MINDSET

When I was younger I would swear to you that a fixed mindset is the best, but with time I came to realize that it is more harmful to have a fixed mindset than a flexible/growth one.  If you are keen enough you will realize that there are two inner voices in you, and that is the negative and positive it depends on which of the two is louder and which one you listen to more.

Individuals may not necessarily beware of their own mindset, but it can still be discerned based on their behavior. It is especially more evident in their reaction to failure.

A mindset is a set of approaches or assumptions held by an individual(s) that is so established that creates a powerful enticement within them to continue to adopt or accept prior behaviors, choices, or tools.  It is a way of thinking or the ability to think and learn.  A learned way of thinking comes from experiences.

Fixed and Growth Mindset

These two mindsets play an important role in all aspects of a person's life.

Fixed Mindset: In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them.

            Qualities of a Fixed Mindset

Ø  Fixed-mindset individuals dread failure because it is a negative statement on their basic abilities. The fact is that they don’t have failure in their options and if it happens then that will drain them down a lot. 

Ø  People with a fixed mindset don’t believe that personalities, abilities and intelligence can change.  Therefore they perceive that if for example you are not intelligent then that can never change. 

Ø  I believe these kinds of people are perfectionist and therefore they tend to have a goal to look smart all the time and never look dumb.  In this way even if they do something wrong, they never accept they are wrong and would even force you to accept their way. 

Ø  This mindset is kind of selfish in a way, it is self-protective and self-deceptive. The fixed mindset people only seek out information that will protect them. Truth can be shut out when it is seen as threatening. The defensive mindset may lead to learning based on false assumptions or prevent learning altogether (Argyris, 2004).

Growth mindset: Flexible mindset is whereby people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work, brains and talent are just the starting point. This assumption creates an interest in learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. And these are actually the qualities that great people have

Qualities of a Growth Mindset

Ø  People with this mindset don’t fear failure because they know that we learn from our mistakes and that is how performance is improved.

Ø  Due to the flexibility of their mindset, they get stressed less and are bound to lead a more successful life. 

Ø  They believe everyone is unique in their own way and therefore anyone can become smarter if they work at it. 

Ø  They understand that their talents and abilities can be more developed through hard work, good mentoring and teaching plus persistence.

Ø  Growth mindset seeks out valid knowledge that can be challenged and tested. 

Ø  People with growth mindset create informed choices and to them reasoning is meant to be transparent. 

While elements of our personality such as sensitivity to mistakes and setbacks can make us predisposed towards holding a certain mindset, we are able to develop and reshape our mindset through our interactions.