In today’s rapidly advancing world, continual learning is a given. In the future, people are less likely to be hired for what they “know” and more likely to be hired for their ability to learn what they “don’t know”.
Why is continual learning important to you? According
to a survey conducted by Evolution:
• 96% people see a positive impact of continual
learning on job performance
• 78% people see continual learning as a factor in
promotions and career advancement
• 87% people say continual learning correlates with
increases in compensation and salary
So how do you create a habit of continual learning?
One way is to apply Growth Mindset, which is finding yourself in a new
situation and not knowing what to do – but then figuring it out.
What is Growth Mindset?
Growth Mindset a set of beliefs that shape how you
make sense of the world and yourself. It influences how you think, feel, and
behave in any given situation. People with growth mindset see failure as an
opportunity to grow. They see challenges as a path toward growth and let their
effort and attitude determine their abilities. They are inspired by the success
of their team members and take feedback
as a constructive way of improvement.
Source: Fixed v. Growth Mindset. “Mindset” by CarolDweck | Medium |
Beliefs and Behaviors of Growth Mindset Leaders
Leaders with growth mindset put growth first and unite the business goals around it. They back the risktakers, knowing there is a possibility of failure. The focus is toward action rather than perfection. These leaders infuse those around them with a purpose.
What sets a leader with purpose apart from one
without purpose? There are three core elements for experiencing purpose:
positive impact on others, personal development, and delivery of work through
strong relationships. A purpose-driven leader fosters these experiences for her
team and has a mission for her work. This mission is something that every team
member knows because it’s communicated repeatedly by the leader.
Working with a growth mindset involves delegating
work and having confidence in the people around you. Delegation
goes beyond just handing off the job. It includes setting performance
expectations, accountability, and providing feedback.
Breaking the Fixed Mindset
The most important factor when building a growth
mindset is seeing the value in your journey. When the focus is just fixed on
the end result, you miss out on all the things you could be learning during the
journey.
If you’re not able to perform a certain task or
activity, remember that you just haven’t become an expert in it yet. By using
the power of “yet”, you can overcome many obstacles. Mistakes are one of the
best ways to learn, so, instead of running away from challenges, take them
head-on.
Tips to Build a Growth Mindset
Here are three tips to build a growth mindset:
• Counter stressful
situations: Much
of the anxiety we experience is due to the uncertainty caused by things outside
our control. The best way to combat that is to focus on the things we can
control – like our effort, our attitude, and how we treat people.
• Adapt to change: Sometimes the wave of change is
headed your way full force whether you’re ready or not. You can either let the
wave crash against you, knock you down and pull you under, or you can face the
same direction the wave is headed and catch a ride to shore. Make the decision
to ride the wave and accept the change.
• Keep a watch on non-verbal emotional
cues: Often
people express one thing verbally, but their body is telling a completely
different story. So, focus on the non-verbals while communicating with others.
Have you worked with a colleague or leader who has a
Growth Mindset? How did it effect you and the organization?
Leave a comment below, send me an email, or find me on Twitter.
