Growth Vs Fixed Mindset
Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: Your Beliefs Shape Your Reality
The way you think about your own intelligence and abilities—your 'mindset'—has a huge impact on your success and happiness. There are two types:
The Fixed Mindset
The Belief: This is the belief that your talents and intelligence are fixed traits that you can't change. You're either 'good' at something or you're not.
How it Sounds: "I failed the test, so I must be stupid." or "I'm just not a creative person."
The Result: It makes you avoid challenges to prevent failure and can lead to giving up easily.
The Growth Mindset
The Belief: This is the powerful belief that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. Brains and talent are just the starting point.
How it Sounds: "I failed the test, so I need to try a different study strategy next time." or "I want to learn how to be more creative."
The Result: It makes you embrace challenges, persist through setbacks, and see effort as the path to mastery. This is how you build resilience.
Your mindset directly impacts your wellbeing, self-confidence, and belief in your own potential. By choosing to cultivate a growth mindset, you empower yourself to learn from every experience.
Test your mindset
Remember, mindset changes with time and experience, so we can both Growth and Fixed at different points in our lives.
Complete each question below to see where your mindset is right now.
Strongly fixed Mindset with a real opportunity to grow.
There is an opportunity for you to target shifting your mindset in your development work. Overusing a Fixed mindset can stifle your potential, meaning you might be missing opportunities to grow and develop and can become judgmental.
Fixed mindset but you are working on developing your Growth mindset.
Predominantly, your thinking is fixed but you are either working on your growth mindset or aware of your ability to go to a fixed mindset. With some specific self-directed coaching and work on clarifying when and where you have the tendency to go fixed, you can shift this.
Growth and Fixed mindset.
You swing between the two, you are in a growth mindset when you are at your best (enough sleep, not too stressed etc.) but fall back on fixed ideas when low on resources. Being aware of when and where you tend to go fixed and use mindfulness to monitor your growth and fixed responses.
Growth mindset with some fixed mindset tendencies.
You have a growth mindset, but you may have some default fixed responses to certain issues and topics. Explore where these responses have originated from, and how you might be able to reframe them into growth mindset opportunities.
Strong Growth mindset.
You are constructive, see failure as an opportunity to learn and you persevere through challenges. Find outlets to use this strength of yours, whether it be in your work, your business or at home. Your mindset is a gift and can be utilised to challenge and build your potential.
Your intelligence is something you are born with, and you are limited to how much it can change.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
No matter how much capacity you have, you can always develop it further.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Some people just aren't meant to be creative.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
The harder you work at something, the better you will be at that skill.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
You feel frustrated or angry when you are criticised.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
You appreciate when people give you feedback about your performance.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Some people are born smart and don't need to work that hard.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
You can always develop how 'clever' you are.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
You are born with your personality and it is usually set in stone.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
You don't find it hard to learn new things.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Take a look at yourself and make a change
Make note of the states of mind, environments, and people that trigger your Fixed mindset moments.
What factors contribute to this? When is this most likely to happen? What can you do to short circuit these triggers and move towards a Growth mindset? What actions can you take?
Growth Mindset
Watch this infographic video to learn more about how your mindset can either hold you back or help you achieve greatness... it's up to you!
This video also talks through Carol Dweck's theories on Growth Mindset, and how we can adjust our thinking to be the absolute best versions of ourselves.
How will you adjust your mindset?