Key Differences Between A Growth Mindset versus A Fixed Mindset

Education & Career Trends: November 21, 2022

Curated by the Knowledge Team of  ICS Career GPS

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Content Credit:

• Article by Anouare Abdou, published on theladders.com. Original article link.

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We all like to think that we are ambitious professionals with a growth mindset and are aware of real opportunities when they appear. But it is not, apparently, as simple as that. Dr. Carol Dweck, a psychologist at Stanford University and the author of the classic “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success,” popularised the concept of the growth mindset with her research on how people approach challenges. She identified two core sets of beliefs: the fixed and growth mindset. 

Someone with a growth mindset believes that their talents, intelligence and abilities can be developed with effort. Someone with a fixed mindset believes that their talents, intelligence and abilities are fixed and that effort is therefore a sign of inadequacy.

Having a fixed mindset can hold you back while embracing a growth mindset will lead to greater success and happiness. And you could have a growth mindset in some areas of your life but not others or have a fixed mindset when triggered by certain circumstances without even realising it. 

Here are some outlined key differences between a growth and a fixed mindset. They are sometimes subtle, but understanding them will help you take your own mindset to the next level.

1. People with a growth mindset focus on effort 

• This is important because it encourages us to show up, be courageous, and try new things.
• While it might seem like praising the process could result in less achievement, the opposite is true.
• The more we encourage ourselves, and others, to show up fully, the more we fully engage in life and the more we achieve.
• If you praise others for their wins but never think twice about encouraging them for making progress, you could be perpetuating a fixed mindset in your team.
• Try highlighting learnings or rewarding your willingness to try different strategies instead.

2. People with a fixed mindset love being complimented for their intelligence or talent 

• As a student, do you pride yourself on your ability to get great grades without studying? This is a telltale sign of having a fixed mindset. 
• Another subtle way someone might be in a fixed mindset is when they pride themselves, or compliment others, on being a ‘natural’ talent.
• As a society, we tend to praise others for their ‘natural’ abilities and yet this only perpetuates the fixed mindset.
• People in a growth mindset pride themselves on their ability to learn and grow, to be courageous and to be resourceful.

3. People with a fixed mindset don’t deal with failure well 

• People with a growth mindset embody the popular saying “it’s better to try and fail than never to try at all.”
• But those with a fixed mindset are so terrified of failure they would rather play it safe. 
• It makes sense: If you believe that your skills and abilities are fixed, failure is a catastrophic scenario because it means you are not good enough.
• On the contrary, if you perceive failure as part of the process of growing and succeeding, you’ll see it as a learning opportunity instead of being ashamed of it.

4. People with a growth mindset love trying new things 

• Your enthusiasm for new challenges is a benchmark for your mindset. 
• Someone in a growth mindset wants to take on new challenges. Someone in a fixed mindset wants to do things that they are already good at. 
• When it comes to career development, getting out of your comfort zone is crucial to accessing new opportunities.
• To cultivate a growth mindset, take a look at your life and identify one area that you enjoy putting effort into and don’t get deterred by temporary failure or setbacks.
• Notice how you think about this area of your life and apply that way of thinking to the area of your life in which you want to develop a growth mindset.

5. People with a fixed mindset tend to be super results-oriented

• People with a fixed mindset don’t tend to enjoy the journey.
• This is incredibly destructive as the journey is all we ever have. And no amount of praise ever satiates someone in a fixed mindset.
• Achievers, take notes: Winning feels good, but it can be toxic to continuously aim for the next achievement without ever being satisfied with the present moment or enjoying the path to achieving your goals.
• Embrace the process of growth as a part of what makes life worth living.

6. People with a growth mindset embrace feedback 

• If you are the type of person who continuously seeks feedback in order to improve, you have understood a key part of having a growth mindset.
• But if you tend to get crushed when someone gives you constructive feedback, you may be stuck in a fixed mindset loop. 
• Someone in a growth mindset is excited by constructive feedback, as they see it as an opportunity for growth.
• Someone in a fixed mindset is deterred by constructive feedback, as they see it as evidence that they are lacking natural ability and talent.

7. People with a fixed mindset take fewer risks 

• People in a fixed mindset shrink their world so that they are only doing things they are already capable of doing.
• This means they deny themselves opportunities for growth and opportunities.
• Cultivating a growth mindset takes practice and the first step is awareness. 

When most people hear about the growth mindset, they want to get into it immediately — but getting into a growth mindset takes time and practice, especially since many of us have been in the fixed mindset for decades. First, you must spend some time understanding your current mindset. The best way to tell whether you are in a fixed or growth mindset is to look at what qualities pride yourself on and how you respond to setbacks.

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Have you checked out yesterday’s blog yet?

Are You Really Listening? 7 Barriers to Listening Effectively.

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(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)

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