As adults we try to teach our children the things that took us many years to learn. One of the new buzzwords in schools at the moment is ‘Growth Mindset’.
The theory of the growth mindset came from research done by Carol Dweck 30 years ago that investigated how students coped with failure.
In the study some students were devastated by small hurdles, while others were not deterred and kept trying. The researchers concluded that ‘fixed mindset’ individuals fear failure as they believe it is a negative statement about their innate abilities. In comparison, students with a ‘growth mindset’ believe that their performance could be improved with effort, time, persistence and learning. Dweck argued that a growth mindset will allow a person to live a less stressful and more successful life.
In today’s world, we are constantly having to tackle new things and learn new skills. The roles we started in as we entered the workforce have changed dramatically and the pace of change is more rapid than ever. It can be overwhelming… if you let it. Being conscious of your own mindset can be helpful.
Changing your approach can help relieve stress as we tackle new things.
Here are some tips:
- Take it in stages – You won’t be an expert overnight so take it one step at a time.
- Failure is just part of the process – we often learn more from our mistakes than our successes so don’t let the set-backs hold you back.
- Share your experiences – Join an industry group on LinkedIn, Facebook or in person to share your experiences and learn from others.
Whether its new technology, a process change at work, cloud accounting or getting your head around new marketing software. You are facing new challenges every day. New technology can give your business an edge but trying to get your head around it all quickly is challenging. So take it step-by-step. Set aside time to do some research, talk to others in your industry (or us), or take an online course so you are up-skilled and ready to make the decisions about next steps.
The challenges you face provide opportunities to learn and grow and might give you the ability to set your business apart.
So, next time you feel like saying ‘I can’t do it’, replace it with ‘I can’t do it, yet’.
