Shifting from a Fixed Mindset to a Growth Mindset
A fixed mindset is the tendency to relate to abilities as being fixed and unchanging, whereas a growth mindset means seeing abilities and skills as developing through practice and application. A creator that has a fixed mindset will see qualities like intelligence, intuition, and power as fixed. For example, someone might see themselves as being creative, logical, introverted, or extroverted, and accept that these qualities are fixed and something that they can’t change. A growth mindset will see all of these qualities as skills that can be developed through practice and application.
Creatives with a growth mindset are more open to learning and growing from feedback. They see mistakes, challenges, or setbacks as opportunities to grow and expand their capacities. They believe that everyone can develop through learning, focus, practice, and awareness. Instead of being worried about being judged or evaluated, they are eager and open to what others have to say about what they see as areas for growth.
Those creatives who have a growth mindset, actively look for their growth “edge,” the area they most feel will support them to grow and evolve. They are proactive in stretching themselves out of their comfort zone, taking on new challenges, and showing up in new ways.
focusing on learning and developing to build capacities and skills, as well as supporting others to learn and build capacities.
Focusing on sufficiency for self and everyone—seeing life through the lens of prosperity.
Being open to discover the answers and live in the questions, e.g. being able to say “I don’t know” and reach out to others to find the answers.
Focusing on challenges and problems from a creative, solution-based perspective, as well as, creating a space for others to be creative and focus on solutions.
Seeing mistakes, breakdowns, failures as opportunities for growth and learning, as well as supporting others to learn from mistakes and setbacks.
Celebrating the success of others, acknowledging, appreciating, supporting and encouraging their success.
Embracing criticism and feedback as essential for growth, asking for feedback and supporting others to embrace feedback for their growth
Embracing conflict as normal and part of the process of growth, and supporting others to work through conflict as a learning experience.
Embracing vulnerability as connecting and life-affirming, able to feel and show vulnerability and provide a safe space for others to be vulnerable and open
Anti-Fragility: Using Failures as a Sling-Shot
Anti-fragility is more than being resilient after a setback. It is about transforming the energy from a setback into the fuel that propels your growth and your ability to fulfill your vision. Rather than returning to the state you were in before the setback occurred, by practicing anti-fragility, you “slingshot” your way past your starting point into new realms of growth to fulfill your leadership destiny.
As a creator you will, at times, succeed and move forward with momentum and, at other times, miss the mark, fail or have a setback. It’s only through missing the mark and failing that we are then able to learn and grow as we integrate the energy from those experiences and use it to propel us forward.
we often create shame-based meanings when we experience setbacks and failures. For example, “I’m not succeeding because I’m not good enough or talented enough.” We relate to failure as meaning something about our worthiness to have a voice and take up space in the world. We make these setbacks mean we don’t have anything of value to offer and share with others.
We need to focus on shifting the meaning we make about these mistakes or setbacks. For example, “I’m not succeeding because there’s all this stuff that I didn’t know how to do, however, through this experience, I’ve learned what I need to know and do, and can now apply myself differently.” We need to shift into seeing failures, losses, and setbacks as opportunities for growth and critical to our success as transformational leaders. It’s important to acknowledge that it is normal and necessary to, at times, miss the mark and fail, instead of seeing these setbacks as a reflection of who we are or of our value, we can see them as an opportunity to grow and propel ourselves forward.