What's the point of trying?
When I was a kid, I took soccer classes. As the shortest kid on the team, I was a slow runner and terrified of the ball. The only reason I was there was because my parents told me I needed to practice. Other kids were probably born with soccer shoes on their feet. They ran faster, jumped straight back up when they tripped and did not fear getting hit by the ball. I thought the coach instructed them to pass the ball to me because it was a team play and I was part of the team. I gave it a few months before I quit. Since I wasn't born with the talent, I didn't see the point in trying. I simply didn't see the point in doing the work and embarrassing myself in the process.
"Just because you haven’t found your talent yet, doesn’t mean you don’t have one." - Kermit the frog
In my last article, I explained how our mindset impacts our ability to grow. If we believe that we can change, we learn and adapt more easily. This has a positive effect on our performance and helps us succeed in life, as students and professionals. While if we don’t believe we can change our abilities, we see challenges as failures. A fixed mindset can prevent us from trying harder or result in avoiding challenges.
If you are one of the many people who think your talent and potential are predetermined, you have probably been taught to have a fixed mindset. Have you ever compared yourself with others and thought “I will never be able to do what they do”? This assumption might have hurt your performance. The good news is that you can change your mindset to have a more positive impact on your growth. I will share five great mindset hacks below.
"This growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts. Although people may differ in every which way—in their initial talents and aptitudes, interests, or temperaments—everyone can change and grow through application and experience." - Carol Dweck
Five hacks to develop a growth mindset (in yourself and others):
Dweck’s research shows us that just knowing about the two mindsets initiates change from within. To find out what mindset you have, consider how you tackle challenges in life or at work. Have you found yourself shying away from challenges, or getting defensive by some feedback you have gotten??
It is actually in your control to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. Practice your “growth muscles” next time the opportunity is given - tackle the challenge and see it as an opportunity to learn something new. Ask yourself what you can learn from the feedback you are given, or challenge yourself and ask for feedback from someone you trust. Is there anything helpful in the feedback you can use to improve??
2. Observe your own development
Think about something that was harder for you to do in the past. Why did you think it was so hard? Why is it easier to do now? What did you do, or change, to get to where you are today?
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Note that a growth mindset is not about doing and learning everything. Realistically, you don’t have time for that. It is about understanding that you can improve just anything through dedication and effort. Since we have limited resources, such as time, we usually need to prioritize. Think of what you want to improve right now, how you want to do it, and how you will measure it. I recommend using SMARTE goals to track your progress and outcome.
3. Give and take feedback
How do you feedback to others? Do you praise them for talent or effort? Do you praise good scores and high results, rather than perseverance and development?
When we praise talent and scores, we diminish potential. We focus on how someone is instead of the behavior that led them there. For example, there is a significant difference between saying that someone is a natural-born leader, instead of praising the hard work leading up to the position.
“Every word and action can send a message.? It tells children — or students, or athletes — how to think about themselves.? It can be a fixed-mindset message that says: You have permanent traits and I’m judging them.? Or it can be a growth-mindset message that says: You are a developing person and I am interested in your development.” - Carol Dweck
Next time, praise the effort instead. Praise the hard work, changed behavior, or strategy that helped someone succeed. Start by observing your own hard work and behavioral change. Additionally, practice receiving feedback when the opportunity is given. Ask for feedback from friends, colleagues, and teachers, and see it as a gift that will support your growth.?
4. The power of “yet”
In this TED talk, Dweck talks about the concept of "yet", meaning we should not look at low grades or mistakes as final results, but rather as chances to improve.? Next time you think about something you can’t do, try adding “...yet” at the end!
5. Find powerful examples and let them convince you
Look at other people's successes to see how they achieved their goals. You can learn from others who have already embodied a growth mindset. It could be someone you know or someone you see on television or read about who achieved something against all odds.
In case you still need inspiration, I recommend reading the story about Wilma Rudolph, "the fastest woman in the world". As a child, Rudolph was told that she wouldn't be able to walk after her leg was paralyzed. Three gold medals and three world records later, she became one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.?
I still don’t play soccer. Not because I don’t think I can become good at it but because I find other things more enjoyable. For example, I went to a surfing school last year. While I had to fight my mindset really hard at times, I managed to hit a wave and the feeling was awesome!