Mindsets are beliefs about abilities. They are significant because your mindset defines your beliefs, which then drives your behaviours and determines whether you fulfil your potential or plateau. Someone in a Fixed Mindset believes that their abilities are fixed, that ‘you’ve either got it or not’ whereas someone in a Growth Mindset understands that our abilities are malleable and can be developed with effort, motivation and concentration. These mindsets shape our mental world and influence our capacity to learn and develop, create and lead. They are the key to business innovation and success.
These mindsets play a major role in how we approach goals and sets out a formula for success. They come from the research of Prof Carol Dweck at Stanford University and are backed up by neuroscience. Positive psychology operates in a growth mindset – that we can learn optimism, grow our happiness and develop our strengths.
Having a Growth Mindset is essential for any new project or positive change programme. It encourages us to leave the comfort zone, experiment and learn from what happens. It is how we work at Positive Psychology Training. We deliver bespoke sessions in the Growth Mindset and in combination with other relevant areas including resilience, grit and strengths. One of our associates has worked with Prof Dweck applying the growth mindset with tech start-ups in 
Silicon Valley, USA.
Content includes:
- What is the growth and fixed mindset
- How the brain works: The neuroscience of mindsets
- Compare and contrast the growth, fixed and false growth mindset
- Assess your own mindset and how it affects your life.
- How to develop a growth mindset.
- Develop an action plan to embed the growth mindset.
We operate in a growth mindset so our training is tailored to fit the particular needs of the team or organisation. We can also offer coaching in the growth mindset.
Some testimonials
“Following a session on ‘growth mindset’ I felt motivated to apply this methodology when setting out to achieve goals. It made me realise that putting in effort and changing approach can get the desired results. And if it doesn’t, to not give up. Instead to try a different approach and put more effort in to get a better result next time. And that cultivating a growth mindset never stops.” Rebecca Fowler, Environment Agency.
“Just a quick note to say thank you for today, you packed a lot in and it felt really valuable. I hope lots of it resonated with the team, it certainly did for me.” Creative Director, BBC.
“Miriam delivered a fantastic session that was both thought-provoking and positive. Bringing together elements of growth mindset, positive psychology and strengths profiling enabled staff to self-reflect, learn about each other and take away some fantastic tips for applying growth mindset on a day-to-day basis. A very positive way to begin the new term and will look forward to seeing how this training benefits us over time. Thank you Miriam!” Nick Evans, Head teacher, Ridgeway School, Warwick.
Resources
What having a Growth Mindset means by Prof Carol Dweck.
How the Growth Mindset makes for better leaders.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on developing a ‘learn-it-all’ rather than a ‘know-it-all’ workplace culture. Video clip of Satya Nadella.
Why the Growth Mindset is so important for children and young people.
Prof Carol Dweck’s TED talk on the Growth Mindset
