The Growth Mindset thrives on challenges. This is critically important for the athlete who is willing to push beyond their comfort zone in order to be the best that he/she can be. They know that failure is doesn't define them, so they're free to give it their all. In fact, the outcome is secondary to the process when development is on the line.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success is the result of the brilliant work by Carol Dweck. She's a psychologist and researcher from Stanford and tackled the subject of belief systems, specifically how our beliefs, both conscious and unconscious, impact nearly all aspects of our lives.
I first heard about Mindset from a friend of mine who was a school administrator. His team had read and discussed the book over that summer and he told me it was a complete game changer for him and his staff. He shared a few revelations and I was hooked, so I bought the book on Amazon. He was right, it's truly a game changer.
Because of this book, I've allowed small changes to positively impact my belief systems and how I see myself and my role as a coach. It's helped our athletes move in the direction of a growth mindset in order to maximize their development.
I chose Mindset for my first post because I'm already very familiar with it. On Blinkist, it's a quick listen that I enjoy from time to time.
The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset. Our mindset is created at a very young age (and can change over time). A fixed mindset assumes that our character, intelligence, and creative ability are "fixed" and cannot be changed in any meaningful way and success comes as a result of those fixed qualities. You either have "it" or you don't. They believe talent is king and will only do the things that they're naturally gifted at. The problem: talent doesn't always receive training.
The growth mindset believes that growth and development is possible and that individual will push their growth potential. There's really no telling how how the ceiling is for an athlete with a growth mindset while a fixed mindset places a lid on growth potential because a fixed minded individual needs to protect their reputation or status quo.
The fixed mindset seeks approval. A growth mindset seeks development.
To the fixed mindset, failure is disaster. With a growth mindset, it's an opportunity to grow.
Fixed mindsets avoid difficulties, growth mindsets relish them.
Dweck explains that we adapt our mindset from our roll models. Parents often instill a certain mindset into their children by the time they turn three years old. It's revealed in how small children play and solve problems. The fixed mindset believes things are unchangeable and the growth mindset tries new ways.
I watch this play out in the wrestling room and I can quickly identify which mindset an athlete is working with. What's unique is it can go back and forth, which makes it important for us as coaches to fan the flames of the growth mindset and squash the desires to resort back into a fixed mindset.
For example, when development is taking place and we're focused on an opportunity for growth (aka, a "weakness"...notice the language choice...), it's important that we don't emphasize the outcome. Rather, we want to get submersed in the process and learn in the middle of those hardships or unfamiliar positions. We encourage taking risks, being vulnerable and celebrate creativity and experimentation. Sometimes we have to resist the urge to score/finish in hopes of improving in the process. Often times, a growth mindset responds well to a practice scenario like this, but a fixed mindset struggles and wants to get to the end. In fact, the fixed mindset will sometimes take short cuts to finish the hold or win the position or even abandon the objective of the drill entirely just to "win" and protect their reputation.
It's tricky because many times the one who has been to the top quickest (matured sooner, elite sooner, etc.) develops a fixed mindset completely on accident. They win early and part of their identity is attached to early success because they heard from many other how great they are. They have to protect what others have said and don't want to let down others with expectations or opinions (seeking approval of others). It creates an urgency to prove yourself over and over.
I've seen a lot of successful athletes who believe they need to prove themselves during practice because every situation calls for a confirmation of their talent, reputation, personality, or character. Every situation is evaluated: Will I succeed or fail? Will I look good or bad? Will I be accepted or rejected?
Unfortunately for the athlete with the fixed mindset, we don't really provide the confirmation he/she is looking for. Instead, we champion vulnerability, risk taking and the beauty of being comfortable with the uncomfortable. We demand progress in the process and protecting a reputation or an opinion of one's self isn't a recipe for growth, development and sustained success.
People with a fixed mindset obstruct their own development through their belief in innate talent and their fear of failure. On the contrary, people with a growth mindset work hard and train hard to ultimately realize their potential to the fullest. By confronting our own attitudes and ideas, we can develop a growth mindset.
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Great info Coach.
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