How to Make the Most Out of the Mindset You're Given

Image Source: Brain Pickings

It’s hard to imagine that not everyone has the capability to be successful – but an article I stumbled upon from mic.com attempts to explain just that. “Successful people tend to focus on growth, solving problems and self-improvement, while unsuccessful people think of their abilities as fixed assets and avoid challenges,” Tom McKay shares in his article, The Brains of Successful vs. Unsuccessful People Actually Look Very Different.

McKay continues on to explain that a “person with a growth mindset views challenges as things to overcome and views failure as an opportunity for growth and personal development” while “a person with a fixed mindset tends to view themselves with static traits and a deterministic outlook; intelligence, character and creative ability all cannot be changed, while success is seen as affirmation of those given abilities and traits”. In the first section of The Prosperous Leader I discuss Finding Your Strengths and Weaknesses, but these principles can also be applied to others. You can use the self-exploration tips I mention to discover what types of personalities and mindsets your employees have. I truly believe this information will help you to lead your team to greatness!

It’s important to remember, as McKay says, “people with fixed mindsets tend to shy away from challenges. [You may find them] believing they've reached their potential and can't go any further. In the long run, fixed minds will achieve less,” while those with a growth mindset see challenges [as a way to] improve and setbacks ultimately motivate them to work harder and move forward”. So, before you judge your employees or even yourself in terms of mindset, think about which type of mindset you may be working with!