Adopting a Growth Mindset

What Is Growth Mindset?

Definition of Growth Mindset: A growth mindset puts aside the notion that natural talent and intelligence are inborn and locked in place.

A growth mindset operates on the belief that anybody — with enough effort — can develop “hidden” talents, emotional intelligence, and various soft skills and abilities that will make them more flexible and resilient. Cultivating a growth mindset that will let your team members explore, adapt, and shine!

Why Growth Mindset Is Important

Fostering a growth mindset is an essential element to success. It accepts failure as part of the process of growth. That acceptance of failure translates into a willingness to experiment and innovate.

When team members aren’t afraid to fail, they will often respond by soaring ahead of the curve and providing valuable insights that they might otherwise keep silent. Every failure simply becomes a new starting point.

You ultimately start to cultivate a growth mindset in your team by developing trust. When your team knows that you will respect what they have to say, encourage their efforts, applaud their attempts, even if those attempts aren’t successful, they’ll be more open to the kind of risk-taking that can produce rewards that are far beyond your initial goals.

Characteristics of Growth Mindset

Possessing the qualities of a growth mindset sets you apart. They include normalizing the process of asking questions, providing input, offering ideas, and delivering feedback on a regular basis. Essentially, eliminating some of the biggest barriers that can limit the creativity and productivity of their teams.

Some of the most influential and successful leaders of today have found a way to make a difference and reach success by embracing this unique style of thinking. Practicing these growth mindset activities and exercises can have a significant impact on your outlook.

Open-mindedness

When your team knows that you’re also open to constructive feedback, you encourage transparency and a higher-level perspective. Your team members know that their opinion has value and they can help you, help each other, and get help with their personal development in return.

Curiosity

When faced with an obstacle, growth-minded individuals excitedly accept the challenge. Growth mindset qualities embrace challenges when they arise and believe in facing is head-on. Rather than shying away, it’s an opportunity for growth and success.

Resilience

With any unexpected obstacle, someone with a growth mindset doesn’t question themselves, “Why is this happening to me?” But rather asks, “What is this trying to teach me?” Growth mindset oozes positivity and sees setbacks as opportunities to learn rather than something to simply overcome.

How to Develop a Growth Mindset

Embracing an open mind

You have to be willing to show your own curiosity and willingness to hear honest feedback by asking questions. You have to be open enough to accept honest answers even when they aren’t necessarily flattering or positive. Simply put, you are not the best judge of your own abilities. Your colleagues and peers have a much better perspective of you than you do.

Practicing radical candor

Similarly, your team also needs continuous feedback. When your team members only receive feedback once or twice a year or at the end of a project, that leaves them in the dark about how they can make improvements over time to their skills and abilities. Developing a growth mindset among your team starts with you, no matter what your role is in your organization.

Giving regular feedback

Continuous, constructive feedback can help your team make micro changes to their behavior and work on improving their performance in real-time. Because they are constantly getting feedback, they can experience each step of the way and see their actual progress - without having to guess whether or not they’re genuinely improving.

How to Get Started

Getting into the weeds of growth mindset can start from anywhere. Reading, binging growth mindset TED Talks, or reaching out to friends — just take that first leap. But we recommend checking out a 360-degree model of feedback.

Using a 360-degree model of feedback is the best way to create a sense of psychological safety and awareness of the potential for growth in all directions. Matter is designed specifically to tailor its feedback tools to the individual. It helps each person recognize the stumbling blocks, especially in their “soft skills,” that are holding them back from being the most effective and creative person they can be.

Matter believes that the best form of continuous feedback comes from your peers, your team, your manager, and your clients. When you give and receive professional, honest, 360-degree feedback that is focused on the skill sets you want to grow, you can nurture your own personal growth.