Professional Development Series, Topic of the Week

Cultivating a Growth Mindset

Growth mindset is the art of seeing opportunities instead of obstacles or seeing failure as a chance to develop our abilities further. People with a growth mindset are constantly seeking opportunities to learn, gain new skills, and enhance their existing skills.

How to Achieve a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset can be the difference between accomplishing our goals or letting them go. Here are some practical tips to cultivate yours.

  • Transform the way you think. Resist the urge to look at failure as a bad thing. Rather, see failure as an opportunity to learn how to do something better.
    • Embrace the power of “yet.” Infusing “yet” into your daily routine gives a path to the future that praises persistence. Instead of saying, I do not know or I can’t do it; say I do not know “yet” or I can’t do it “yet”. You will see change every time you push beyond your comfort zone.
    • Take criticism as a gift. Be open to feedback and accurate information about yourself.
    • Embrace teamwork. People with a growth mindset realize that they do not need to be the smartest person in the room. They are open to learn from those around them and are proud of the success they can have with their team. 
    • Celebrate the process, not just the result. It is important to appreciate the effort you put in to advancing yourself.

      Many of us naturally have growth mindsets, but anyone can cultivate one or improve on what is already there.  Remember progress takes time.

      Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts. –W. Churchill

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