Reverb Consulting

Over the weekend someone paid me a compliment about my children: ‘Your kids are as smart as they can be.’ I appreciate the compliment but I hope my children are not as smart as they can be. I hope that they become smarter. This compliment immediately made me think of Carol Dweck and her book Mindset. She uses the word mindset to refer to one’s view regarding one’s own ability. A fixed mindset means that success is based on innate ability. A growth mindset means that hard work and the ability to learn are more important to success than innate ability. A growth mindset can be fostered by praise: ‘Wow! You worked so hard on that’ as opposed to ‘Wow! You are so smart.’ A fixed mindset leads to fear of failure. A growth mindset will keep trying despite failure.

I suspect that the person that complimented my kids has a fixed mindset. I also am guessing that they have no awareness of the concept of mindset. An awareness of the concept of mindset is a huge first step on the path to developing a growth mindset. I believe that with some effort, a growth mindset can be learned. With a growth mindset, you will have an edge in life. In hiring, I look for a growth mindset. I consider those with a growth mindset to be more valuable team members.

Awareness is the first step. Become aware and you will start to see it everywhere, even in the compliments of others.

Start the path to a growth mindset by visiting Carol Dweck’s website.

Or listen to Dr. Moira Gunn talk with Dr. Carol Dweck.