The term “holy grail” is often used to describe something highly sought after or earnestly pursued. Whether you are a leader in a ministry or a business environment, you are likely looking for ways to lead better. But is there such a thing as a holy grail for effective leadership? Probably not. However, I recently learned a concept that, while it may not be the ultimate key, is a competency every leader should develop. It is called a growth mindset, and learning to cultivate a growth mindset in difficult times can significantly impact your effectiveness.
GROWTH MINDSET VERSUS FIXED MINDSET
In the book Thanks for the Feedback, authors Sheila Heen and Douglas Stone unpack a concept related to personal identity: the growth mindset versus the fixed mindset. Simply put, leaders with a fixed mindset believe their abilities and traits are static. In contrast, leaders with a growth mindset believe they are capable of constantly evolving. Developing these leadership development and growth skills is essential for long-term success.
Heen and Stone reference Professor Carol Dweck’s research at Stanford University regarding how children cope with failure. During a puzzle experiment, Dweck observed children engaging with progressively difficult challenges. While some children gave up, others became more engaged as the puzzles grew harder. This research highlights the fundamental difference in how individuals perceive their own potential for growth.
After these experiments she talked with the kids. Kids who gave up felt that the harder puzzles made them look dumb. However, the kids who persisted believed that the harder puzzles made them get better at solving puzzles and said that their experience was actually fun.
Neither interest nor aptitude made a difference in their responses. For the kids who stopped, they assumed that their skill at solving puzzles was a fixed trait. The kids who persisted felt that their puzzle-solving ability was a flexible trait and they believed they could change and grow.
Dweck explained that the kids who refused to quit didn’t feel that they were failing even though they couldn’t solve every puzzle. They believed they were learning. For them, the puzzle was more like a coach and less like a referendum on their abilities or intelligence.
As I read this fascinating study, it struck me how important a growth mindset is for effective leadership. If we feel that our competencies and abilities are static—what we were born with—we won’t personally grow nor will our leadership grow. However, when we face difficult challenges and believe that God has given us the capacity to grow and develop, we’ll become more effective leaders.
So, how might we develop a growth mindset?
1. Be Aware of the Stories We Tell Ourselves.
The term metacognition means to think about what we are thinking about. The next time you face a difficult leadership challenge, pause and listen to your self-talk (practice metacognition). Do the stories you are telling yourself reflect a fixed or growth mindset? Do the same when you work with others. Listen to the stories you are telling yourself about them.
2. Recognize That an Anxious Feeling About a Leadership Challenge Does Not Imply You Lack Faith or Don’t Have What It Takes.
Our brains are wired to dislike uncertainty. When we face an uncertain leadership challenge, the fight-flight center of our brain releases hormones into our blood stream and neurotransmitters into our brain. This results in unpleasant emotions we feel, like anxiety. Remind yourself that leadership challenges are uncertain and to feel a bit anxious is normal. It has nothing to do with your ability to handle the challenge.
3. Include Learning as a Goal When Faced With a Leadership Challenge.
When we face a leadership challenge, we certainly want to solve the problem or overcome the challenge. However, the next time you face the challenge, include as one measure of success what you actually learn about yourself and the problem area. Learning may actually serve you better in the long term than solving the problem.
4. Don’t Fear Failure.
The possibility of failure should never keep us from facing new challenges in life or leadership. The prophet Isaiah addressed fear when he wrote these words.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. —Isaiah 41:10
So, a growth mindset may not be the holy grail of effective leadership, but it can make a profound difference in how well you lead.
What do you think about a growth versus a fixed mindset? Where do you see yourself?
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This article originally appeared on CharlesStone.com and is reposted here by permission.
