Mindset for success

One of the great joys of my professional life is delivering the Business acumen assessment and course. The Business Acumen Gauge theoretical framework is made up of eleven capabilities:

?????????? Mindset

?????????? Foresight

?????????? Broad Scanning

?????????? Strategic Alignment

?????????? Collaborative

?????????? Resource Management

???????????Systems & Processes

?????????? Decision Making

?????????? Talent Development

?????????? Duty of Care

?????????? Financial Literacy

Over the next few weeks, I want to introduce you to mindset, foresight, broad scanning and strategic alignment. Let’s start with what, I personally believe is the most important attribute that underpins all of the other attribute’s development, mindset.

Mindset is the lens with which we approach and manage our lives. It is the practice of managing yourself, your actions, your environment and others to achieve immediate and future outcomes.

You may have heard of “fixed” and “growth” mindsets. These terms were coined by Stanford researcher and professor Carol Dweck, Ph.D.? to describe belief systems about your ability to change, grow and develop over time.

Fixed mindset is the belief that your ability it is fixed or ingrained – in other words, we are born with a certain level of ability, and we cannot change that.

Growth mindset is the belief we can develop our ability through hard work and effort. With a growth mindset, you know that you can change over time, and therefore you are more open to reflect, learn and grow from challenges.

When we talk about mindset, it is not about having a set approach to a task or activity, although that is how some people approach things. It is about understanding that you can consciously choose the outlook you bring “to the table”. It is about showing our flexibility and resilience to meet the challenges and opportunities we and our organization face in achieving its operational and strategy goals.?

It is not uncommon for people to apply the same tried and proven methods to issues, problems and opportunities in new environments (fixed). Experience is a great enabler but can also be a greater constraint.

According to Dweck, people with a growth mindset tend to be more resilient, persistent, and open to feedback, which leads to better learning outcomes and greater success. People with a fixed mindset, on the other hand, tend to avoid challenges, give up easily, and have a fear of failure. They tend to see their abilities as something that is predetermined and cannot be changed, which limits their potential for growth and development.

Developing your understanding and effective use of different mindsets allows you to flex your leadership and management styles appropriately, to respond more effectively to changing circumstances and, most importantly, to have options in how you lead and manage those around you.?

Dweck's research has shown that a fixed mindset can be changed with the right approach, allowing people to increase their possibilities for embracing challenges and improving their abilities. So how do you challenge your fixed mindset and start moving towards a growth mindset?

Identify where you might have a fixed mindset.?

Ask yourself and others you trust, are their areas where you have not thought or acted differently for some time, regardless of the situation. Write them down and take some time to think how you could approach those areas differently – how have others approached these situations? Challenge yourself and ask Is this really true? Is it possible that I can do it differently and how would I go about it.

Be Lazer focussed.

Set specific and measurable goals for yourself in the areas where you have identified fixed mindset beliefs. Write them down and make a plan for how you will achieve them.

Focus on the positives.

Reflect on times when you have grown and developed in the past and remind yourself that change is possible.?What helped you to change your approach to those things? When have we been successful and how can we apply those learnings to this situation?

Reframe your stories.

Try just for a week to find a positive in everything you talk about. Even if something has not gone to plan, what have you learnt from the experience and what will you do differently. Reframing your stories can have a significant impact on how you and others see you.

Ask the right questions.

Ask yourself (and/or your team) the right questions.

????????? What is my best opportunity to make a positive difference in our workplace / for our customer/ for the people we serve today or for yourself in whatever situation you are in?

????????? What can we appreciate in each other today or in this situation?

????????? Who needs my time and energy to connect with them and give them some encouragement or how should I show up for the next connection I make?

????????? What are we/you doing well that we can expand and build upon?

????????? What is one thing I can do today that would help us/me to be more effective?

Educate yourself.

Look for opportunities to learn. Great leaders are on a continuous improvement journey, they are naturally curious. Read, attend courses, network, and connect with people you can learn from, stay ahead of your industry by researching trends and changes.

Develop resilience.

Resilient individuals can adapt to adversity, better maintain their mental and emotional well-being, and continue moving forward toward their goals. Some of the key areas for self-development around resilience are cultivating a positive mindset, developing a supportive network, practicing self-compassion, setting realistic goals, improving problem-solving skills, enhancing emotional Intelligence, a healthy lifestyle and relaxation techniques. Where do you need to focus?

My background in human resources, change, coaching and counselling has given me the opportunity to see firsthand how people can and do change and how cultivating a growth mindset could be the single most important thing you ever do to help you achieve success both personally and professionally.

Jeannette is an executive HR professional, board member and chair, executive coach and change leader.? Want to find out more about the Business acumen course: https://the-business-acumen-course.mn.co/

You can contact Jeannette on 0417257204 or [email protected] or https://pepperminthr.com.au/

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