A Growth Mindset Plan

Developing a growth mindset is so important if you want to grow in your daily lives. A growth mindset differs from that of a fixed mindset in that one’s intelligence is fixed on a characteristic that you are born with. In other words, your ability to expand your intelligence is impossible if you are not born with the “smart” genome. A fixed mindset affects us in other areas of our lives. For example, how we view our ability to test on specific content, and if we happen to fail, it proves that we are dumb. In a growth mindset, however, individuals view intelligence as their ability to learn and grow. It is important in a school setting that we cultivate environments where our learners can develop in a way that promotes positive change. 

Our brains grow just like any muscle in our body as we obtain new knowledge and information. With the right determination and perseverance, you will grow and master new skills. This process is beneficial for all learners, adults as well as school-aged children. Below I highlight Dr Dweck's 4-step process to change your mindset. In a school setting, providing adults with professional development around a mind shift so that they can become practitioners and mature. As adults can master the steps or experience growth in developing this mindset shift, they can guide our young learners on how they can make this shift and change behaviors in the process. First, we must understand the steps and learn how we can use the steps to change mindsets. 

Dweck's (2006) 4-Step Process to Change Your Mindset

Step 1: Learn to hear your Fixed Mindset Voice

Self-awareness is extremely important during the process of developing a growth mindset. Being aware of our areas of strengths and areas of growth is essential when we hear the fixed mindset voice. We all have strengths and talents that we are aware of. At times there will be moments where self-doubt enters into our thoughts to counteract it as we can be our own worst critic. Areas where we still need to grow faced with challenging moments, we need to stop the fixed voice and overcome this challenge with our growth mindset voice. 

Step 2: Recognize that we Have a Choice. 

Individuals have a choice. We can choose to entertain the thoughts of the fixed voice or you can choose to empower yourself and continue to build and grow. As we work to build a growth mindset, we must focus on the process of development. When fixed voices or thoughts appear, we can choose to focus on the growth framework or continue down the path of judgment and fixed assets. However, only one of the two paths leads to challenging self and growing as a result and that is the growth mindset path. 

Step 3: Talk back to it with a Growth Mindset Voice.

In the face of a challenge, take time to reflect and listen to the growth mindset voice. When faced with challenges or setbacks, instead of lingering on thoughts such as, “This is not for me,” or “I do not have the talent for accomplishing this project;” Have a growth comeback ready to disarm the fixed statements. Have statements such as, “This is going to be difficult, but I will learn from this process.” It may be helpful to keep a record of when your fixed voice speaks, so you have a better understanding of your triggers. 

Step 4: Take the Growth Mindset Action. 

This step is where we take action. After we respond with a growth mindset voice after the fixed voice, it provides us an opportunity to reflect. Individuals can learn how to face challenges and determine what actions help prepare for proper growth. 

Reference

Dweck, C. S. (2006). MINDSET: NEW PSYCHOLOGY OF SUCCESS. Ballantine Books.