A Leader’s Mindset

This was first shared on The Resilient Leader’s Podcast.

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Today we’re going to explore our mindset, because your mindset is the single greatest determinant of how resilient you will be as a leader.

In 2006, Carol Dweck wrote a book titled Mindset. It ushered in this paradigm-shifting idea: she wrote that people have one of tow mindsets: the fixed mindset or the growth mindset.

A fixed mindset creates an urgency to prove yourself over and over. Every situation is evaluated: will I succeed or fail? Well I look smart or dumb? Will I be accepted or rejected? Will I feel like a winner or loser?

And a growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities or things you can be cultivated throughout your efforts. Everyone can change and grow through application and experience. Someone with a fixed mindset exhibits a passion for learning. These are the kinds of people who say, Why waste time proving over and over how great you are when you can get better? 

When you enter a mindset, Dweck writes, you enter a new world.  

In one world, the world of fixed traits, success is about proving you’re smart and talented. Validating yourself. In the other, the world of changing qualities, it’s about stretching yourself to learn something new. Developing yourself. It’s where we continually grow, learn, and allow yourself to be stretched.

Just knowing about the two mindsets, you can start thinking and reacting in new ways. People told Dweck that they started to catch themselves when they’re in the throes of a fixed mindset.

Let share a story about former UCLA coach John Wooden, the greatest men’s basketball coach of all time, was wise and interesting, and quite simple.

“You have to apply yourself each day to becoming a little better. By applying yourself to the task of becoming a little bit better each day and every day over a period of time, you will become a lot better.”

He didn’t ask for mistake– free games. He didn’t demand that his players never lose. He asked for full preparation and full effort from them.

“Did I win? Did I lose? Those are the wrong questions. The correct question is: did I make my best effort?” If so, he says, “you may be outscored but you will never lose.”

He was not a softy. If the players were coasting during practice, he turned out the lights and said: “gentlemen, practice is over.” They had lost their opportunity to become better that day. He was instilling a growth mindset decades before Dweck named it.  

Let me leave you with a 3 important questions:

1. Would you describe yourself as having a fixed mindset or a growth mindset?

If you aren’t sure, try this:  David Allen said, “Pay attention to what you’re paying attention to.” Notice your inner dialog. What are you thinking and hearing yourself say? If you are sure, and you are confident you have a fixed mindset, do not despair. Here’s the great news: you can actually train yourself to move from fixed to a growth mindset. That’s why developing your resiliency muscle is so important.

2. If you had to choose which one would you take: loads of success and validation or lots of challenge?

3. When do you feel smart: When you’re flawless or when you’re learning? 

I highly recommend Carol Dweck’s book Mindset. Check it out. I’ve read a few different times, each time I learn something new I never saw the previous time. It’s that good.