What's Your Mindset? Fixed or Growth

"You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone!" True words from the Herb Brooks character in the great hockey movie, Miracle. This is the truth behind Carol Dweck's conclusion that people are either growth oriented or fixed focused.

Guy Kawasaki links to an article about Dr. Dweck's work by Marina Krakovsky- The Effort Effect, that introduces her work and her new book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.

I deal with this every day. I see it as the difference between being an innovator and being a late adopter, where you are willing to take initiative or follow in response. I don't think it has anything to do with talent. It is an issue of social culture and personal character.

In terms of social culture, people gravitate to some mean between ambition and comfort. I see it in people, organizations and communities. There is a social convention that eschews people who push the boundaries.  As a result, the expectation of the community is to reach a common denominator that equals personal comfort.

In terms of personal character, I see it in terms of how the values of trust, persistence and the stewardship of potential function. 

Ultimately, people will find some happy point where their lives find something that is personally meaningful and socially fulfilling. In many instances, they sacrifice the joy of fulfilling their potential in order to belong to a community where they feel safe and secure.  And then their will be those restless souls who will also push the boundaries of convention to create new value and goodness. We need both types to find balance in our lives.

Comments

[Ed Brenegar]

Thanks, Ellen, for the connection to brain science. My guess is that what we see in the fixed brain is fewer connections, and therefore fewer pathways for creativity. Growth is very much a creative activity. Like my friend Tom Morris writes in his great book If Aristotle Ran General Motors, leadership and business are performance arts. Same is true here, I believe.

[Ellen Weber]

Great ideas here Ed, and this reminds me that when it comes to the brain's ability to help us grow -- whatever stops that progress - gets fixed.

It's called Hebbian learning but it really means rut. Great reminder here as always - thanks for the refreshing approach.

You are so right about effects to people who push the boudaries. See any solution that could work for this problem, from where you sit?

[Mary-Louise]

I work for Guy Kawasaki. Thanks for the link to his recent blog posting: "The Effort Effect!"

Mary-Louise

http://blog.guykawasaki.com/