GOAL SETTING WITH A GROWTH MINDSET
GOAL SETTING WITH A GROWTH MINDSET
“Growth mindset” is one of those frequently heard buzzwords while talking about engagement and work culture. But what is a growth mindset and what does cultivating one actually mean?
You may have heard about a “growth mindset” in discussions of popular psychology and social trends. From TED talks to books, quizzes and seminars, there is an increasing amount of discussion about this idea.
But you may be wondering, what exactly is a growth mindset? And can it actually help you succeed?
WHAT IS A GROWTH MINDSET?
The growth mindset meaning is the belief that skills and intelligence can be improved with effort and deliberate practice. People with a growth or an open mindset embrace challenges, overcome obstacles, learn from criticism, and seek out inspiration in others’ success. A growth mindset means that you thrive on challenge, and don’t see failure as a way to describe yourself but as a springboard for growth and developing your abilities. Your intelligence and talents are all susceptible to growth.
Dr. Carol Dweck of Stanford University first talked about the power of mindset nearly 30 years ago. Carol Dweck and her team became interested in the attitude of students when it comes to failure. After studying the behavior of students and children, the term “growth mindset” came about. Simply put, this mindset means that you believe in your ability to become better through hard work and help from others. Dweck says, “This growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts. Although people may differ in every which way in their initial talents and aptitudes, interests, or temperaments, everyone can change and grow through application and experience.”
Growth Mindset Goal Examples:
I will write a well researched blog post weekly for the following year. l will continually improve and become better at writing and keyword research.
I will work out for 30 minutes a day for the next 100 days. After that, I will continue to work out 4 days a week until the end of the year
I will make 30 cold calls per day for 40 weeks. I’ll do the cold calls first thing in the morning. This will help me scale my business quickly and I’ll become a better communicator.
I will practice piano for 30 minutes a day for the next 12 weeks. I’ll work with a teacher to speed up my progress and practice chords and scales to improve at a faster rate.
I will do public speaking once a month. I’ll attend a toastmasters meeting 3 weeks a month to gain practice. I will reach out to 2 networking groups a week to line this up.
One popular method of goal setting is S.M.A.R.T. goals. What does the acronym S.M.A.R.T. stand for?
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timeline
To create goals using a growth mindset:
Focus on creating goals that change your habits and actions over the long-term.
Zero in on the actions you’ll need to take to accomplish what you desire.
Have a clear vision of what you want your life to look like. Make goals that will help you reach that vision.
How does goal setting with a growth mindset differ from regular goal setting?
Goal setting with a growth mindset is centered around believing you can improve many areas of your life. When you have a growth mindset you believe that you can make significant changes with enough effort and determination, even in areas where you are not “naturally gifted”. A growth mindset is about becoming the person you would like to be. Rather than making a goal to make $1 million, you take the actions and habits that are required to become a millionaire and stick with it for years. It’s focused on making a positive long-term change in your life. “Lose 5 pounds” is a traditional goal, but it isn’t centered around a growth mindset. Working out consistently for 100 days, on the other hand, is centered around the belief that you can change your habits and grow.
Conclusion: Setting Goals with a Growth Mindset is all about shaping yourself and your habits. When you have a growth mindset, you believe that you can improve every area of your life. You don’t make excuses and you have unwavering faith that with enough effort you will achieve your goals. You have a strong vision for where you’d like to take your life and you are brave enough to create ambitious goals. You also recognize that goals should be centered around taking the right actions and making progress rather than the outcome alone. Improvement often starts slow and then grows rapidly over time. For complex tasks, it can be valuable to break up your goals into daily, weekly, monthly, 12-week, and long-term goals. You believe you can accomplish anything you can put your mind toward, even if there are challenges, hurdles, and setbacks throughout the way.