Is there a more popular framework introduced this century than Growth Mindset? Let’s dig into some of its nooks and crannies
What’s Growth Mindset?
Growth mindset devotees believe effort can improve intelligence and ability. In contrast, fixed mindset folks believe these traits are innate and unchangeable. This leads to individuals with a growth mindset being more open to embracing challenges, persisting in the face of setbacks, and viewing effort as the path to mastery. They haven’t YET reached what they aspire to. The concept was popularized by Stanford uber-psychologist Carol Dweck in her (recommended) 2006 book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
This graphic from this helpful summary post nicely distills the differences between adopting a fixed vs growth mindset:
The Growth journey is a matter of perspective:
When to use Growth Mindset?
The mindset is relevant to all of life’s journeys. That said, here are a few situations in which a growth mindset is especially essential:
- WHEN WE STRUGGLE: reminding ourselves that with effort we can learn, overcome, and advance through whatever obstacle is holding us back.
- WHEN WE UNDERGO MAJOR CHANGE: This is a similar idea: reminding ourselves that we’re malleable, we’ve undergone a lot of change already, and we’ll evolve through this one, too.
- WHEN WE COACH OTHERS, INCLUDING KIDS: when somebody else is getting frustrated by their lack of progress, we can remind them that they haven’t cracked it YET.
How do we use Growth Mindset?
John:
A growth mindset is hard to unsee and it’s a trait (skill?) I value in colleagues. Therefore, I have a few favorite interview questions I use to test for it:
“Tell me about a skill you recently taught yourself” and “Tell me about a recent big failure. What did you learn about yourself?” are two questions candidates can expect.
As mentioned above, Growth Mindset also provides terrific language for coaching and giving perspective when things get tough. Thomas Edison foreshadowed the framework when he said:
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison
James:
My favourite part of Growth Mindset has always been the idea of YET, as in Not YET. It’s such an empowering concept that, for example, we may not be witty, fearless, and a CEO right now, but that simply means we’re not witty, fearless, and a CEO YET. With hard work and persistence, we can and we will.
I also appreciate that advancements in neuroscience are reaffirming this framework’s value and validity. As more research on neuroplasticity emerges, the clearer it becomes that our brains have far more capacity to reshape themselves than expected.
The overall concept always brings me back to Bill Gates’s quote on the speed of transformation:
“Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” Bill Gates
John:
And when people feel they’re learning and growing, they’ll be motivated, even if it can sometimes take those full ten years to fully master a skill. Like Michael Gladwell and the 10,000 hour rule in “Outliers. “
Sticking with blockbuster books, Daniel Pink writes about this topic in “Drive” as well. Extrinsic rewards - money and status - are often tied to achievement. Intrinsic rewards, which instead recognize the pursuit of mastery, unbound from outcomes, are a more powerful motivating force, according to his research.
James:
That’s what makes Blueprints fun, we’re both doing it because we just like geeking out on each of the frameworks; sure, it would be nice if a bunch of folks read and enjoy them, but that’s secondary to the fun of creating each one.
Returning to the idea of “YET…,” my favourite application of Growth Mindset comes from Microsoft again, this time from CEO Satya Nadella and his idea of striving to be a Learn-It-All instead of a Know-It-All. I’m a sucker for a pithy phrase and Learn-It-All - vs Know-It-All - is as good as it gets. I use Learn-It-All with our kids all the time: as a parent, our kiddos growing up to be Learn-It-Alls is right up there with their being kind as my highest aspiration.
One final related thought comes from famed novelist Philp Roth in his book Exit Ghost: he divides the world into “Not Yets” and “No Longers” in the context of the human lifespan. As a child, we’re not yet able to walk; we’re not yet married; we’re not yet a parent etc. And then as life advances and we reach more milestones, the number of “Not Yets” shrinks and the number of “No Longers” increases. We’re no longer a student; no longer a son/daughter of living parents; no longer a worker; no longer able to run etc. I find this “not yet” and “no longer” concept haunting; it’s among the concepts I’ve reflected on most, especially in my 30s and now mid-40s.
Want to learn more?
WANT TO GO DEEPER ON GROWTH MINDSET IN GENERAL?
Here’s the book itself (a strong read) + an HBR summary:
In addition, here’s Carol Dweck writing in 2016 on three common misconceptions:
Here’s a take we both love focusing on the idea of “YET” from longtime LinkedIn super exec turned 2-time CEO Mike Gamson.
Finally, one of our favourite reads from LinkedIn COO Dan Shapero - the star of our first-ever Blueprint on 
WANT TO GO DEEPER ON SATYA NADELLA AND MICROSOFT CULTIVATING A LEARN-IT-ALL CULTURE?
Here’s an excellent podcast interview with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella - arguably the #1 pick in the world’s greatest current operator draft - digging in on this topic.
And here’s a piece from Microsoft leadership on how to introduce a Learn-It-All Culture:
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