This week's One book, One Concept comes from Carol Dweck's Mindset. It is possibly the most important book you can read about growth, effort and personal development. The reason that is so influential is that it's subject, mindsets, is the foundation for how we perceive everything that we do and everything that happens to us.
A person's mindset is at the core of who he is, deeper even than his beliefs, thoughts, feelings and opinions. It is the foundational belief from which everything else originates.
Dweck's explains that there are two types of mindsets; the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. Here's a quick explanation of each:
The Fixed Mindset – a belief that your qualities or skills are set in stone.
The Growth Mindset – the belief that qualities and skills "can be cultivated through your efforts".
Due to the belief that their skill level is "fixed" and unchanging, people with a fixed mindset tend to:
On the other hand, people with a growth mindset tend to:
Developing a growth mindset is quite possibly the most important attribute you can and should work towards acquiring if you are committed to your own personal development. I highly recommend Dweck's book, Mindset (which you can find here). and consider it a must-read for everyone committed to personal development, especially coaches.
And if you are struggling with the concept and find yourself having a fixed mindset about a lot of things, keep calm and have a growth mindset about having a growth mindset!
A person's mindset is at the core of who he is, deeper even than his beliefs, thoughts, feelings and opinions. It is the foundational belief from which everything else originates.
Dweck's explains that there are two types of mindsets; the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. Here's a quick explanation of each:
The Fixed Mindset – a belief that your qualities or skills are set in stone.
The Growth Mindset – the belief that qualities and skills "can be cultivated through your efforts".
Due to the belief that their skill level is "fixed" and unchanging, people with a fixed mindset tend to:
- Value performance over growth
- View mistakes and failures as defining
- View coaching or correction as threatening and negative, and therefore react defensively to it
- Value talent over effort
- Give up on tough tasks quickly
On the other hand, people with a growth mindset tend to:
- Realize that performance is temporary but growth never stops.
- View mistakes and failures as challenges and learning opportunities
- Listen to and welcome all coaching and correction
- Value effort and growth over everything else
- Show grit and resilience in the face of adversity
- Be more positive and fun to be around
Developing a growth mindset is quite possibly the most important attribute you can and should work towards acquiring if you are committed to your own personal development. I highly recommend Dweck's book, Mindset (which you can find here). and consider it a must-read for everyone committed to personal development, especially coaches.
And if you are struggling with the concept and find yourself having a fixed mindset about a lot of things, keep calm and have a growth mindset about having a growth mindset!
RSS Feed