When it comes to our approach to learning, there are two types. You probably know both kinds. One type gives up quickly and is not interested in learning new things. She says things like: "I'm not good at that, so I can't learn that" or "I'm good at that, so I don't need to challenge myself". The other type, on the other hand, loves to learn something new. She often throws herself into new areas and is endlessly curious about how things fit together.
That we can have such different settings for learning already puzzled researcher Carol Dweck in the 1970s, who first became aware of the difference between children. She calls the two settings respectively a fixed mindset (fixed mindset) and a developing mindset (growth mindset).
According to Dweck, the mindset or thought pattern you have matters a lot because your mindset predicts your level of performance. It is about how you perceive "learning". Whether you believe that talent is something innate and therefore something you either have or don't have. Or whether you believe that talent can be developed through hard work, good strategies and the input of others. If you have a developing mindset, according to Dweck, you will achieve better results.
The good news is that you can change your thinking pattern at any time.
In her book, You are what you think - the new mindset theory of the path to success, Dweck describes how people with a fixed mindset believe that one's characteristics are set in stone. According to Dweck, this creates a tendency to avoid challenges, give up easily, see effort as useless and to feel threatened by the success of others.
People who have a developmental mindset, on the other hand, believe that one's basic qualities can be developed through one's own efforts. This means that people with a growth mindset embrace challenges, persevere when challenged, see effort as the path to mastery, and learn from the successes of others.
TEST YOUR MINDSET
Consider the following statements:
Which statements do you most agree with?
If you mostly agree with 1 and 2, you have a fixed mindset, according to Dweck. If you agree more with 3 and 4, you have a developing mindset.
Try replacing intelligence with one of these other areas; business skills, a physical talent, artistic talent or personality. Is your setting the same? According to Dweck, it won't be unusual for your mindset to differ from area to area.
As I said, you are not lost if you have now discovered that you have a fixed mindset in some areas. You can always change your mindset. On mindsetonline.com, which is Carol Dweck's website, you can read more about what to do. Below we have only briefly outlined the four steps to change your mindset.
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