Having a growth mindset has never been more important in today’s fast-changing world. We wake up to constant changes and new challenges every day and we must learn to keep up or risk falling behind. 

In this article, we dive into what a growth mindset is, how it helps you adapt to changes, and how to develop this mindset to succeed in life.

What is a growth mindset?

You may be wondering: What exactly is a growth mindset?

People with a growth mindset believe that they can improve and develop competency through hard work and dedication.

On the contrary, those with a fixed mindset see their intelligence and skills as fixed qualities that cannot be changed. They believe that their qualities are things that they are born with and cannot be improved upon.

How to develop a growth mindset

Developing a growth mindset isn’t going to be a walk in the park. But doing so will definitely be worth the time and effort.

Here are some practical tips on how to develop this mindset:

Take on new challenges

woman writing on a notebook

Image: Unsplash

Most people have a deep-rooted fear of failure.

However, an important part of developing a growth mindset is to take on new challenges and embrace them as fruitful learning opportunities.

The best way to do this is to experiment with your approach to each challenge, reflect on your mistakes, and learn to be patient; try to remind yourself that you’re one step closer to becoming better at whatever you’re doing. 

Learn to adopt a positive attitude

Person in suit showing thumbs up

Image: Pexels

People with a fixed mindset tend to harbour negative attitudes.

If you’re someone who is pessimistic and adopts a no-can-do attitude, it’s time to purge these thoughts from your mind now. 

Adopting a positive attitude can help you to stay optimistic in the face of challenges and difficulty, helping you to accelerate your growth and development.

Develop tenacity

Goals tag

Image: Unsplash

Tenacity is a trait that’s driven by your persistence, resilience, and determination to achieve a goal.

People with a growth mindset tend to be tenacious. They’re resolute and determined and are unstoppable until they reach their goals.

Here are some things you can do to build tenacity:

  • Have a crystal clear vision of what you want to achieve
  • Learn from your mistakes
  • Stay positive in the face of adversity
  • Surround yourself with tenacious people

Ask for constructive feedback

people having discussion and pointing to laptop screen

Image: Unsplash

Fostering a growth mindset involves proactively seeking objective and constructive feedback from your peers. 

A “growth mindset” person views mistakes as a learning opportunity. They don’t take criticism personally and use the feedback to improve. 

Being open to feedback also motivates you to perform better, helping you to formulate more effective decisions at work to deliver better results.

Enjoy the process

Woman smiling while holding a tablet

Image: Unsplash

While enjoying success feels great, it’s not the main reason why we’re pursuing growth and development. 

Results are more often than not, fleeting, and people who are fixated on the results usually find that their progress stalls; they don’t know what to focus on and what to do next.

When we learn how to enjoy the process, we learn how to appreciate the effort put into learning. This allows us to find joy in what we’re doing and grow more as a result.

Cultivate self-acceptance and self-approval

woman in white blazer smiling while holding digital tablet

Image: Pexel

Seeking approval from others can hinder you from developing a growth mindset. This is why you must learn how to cultivate self-acceptance and self-approval.

Stop trying to get the approval of others and learn how to trust yourself. In the grand scheme of things, you’re the only person who’ll always be there for yourself and need to impress in your life.

Feature image from Unsplash