Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.
- George Bernard Shaw
So what has the research project found so far?
As Career Ambitions’ #LeadingLights project has progressed, it has become increasingly evident that inspiring people share similar qualities. That’s obvious, you may think. But what exactly are those qualities? Well, it’s not about the specific qualities. It’s more about their mindset. All of the successful leaders profiled so far have been found to have a growth mindset.
Growth vs Fixed Mindsets
So what is a growth mindset? The difference is that those with a growth mindset believe that anything is possible. If they put their mind to it, and work hard, they are capable of learning anything. Those with fixed mindsets believe that they cannot increase their skills or learn those new things.
What’s truly amazing is the difference that your mindset can have on your life, your career, your relationships and even your happiness.
Recent research by esteemed Stanford professor Carol Dweck has highlighted the value of having a growth mindset, and argues that it is this that “allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives”.
Co-founder of Career Ambitions Katherine Wiid reflected on how she has tackled the ups and downs of running a business over the past 14 years: "Until we did this research it never occurred to me that I had a growth mindset. Yet thinking about how I weathered the storms of recession and other challenges, I guess I do have one! I tend to think “What can I do …” and if I get to a “I don’t know what to do” instead of panicking I now ask for advice or guidance and no longer expect myself to have all the answers. It is the constant learning that I relish.”
Over the next two months, Career Ambitions will be publishing a series of articles explaining the growth mindset qualities that the #LeadingLights revealed, with tips on how these attributes could revolutionise your life.
Click here to view the first Growth Attribute: Learning from others to find out how this could affect you.
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