How a Fixed Mindset Can Impact Your Business Results
Sarah A Scala, M. Ed & OD, ACC
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes
More and more articles and publications are referencing Mindsets and how they impact business performance. Carol Dweck, Stanford University Professor, is credited with the research on mindsets. In her book, Mindsets: The New Psychology of Success, she shares her findings about how are mindsets can have a strong impact on our business results.
According to Dweck, a “fixed mindset assumes that our character, intelligence, and creative ability are static givens which we can’t change in any meaningful way, and success is the affirmation of that inherent intelligence, an assessment of how those givens measure up against an equally fixed standard; striving for success and avoiding failure at all costs become a way of maintaining the sense of being smart or skilled.”
Everyone has both fixed and growth mindsets in certain aspects of their life. The interesting research in regards to fixed mindset show that people avoid challenges, want to give up quickly with obstacles, ignore feedback and criticism, and feel intimidated or threatened by the success of others. The goal of proving oneself requires confirmation of intelligence repeatedly, which often can be challenging for leaders to give to their employees.
As Dweck's shares in her book,
for 20 years, my research has shown that the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life. It can determine whether you become the person you want to be and whether you accomplish the things you value.
Stay tuned in for next week's blog on the Growth mindset and ways to build a growth mindset, if you notice yourself with a fixed mindset.
What surprised you in learning about the Fixed Mindset? Please share in the comments. If you have specific questions, ask me. I'm happy to help.
See our other blogs on Optimism, Resilience, and Grit
Sources:
Dweck, Carol S.. (2008) Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Ballantine Books.
Popova, Maria. (2014, Jan 29). Fixed vs. Growth: The Two Basic Mindsets That Shape Our Lives. Retrieved from: https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/29/carol-dweck-mindset/
Questions? Let’s connect. I would love to hear your success stories. Please send them to: hello@sarahscala.com or visit www.sarahscala.com
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About the Author:
Sarah Scala is a senior talent management leader and executive coach with 20+ years of experience providing organization development, change management, and leadership development solutions for diverse global and local industries. She is a collaborative consultant, coach, and educator supporting performance transformation of executives, leaders, and teams. Sarah is a methodical, results-driven leader recognized for helping clients reach their highest potential, increase revenue, reduce turnover, elevate business profitability, build competencies, and improve performance.
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