How to Lead with a Growth Mindset

What is a growth mindset? 

"Growth mindset" was first coined by Carol Dweck in her book Mindset.  A growth mindset is the belief that you can develop your abilities and intelligence via effort, input, and learning.

Individuals with a growth mindset are open to setting new goals, modifying their tactics, and improving their skills. They see obstacles as an opportunity to grow and improve.

This concept is in direct contrast to what is known as a "fixed mindset." A fixed mindset believes that success is connected to (and limited by) natural ability. Therefore, individuals, for various reasons, cannot develop any new talents.

Why does this matter?

A fixed mindset can significantly hinder professional growth. It limits individuals to their current abilities, fosters adverse reactions to setbacks, and creates a fear of feedback. Those with growth mindsets tend to achieve more because they do not limit their capabilities or worry about criticism.

A growth mindset is essential to cultivating a resilient workforce and productive company. However, this mindset isn't as common as some might think! According to Forbes, 96% of executives claim they embody a growth mindset, but only $45% of employees agree that their leadership demonstrates this mindset in practice!

In this article, we'll explore practical strategies to help you overcome this critical gap between employees and management and demonstrate a growth mindset for your team! 

5 Tips to help you lead with a growth mindset in your organization.

As a leader, it's up to you to demonstrate a growth mindset to your employees! Below are some tips for developing a growth mindset culture in your workplace.

1. Encourage a learning environment: Ensure you provide your team access to training, mentorship, and other learning resources. Provide cross-training between departments and consult with staff regarding where they want to expand their skill sets. You can also lead your team in this "perpetually learning" mindset by actively seeking new knowledge and sharing what you've learned. When leaders demonstrate a commitment to personal development, it sends a message that this is an essential value within the organization.
2. Create a feedback culture: Feedback is essential for growth. Build a workplace where feedback is encouraged at every level and between every department, including giving employees a chance to offer their manager feedback! Leaders with growth mindsets are open to hearing other perspectives, even when they challenge their viewpoints.
3. Embrace failure: View failure as an opportunity rather than a setback. Celebrate failures as part of the learning process and treat them as a source of valuable data on what worked (and what didn't). Demonstrate a growth mindset by sharing personal stories of challenges you've faced and the lessons you learned from them. Being vulnerable and admitting mistakes is as important as sharing wisdom and expertise.
4. Recognize effort and progress: Reward people for their hard work, strategies, perseverance, and ability to tackle challenges. Organizations should acknowledge and reward employees who demonstrate a growth mindset and a willingness to learn. Rather than reward or use language that talks about natural talent, talk about the hard work put into the task in question.
5. Set goals: Encourage employees to grow their skill sets by helping them set realistic and challenging goals that push them out of their comfort zones while remaining attainable. At the same time, ensure that your entire team has clear direction and action steps for overall company goals. Having precise targets for both a team—and the individuals that make up that team—ensures that everyone is moving forward and upwards.
   

Conclusion

Leading your team with a growth mindset involves a deep commitment to self-improvement, but putting in the hard work to foster a team-wide growth mindset is well worth the effort!

People with growth mindsets are more likely to approach obstacles with innovation, react to challenges with resilience, and have increased motivation to commit to the success of their organization.

When people in leadership and management embrace a growth mindset, it trickles down to every level of the company, boosting morale and enhancing overall team performance. By embracing the tips above, you'll be able to lead your organization with a growth mindset that will benefit the entire company and the individuals within it. 

Here at Career Concepts, we've been helping the right people find the right job for over 50 years! If you're searching for a company that fosters a growth mindset, we've got your back. Give us a call today, and let's get started!