How to go from a fixed to growth mindset in 4 steps.

This post was originally shared in my semi-frequent Learn Something New(sletter). To never miss info like this, join the party! 🥳

I recently told a client that if I had the recipe for productivity + motivation I’d be a gazillionaire. But i’ll never have the one-size-fits-all recipe.

Because all our brains are a different mix of fixed and growth mindsets.

That doesn’t mean that we can’t work on our habits, productivity, motivation, resilience (and making time to celebrate our wins!)

What we can do, is start to work on our own brain to get comfortable with taking on more.

We can build a growth mindset. (If you’re curious on how to do that as a founder… go here!)

Before we get into the 4 steps that Carolyn S Dweck, Ph.D. lays out in her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, let’s talk about fixed versus growth mindset.

What is a fixed mindset? And why is it seen as “bad”?

A fixed mindset is one that is what it sounds like. The idea that you’re fixed as-is. Your level of intelligence is predetermined, your ability as an individual is constrained.

It’s seen as a bad thing because it’s ultimately a limiting belief - it hinders the desire to grow, to find challenges, and to take risks.

It makes it safer to play small - to focus on the spaces that you already believe that you’ll be successful.

It’s our brain telling us to be careful.

It’s the voices and the people around us who tell us what we’re good (and not good) at.

It’s not always a bad thing.

In fact, your fixed mindset is generally supporting you to focus on your strengths, to avoid your weaknesses. Thank you fixed mindset for telling me what I’m good at!

The danger is when your fixed mindset is setting off alarms to avoid taking on the new.

Because the new is where the fun is.

It’s where the discomfort, the butterflies, and the free-fall is.

What’s a growth mindset?

The growth mindset is the one where your brain is open to expansion.

Your level of intellect, confidence, capabilities - it’s technically limitless.

Sure, you may not have the shoulders of a swimmer, but, that doesn’t mean you can’t work at it and become a better swimmer.

The growth mindset is the support system for when the going gets tough.

We need it to get better.

If you’re saying, “Oh my goodness, that sounds amazing. I have a fixed mindset right now and it’s terrible!”

Congratulations.

You’re already demonstrating a growth mindset just by saying you want to learn!

Dang.

Get it.

So, how do we shift from a fixed to a growth mindset?! Here are the 4 steps from Dweck.

Step 1: Acknowledge the fixed mindset

It’s counterintuitive, but, we need to recognize and embrace that fixed mindset we have. It’s the space where are strengths show up. It’s the part of our brains that try to protect us from risk and failure. Thank you brain.

Step 2: Recognize your triggers

There are moments where are fixed mindset rears its ugly head. Maybe it’s around numbers, writing, public speaking, remembering peoples names. It’s whenever you want to respond, “Oh, I’m just not very good at XYZ” or, “I’m really very good at ABC.” It’s those defining characteristics that (up until right now!) defined who you were as a person.

Step 3: Name it

Name that fixed mindset voice. FWIW mine is called Esmeralda, “Esme” for short. She’s great. By naming the fixed mindset persona that’s protecting your brain, you create distance. It’s not that I’m uncomfortable with having to ask for help - Esme is really bad at it!

Step 4: Partner with your persona

Now that we have a voice in our head, let’s support them. I like to thank Esme when she shows up and tells me I can’t do something. It’s information. I can say, “Thanks Esme for the heads-up that this is a thing that I haven’t done before, or something that I normally struggle with. I appreciate you telling me to watch out. But, I’m still going to do it. And I might mess up. And that’s okay. Because I’m learning. I’m growing.”

So, now I wanna know … what are you naming your persona?

If you need help with that tricky little voice: identifying and partnering with it, reach out.

Biggest whoa moment: One study on negotiations found that folks who read about growth mindset (instead of things being stagnant) were more likely to take on a challenge to improve their skills. 88% of them wanted to try something harder. The growth mindset can support you on taking on bigger, meatier, more informative challenges!

Go deeper:
Read the book: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Listen to her talk about it: Developing a growth mindset with Carolyn Dweck