Vital for modern leaders and entrepreneurs, a ‘growth mindset’ is based on the principle that intelligence can be developed by embracing challenge, learning from setbacks and seeking inspiration in others. Here, we will look at some of the key characteristics of a growth mindset, suggest how you can adopt them in your everyday life, and explore how travel can broaden your horizons. So, just what is growth mindset? And how can you develop yours?
‘Growth mindset’ has become an extremely popular buzzword in many big companies. The concept was developed by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, who carried out fundamental research into the power of an individual’s beliefs. Both Dweck and her colleagues wanted to explore students’ attitudes about failure, and by doing so, they realised that some students were able to bounce back unaffected, while others were distraught by even the slightest setback. From there, she coined the phrases ‘fixed mindset’ and ‘growth mindset’ to describe the underlying beliefs that individuals have about intelligence and learning abilities.
The mind is a powerful thing. Often individuals tell themselves that their character and talents are innate gifts that can’t be changed in any meaningful way. This means that they have a ‘fixed mindset’, which can prevent self-development.
If someone has a ‘growth mindset’, on the other hand, it means that they see problems or setbacks as an indication to keep developing. They try to maximise their potential, and learn from criticism, rather than ignore it.
Do you believe that you were born with a fixed set of skills that will stay with you forever? Or are you someone that thinks you can expand your knowledge and talents? If you’re the latter, then you’re already someone with a growth mindset. If you’re a businessperson with a desire to succeed, there’s no doubt that you’ve already built a strong mindset. Taking on challenges despite risks and valuing different learning opportunities may be something that you experience every day, and because of that, you’ve no doubt developed an abundance of skills.
If, however, you tend to shy away from a challenge for fear of failure, you may want to learn more about how to develop a growth mindset. It can be daunting initially, but if you try to acknowledge and embrace imperfection, replace negative thoughts with positive ones, become truly authentic, turn criticism around, face your challenges head-on, be realistic and value the process, you can successfully change your perspective.
By opening yourself up to new opportunities, you can discover abilities you didn’t know you even possessed. Remember, practice makes perfect, and every challenge or opportunity will invite you into a new adventure. One way to change up your inner monologue is to immerse yourself in new surroundings. Travelling with the likes of VistaJet will allow you to step out of your comfort zone and practise resilience. In every new country, there are unknowns, and these can help you to grow.
See the world by booking a private jet with us. Not only will we transport you from A to B in the utmost comfort, but you will also be able to enjoy the tranquil surroundings you need on board before tackling a new experience. To organise your next trip, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us, and we will help to get you prepared for your next venture.
