Mindset
The book ‘Mindset’ by Carol S. Dweck is subtitled ‘changing the way you think to fulfil your potential.’ It provides an overview of the fixed- and growth mindsets, and gives some practical tips on how to exchange the former for the latter.
This book is largely a comparison between how people with a fixed mindset act as opposed to how people with a growth mindset would have acted. Because of this, I present the summary as a comprehensive list of these comparisons, not following the chapter structure of the book.
The fixed mindset
believing that your qualities are carved in stone. You are constantly trying to prove yourself, of your given amount of intelligence, personality and moral character. Every situation is evaluated: Will I succeed or fail? Will I look smart or dumb? Will I be accepted or rejected? Will I feel like a winner or a loser? Risk and effort are two things that might reveal your inadequacies and show that you were not up to the task.
The growth mindset
your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts, your strategies, and help from others. People can change and grow through application and experience. The belief that cherished qualities can be developed creates a passion for learning. It is different from open-mindedness, the goal is not to be flexible or open-minded but to be dedicated to grow.
There are four basic steps described in the book that can help you develop a growth mindset:
- The first step to acquiring a growth-mindset is to acknowledge and accept that you have a, predominantly, fixed mindset at the moment. Being able to view things as they are is the only way to change them.
- Become aware of your fixed-mindset triggers. When does your fixed-mindset persona come to surface?
- Give your fixed-mindset persona a name.
- Know that your persona will show up when you’re confronted with one of your triggers. Observe it when it does so, and thank it for its contribution. Talk to it how you can learn from a setback or how a step out of your comfort zone could help you become better. Your fixed-mindset persona was born to protect you and keep you safe. But it has developed some very limiting ways of doing that. Understand the persona’s point of view, but slowly teach it a different way of thinking, and take it with you on your journey to a growth mindset.
At the beginning of each day, remind yourself of the fixed and growth-mindset. Then, contemplate the day ahead of you, and ask yourself the following questions:
- What are the opportunities for learning and growth today?
- When, where, and how will I embark on these opportunities?
Fixed mindset triggers
Below follows an overview that summarises the contents of the book. For a particular situation, it shows the fixed and growth mindset belief and response. Personally, I think that this way of summarising the book is most useful. By observing your actions (e.g. through journalling), you can become aware of your fixed mindset beliefs (number 2 on the ‘grow a growth mindset’-action list), and than work to change them.
As a person ingeneral
Working toward something
- Fixed mindset trigger: you are trying to prove yourself
- Fixed mindset belief: the outcome is important
- Growth mindset belief: the proces is important
- Growth mindset trigger: you are trying to learn and improve
A new situation
- Fixed mindset trigger: avoid new situation
- Fixed mindset belief: a possibility to get exposed
- Growth mindset belief: an opportunity to grow and learn*
- Growth mindset trigger: embrace new situation
Hearing something you don’t know or understand
- Fixed mindset trigger: do not ask a question, don’t learn
- Fixed mindset belief: not understanding something exposes my flaws
- Growth mindset belief: not understanding something means it is a learning opportunity
- Growth mindset trigger: ask a question, learn
Having to put in a lot of effort
- Fixed mindset trigger: give up
- Fixed mindset belief: having to put in effort means you are not fit for the task
- Growth mindset belief: having to put in effort means you are learning a lot
- Growth mindset trigger: persist
Receiving feedback
- Fixed mindset trigger: feel personally attacked or praised
- Fixed mindset belief: can confirm your qualities or expose your flaws
- Growth mindset belief: can give you valuable insights on what to improve upon
- Growth mindset trigger: feel like you’ve received valuable information to improve
Challenges appear
- Fixed mindset trigger: avoid challenge
- Fixed mindset belief: bigger challenges require more effort
- Growth mindset belief: there is more to learn from bigger challenges
- Growth mindset trigger: embrace challenge
Failure
- Fixed mindset trigger: not resilient to failure; look for external things or people to blame
- Fixed mindset belief: failure defines who you are
- Growth mindset belief: failure is a problem to be faced, dealt with, and learned from
- Growth mindset trigger: resilient to failure; look internally for causes and possible steps to take
Labels
- Fixed mindset trigger: live up to the stereotype or label
- Fixed mindset belief: you are your label or stereotype
- Growth mindset belief: labels and stereotypes are assigned to you by others
- Growth mindset trigger: dissociate from the label or stereotype
Learning opportunities
- Fixed mindset trigger: reject ambitious learning goals
- Fixed mindset belief: the question is whether or not you are able to learn
- Growth mindset belief: the question is how to learn
- Growth mindset trigger: strategically approach ambitious learning goals
Other people’s performance
- Fixed mindset trigger: Take credit for other’s successes or undermine them, surround themselves with inferior people
- Fixed mindset belief: other people’s success is a threat to you
- Growth mindset belief: other people’s success is something to learn from
- Growth mindset trigger: genuinely happy for others. Surround themselves with people they can learn from
In relationships
Getting rejected
- Fixed mindset trigger: try to get revenge
- Fixed mindset belief: you are being judged and labelled
- Growth mindset belief: opportunity to learn what and who is right for you, and what to work on
- Growth mindset trigger: forgiving, and moving on
Meeting new people
- Fixed mindset trigger: gravitate to like-minded people
- Fixed mindset belief: you should find people that appreciate you
- Growth mindset belief: you should find people from whom you can learn
- Growth mindset trigger: gravitate to people that are different from you
Partner choice
- Fixed mindset trigger: a stale relationship
- Fixed mindset belief: the perfect partner enshrines their qualities
- Growth mindset belief: the perfect partner sees their faults and helps them to work on it
- Growth mindset trigger: a dynamic relationship where both persons and the relationship grows
Relationship problems
- Fixed mindset trigger: problems aren’t solved and the relationship doesn’t improve
- Fixed mindset belief: problems are caused by flawed traits, and can’t be solved
- Growth mindset belief: problems can be solved
- Growth mindset trigger: problems are solved and the relationship grows stronger
Relationship problems (2)
- Fixed mindset trigger: blame the partner
- Fixed mindset belief: if there’s something wrong in the relationship, it is because of the partner
- Growth mindset belief: when there’s something wrong in the relationship, both need to work on it
- Growth mindset trigger: rise above blame, understand the problem, and try to fix it—together
Relationship status
- Fixed mindset trigger: does not expose and resolve conflicting hopes and beliefs.
- Fixed mindset belief: if it doesn’t work, it wasn’t meant to be
- Growth mindset belief: a good, lasting relationship comes from effort and from working through inevitable differences
- Growth mindset trigger: tries to expose and resolve conflicting hopes and beliefs
Shyness
- Fixed mindset trigger: avoid meeting new people who are potentially more socially skilled
- Fixed mindset belief: concerned about judgement in social situations
- Growth mindset belief: social situations are challenges
- Growth mindset trigger: actively welcome the change to meet someone new
As a parent or teacher
Confidence
- Fixed mindset trigger: praising their children’s brains and talents
- Fixed mindset belief: children gain confidence by praise
- Growth mindset belief: children grow by teaching them how to do so
- Growth mindset trigger: teaching children to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort, seek new strategies, and keep on learning
Praising children
- Fixed mindset trigger: praising children based on their personality attributes
- Fixed mindset belief: a child’s traits show its worth
- Growth mindset belief: a child’s worth is shown through its efforts
- Growth mindset trigger: praising children based on the efforts and achievements
Children that are underperforming
- Fixed mindset trigger: cheer them up
- Fixed mindset belief: a child’s self-esteem should be protected
- Growth mindset belief: a child learns more from constructive feedback
- Growth mindset trigger: tell them the truth and show them how they may learn from their failures
Visions for children
- Fixed mindset trigger: hold their children to that ideal
- Fixed mindset belief: have an ideal image
- Growth mindset belief: be curious about their development
- Growth mindset trigger: support them in discovering their path