The typical person is unaware of so much about the mind. Consider the concept of a growth mindset, for example.
Many assume that our abilities and intelligence become fixed at some point. Some believe it begins at birth, while others think it occurs after college or university.
The reality is that our thoughts are continually evolving and adjusting. How much depends solely on our perceptions of intelligence and learning.
Carol Dweck of Stanford University discovered these theories while researching the subject. In her book on the subject, she discusses these concepts as well as a remedy for the problem of mental stagnation.
The remedy is the growth attitude.
I've already discussed this topic, but in this post, I'd want to go over some dos and don'ts for cultivating a development mentality.
After all, one cannot simply pursue one path and begin to progress. There are several pitfalls along the route, the most notable of which is the false growth attitude.
What Is the False Growth Mindset?
Carol Dweck discovered two mindsets early on in her studies. The two mindsets were the growing mindset and the fixed mindset.
The way you dealt with failures and problems influenced which attitude you adopted.
Dweck explores many of these principles in her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
However, Dweck returned to the question of where this false growth mindset originates in order to delve more into the subject.
Why Is It So Bad?
We can break the problem down into three simple points:
– First, if you have a false growth attitude, it shows you don't understand the area you're trying to better. This, in turn, causes erroneous applications of the growth mindset.
– Second, the inappropriate application of a growth mentality might result in unjustified praise. Praising someone despite a failure only exacerbates the situation, as it is perceived as a consolation award rather than a reward.
– Finally, while a growth mentality motivates us to learn, any other mindset can distort our perspective on learning. Many people with a fixed attitude avoid furthering their education and upgrading their talents. The same is true for people who believe in a false growth attitude.
Dos and Don’ts of a Growth Mindset
Fortunately, there are solutions for a false growth mindset. Here are some crucial dos and don'ts to help you establish the right mindset.
1. DO CHANGE HOW YOU PRAISE
Whether you're praising yourself or someone else, how you word it influences how others interpret it.
One of the most significant distinctions between individuals with fixed mindsets and those with growth mindsets is how they have received praise.
The way you express your praise determines whether you achieve a true growth attitude or a deceptive one. So, to aid you with praise language, here's a chart that covers both person and process praise.
The idea is to praise the process that leads to the desired outcome. This is a different approach than simply applauding the outcome or the effort that went into it.
This keeps you from developing a false growth mindset, as most professors who use the wrong method will praise only effort.
2. DO EMPHASIZE LEARNING GOALS
Learning goals are those that pique an individual's interest and motivate them to progress. You could claim that all of these goals are effort-based because they need more action.
The action aspect is vital since learning is more than just getting a certain test score or grade in class. Learning objectives emphasize comprehending the content for the sake of completing a job.
As a result, you should avoid performance-based goals such as obtaining a specific score or grade.
Of course, we all want to pass, which is crucial, but our focus should be on learning rather than achieving a precise number.
3. DON’T PRAISE EFFORTLESS ACHIEVEMENT
This means that you should not be so concerned with completing a task as rapidly as possible. You should also not applaud someone if they pass something to you quickly.
If anything is achieved without even breaking a sweat or learning anything, it was not a good use of time. In certain cases, it's worth revisiting your objectives or moving on to something new.
4. DO ATTRIBUTE SUCCESS TO EFFORT
While we should avoid work-based praise, the fact remains that success requires effort. If you do not work hard and intelligently, you will be unable to fix your difficulties.
With this in mind, make sure to combine tactics, and plans, and establish strong goals that will lead you to your desired level of success.
5. DON’T LABEL YOURSELF OR OTHERS AS “SMART”
Yes, people can be intelligent, but it is unnecessary to bring this up. The term "smart" implies that you or the other person possesses an innate potential for higher intelligence.
And, while our intrinsic abilities are significant, many of us overestimate their importance on a broad scale or in specific topics.
Remember that after receiving a degree, many people cease actively learning. In other words, most people attribute their intelligence to this degree and believe there is no need to learn more, even if the degree was earned years ago.
Every day, industries evolve and change, and what we learned just two or three years ago may no longer be applicable today.
6. DO ACCEPT MISTAKES
Mistakes are inevitable and necessary for growth. Again, Dweck's results were based on student reactions to challenges and mistakes.
It's an important criterion and component in determining our thoughts.
As a result, if we want to cultivate a genuine growth attitude, we must embrace our mistakes.
7. MAKE MISTAKES PART OF THE LEARNING MODEL
Mistakes should not only be accepted, but also incorporated into the learning process. You don't have to be in a school setting to use this. Some excellent examples are at work.
Assume the company has installed a piece of new equipment or is presenting new concepts or positions with which you are unfamiliar. Instead of complaining, take a step back and focus on the precise issues you're experiencing.
Proceed to seek assistance. This can be done within your workplace or on the Internet.
A Growth Mindset Is Within Your Reach
Now that you have a better understanding of the subject, I hope you can see why it is critical to have the proper mindset.
Understanding a basic explanation or handling failures and mistakes differently are not the only aspects of a growth mindset.
While these are essential, it is clear that there is more going on here. A growth mindset is easily accessible to anyone who has enough time to practice it properly.
