” by Mary C. Murphy

Ever since I learnt about Carol Dweck’s Mindset work some years ago, I’ve been fascinated by it. It really has transformed our view of individual success and the impact our thoughts and beliefs have on our achievements.

According to this theory, when people have a fixed mindset, talent and intelligence are viewed as predetermined traits, opposed to having a growth mindset where these characteristics can be nurtured. Professor Dweck says Growth mindset is not a declaration, it’s a journey, and through the mindset continuum, she clarifies what that journey looks like.

So far, we’ve only understood mindset solely about individuals, and that’s why this book by Mary C. Murphy (Carol Dweck’s protégé) is so special. It explores the mindset concept from an organizational point of view, and the power of Teamwork, showing how to better achieve a growth mindset as a group, together, as part of any organization’s culture.

Murphy’s research reveals that organizations and teams that work together towards growth manage to collaborate more, innovate, and build trust, ultimately achieving better results.

She proves that the organizational culture surrounding employees influences their beliefs, motivations, and behavior. This Mindset culture can be so powerful that it can block an individual’s growth mindset, so the book is an invitation for companies to go from having a Culture of Genius, to having a Culture of Growth.

Mary also says that every organization or team has a Mindset Culture, which is the set of beliefs and behaviors that signal what success is, and how to achieve it. And these Mindset Cultures shape what we think, feel, and ultimately our performance.

In her website, she offers a really cool quiz to help us discover where our teams sit in the Culture Mindset Continuum (from a Culture of Genius to a Culture of Growth). You can take the quiz here: https://marycmurphy.com/resource/mindset-culture-assessment/

Overall, a really interesting read. This is one of my favorite excerpts:

“Every single one of us is a culture creator. You have the power to shape your own mindset, and to help others shape theirs. To identify what moves you and those you interact with toward your fixed or growth mindsets, and to employ strategies to inhabit your growth mindsets more often, showing others how it’s done. Making it possible for all of us to shine. Recall, too, that you can have the opposite impact. (And I’m especially speaking to you here, leaders.) By embodying your fixed mindset much of the time in your interactions with others, you encourage that way of thinking and behaving. Each of us has the power to strike a tone, and it’s up to us to be mindful of the one we’re sounding. By engaging others and setting up more opportunities to embody growth, you amplify that tone.”