The Two Types of Mindset

What is mindset? Mindset is an established set of attitudes held by an individual, it is a collection of thoughts and beliefs that shape your habits and helps decide our actions. It is the way we see the world and how the world sees us. 

 “For decades I’ve been studying why some people succeed, while people who are equally talented, do not. And over the years, I have discovered that people’s mindset plays a crucial part in this process” – Carol Dweck. 

What are the two types of mindset?

1. Fixed Mindset – The perspective that character, intelligence and creative ability are fixed. (You are not in control!)
2. Growth Mindset – The perspective that you can change and grow through effort, application and experience. (You are in control!)

Key Ingredients to Growth

There are four key ingredients to growth, these include:

1. Effort
2. Challenge
3. Mistakes
4. Feedback

Mindset Characteristics 

It is important that it is understood that mindset characteristics are a spectrum, you are not one or the other and it is dependant on life events.

People with a fixed mindset have beliefs that you cannot learn and grow, and that you are born with skills. People with fixed mindset are also hesitant to look bad in terms of their performance and outcomes. Whereas people with a growth mindset believe that skills are built upon and you can learn and grow. They also believe that the process is getting better.

In terms of key ingredients to growth, fixed mindset and growth mindset people have opposite views. These include:

1) Fixed Mindset

People of fixed mindset believe that:

• Effort is not necessary, and it is not useful.
• Challenges are responded to as a frame of threat and one must back down and avoid challenges.
• Mistakes must be avoided and are hated as they get discouraged by making them.
• Feedback is not helpful therefore they get defensive and take feedback personally

2) Growth Mindset

People of growth mindset believe that:

• Effort is useful and will lead to growth
• Challenges must be embraced and persevered as it is framed as an opportunity
• Mistakes are to learn from as mistakes are an opportunity to grow
• Feedback is useful information and must be appreciated and used to grow