It is likely that you can think of aspects of your life in which you exhibit a growth mindset, as well as those in which you tend to exhibit more of a fixed mindset. But, in general, which do you feel better aligns with your natural tendencies? There is no right or wrong answer to the question, but knowing the answer can help you to better understand how you tend to approach situations, as well as identify opportunities for you to grow and expand your mindset to accommodate new possibilities—both for your own benefit and for the benefit of organizations of which you are a part. One example of an organization that benefited from adopting more of a growth mindset is Microsoft. The company’s leadership team felt that incorporating a growth mindset was foundational to their culture and took measured steps to encourage its development by creating multimedia presentations and managerial conversation guides to support employees. It was discovered that this attribute was a key factor in promoting other aspects of the company’s desired culture as well, such as customer focus and diversity and inclusion (Derler & Baer, 2019). With a stronger understanding of growth and fixed mindsets, you can use this knowledge to have a positive impact on your organization.
BY DAY 3
Post an analysis of the benefits and challenges of having a growth mindset as opposed to having a fixed mindset. In your analysis, do the following:
Describe at least one example of an area of your life in which you exhibit a growth mindset and at least one example of an area in which you exhibit a fixed mindset.
Examine the benefits of each type of mindset, as well as the challenges that each presents.
Explain why you believe you have more of a growth or fixed mindset overall and how this could be of benefit to your organization (present or future).
Full Answer Section
Playing a Musical Instrument
I have always wanted to play a musical instrument, but I have never really had the time or the opportunity. However, I recently decided that I wanted to learn how to play the guitar. I started taking lessons a few months ago, and I have already made a lot of progress. I have a growth mindset when it comes to playing the guitar. I know that it is going to take a lot of time and effort to learn, but I am not afraid of a challenge. I am also not afraid to make mistakes. I know that everyone makes mistakes when they are learning something new, and I am not going to let that discourage me.
Fixed Mindset
Public Speaking
I have always been afraid of public speaking. I get nervous and anxious whenever I have to speak in front of a group of people. I have tried to overcome my fear of public speaking, but I have not had much success. I have a fixed mindset when it comes to public speaking. I believe that I am not good at it, and I do not think that I will ever be able to overcome my fear.
Writing
I have always been a bit insecure about my writing skills. I do not think that I am a very good writer, and I am afraid of putting my work out there for other people to see. I have a fixed mindset when it comes to writing. I believe that I am not a natural writer, and I do not think that I will ever be able to improve my skills.
I am working on changing my fixed mindset into a growth mindset in both of these areas. I know that it will not be easy, but I believe that it is possible. I am committed to putting in the effort and never giving up on myself.
Here are some specific examples of how I am working on changing my fixed mindset:
- I am challenging my negative thoughts. When I have a negative thought about myself or my abilities, I am trying to replace it with a more positive thought. For example, instead of thinking "I am not good at public speaking," I am trying to think "I can learn to be a good public speaker."
- I am focusing on my progress. I am trying to focus on how far I have come, rather than how much further I have to go. For example, instead of thinking "I am still not very good at writing," I am trying to think "I have made a lot of progress in my writing skills."
- I am seeking out feedback. I am asking friends, family, and mentors for feedback on my work. This feedback is helping me to identify areas where I can improve.
- I am taking action. I am not just sitting around thinking about changing my mindset. I am taking steps to improve my skills and overcome my fears. For example, I am continuing to take public speaking lessons and writing workshops.
I know that it will take time and effort to change my fixed mindset, but I am committed to doing it. I believe that a growth mindset will help me to achieve my goals and live a more fulfilling life.
Sample Answer
Growth Mindset
Learning a New Language
I have always been interested in learning new languages. I believe that it is important to be able to communicate with people from different cultures, and I also think that it is a great way to learn about different ways of thinking. I have taken several language classes in the past, and I have also tried to learn languages on my own. I have found that I am able to learn new languages more easily when I have a growth mindset. I am not afraid to make mistakes, and I am always looking for new ways to improve my skills. I believe that anyone can learn a new language if they are willing to put in the effort.