Growth vs. Fixed Mindset: The Extended Version

Welcome back to Day 2 of the 31 Day Career Growth Challenge!

On Day 1, we focused on conscious breathing to center ourselves. Today you’re going to figure out whether you currently have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset and why that’s important to your success when looking for employment or making a career transition.

Fixed Vs. Growth Mindset

The distinction between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset, as defined by Carol Dweck, author of “Mindset”, is essentially about how individuals perceive their abilities and respond to challenges, effort, criticism, and the success of others.

In a fixed mindset, abilities such as intelligence and talent are seen as innate and unchangeable traits. People with this mindset often avoid challenges, fearing that failure will expose a lack of ability. They typically see effort as pointless if one is truly talented and tend to feel threatened by the success of others. Criticism is often taken personally, seen as a sign of failure or a direct attack on their abilities.

The alternative, a growth mindset, is characterized by the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. Those with a growth mindset embrace challenges, viewing them as opportunities to grow and learn. They see effort as an essential part of the learning process and are resilient in the face of setbacks. Criticism is welcomed as constructive feedback, providing valuable insights for improvement. Also, the success of others is seen as a source of inspiration and learning, not as a threat.

Identifying Your Mindset

To determine which mindset you currently have, reflect on your reactions to various situations:

• Approach to Challenges: Do you shy away from challenges, fearing failure, or do you tackle them head-on, seeing them as chances to improve?
• Reaction to Failure: When you fail, do you give up easily, feeling defeated, or do you persist, viewing failure as a learning opportunity?
• Attitude Towards Effort: Do you see effort as a necessary part of the journey to success, or do you feel that if you need to put in effort, it means you're not skilled?
• Response to Criticism: Consider how you respond to constructive criticism. Is it something you find useful, or does it make you feel defensive?
• Perception of Others' Success: Are you threatened by others doing well, or do you find inspiration and lessons in their achievements?

If you answered “Yes” to the first half of each question in 3 or more of the questions, it’s likely that you have a fixed mindset. If you answered “Yes” to 3 or more of the second half of each question, you likely have a growth mindset.

If you have a fixed mindset, don’t worry. The important thing to note is that mindsets are changeable. Recognizing your mindset is the first step towards cultivating a more growth-oriented approach in areas where you may currently have a fixed mindset.

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Now that you’ve figured out whether you currently have a growth mindset or not, let’s move on to several key reasons why a growth mindset is particularly important during a job search or a career transition…

Resilience in the Face of Rejection: Job searches often involve facing rejections or not hearing back from employers. A growth mindset helps you view these experiences not as reflections of your worth or unchangeable fate, but as opportunities to learn, adapt, and improve your approach.

Adaptability to Changing Job Markets: The job market is dynamic and constantly evolving. A growth mindset encourages you to be adaptable, to learn new skills, and to embrace change, making you more marketable and better able to find opportunities that match your evolving skill set.

Continuous Learning and Skill Development: With a growth mindset, you're more likely to engage in continuous learning and upskilling, which is essential in today's job market. Employers often look for candidates who demonstrate a willingness and ability to learn new things, at any age.

Effective Networking: Networking is a critical aspect of job searching. A growth mindset fosters curiosity and openness, traits that can lead to more meaningful and productive networking interactions. You're more likely to seek advice, ask questions, and learn from others.

Enhanced Interview Performance: During interviews, a growth mindset can help you present your experiences, especially challenges and failures, in a positive light, demonstrating how you've learned and grown from past experiences.

Positive Attitude: Job searching can be a lengthy and challenging process. A growth mindset helps maintain a positive and proactive attitude, which can be crucial in keeping motivation levels high and avoiding discouragement.

Flexibility in Career Goals: With a growth mindset, you're more open to considering a wider range of job opportunities, some of which may differ from your initial targets but could lead to rewarding career paths.

Receptiveness to Feedback: During a job search, feedback can come from various sources like interviewers, mentors, or career coaches. A growth mindset enables you to view this feedback as constructive and use it to refine your job search strategies, rather than feeling self-defeated and stalling your job search.

Building Confidence: A growth mindset helps build genuine self-confidence, not based on a belief in fixed talents, but on trust in your ability to learn and adapt. This confidence can be compelling to potential employers. As a career coach, I can spot someone with the strengths of Self-Assurance a mile away (figuratively speaking) and that confidence, NOT arrogance (confidence without humility – see #8) is engaging when networking or interviewing (review #4).

Long-term Career Success: Finally, a growth mindset doesn't just aid in getting a job; it also sets the foundation for long-term career success, continuous improvement, and personal fulfillment.

In summary, a growth mindset can transform your job search or career transition from an overwhelming, sometimes negative experience into an opportunity for personal and professional growth, making you more resilient, adaptable, and ultimately more successful in finding the right position to meet your skills, strengths, interests, and desires. (Keep an eye out for an upcoming challenge post on managing your mindset. ??)