Growth Mindset Plan

Path to a growth mindset is a journey, not a proclamation.

~Carol Dweck

What is Growth Mindset?

A growth mindset is a belief that we are not born with fixed skills. Instead, certain human qualities can be cultivated through your efforts, strategies, and support from others (Dweck, 2006).

Which mindset do you have?

Fixed Mindset

Do you seek to validate yourself, avoid challenges, and being judged?

Growth Mindset

Do you seek to develop yourself through dedication, learning, hard work, and effort?

Why Adopt a Growth Mindset?

Growth Mindset is the idea that we can get better at things.

Life is full of challenges and as academic coaches, we face setbacks on a consistent basis. Some setbacks are small and others large. The benefit of having a growth mindset is that it allows us to see those challenges as opportunities for growth. It changes the attitude towards learning. As we practice the growth mindset we will get faster and better by adopting the attitude that our abilities can be cultivated and developed. Look at my growth mindset blog post, where I write about how having a growth mindset changes how we learn.

There is no growth without change. ~Michael Singer

As academic coaches, we have the opportunity to change our mindset. We can also educate our teachers and students about the impact effort has on the learning journey. We don’t have to know everything but through effort, hard work, perseverance, focus, and deliberate practice we can get there. If kids engage deeply and effectively in a learning process, the grades and test scores are a natural by-product. Student achievement will increase! Changing our mindset takes time and shifting our thinking. Where do we begin? We can follow Carol Dweck's four simple steps.

Discern your fixed mindset voice.

Be aware and recognize when fixed mindset voice comes up. Listen to it.

Recognize you have an option.

Do you prefer to be in judgement or development mindset?

Reply with a growth mindset voice.

Embrace the challenge and respond to the fixed mindset. For example if you are faced with a setback and are thinking of quitting, adjust your thinking to "How can I learn."

Select a growth mindset action.

Remember that adopting a growth mindset takes more than changing your thinking, it requires a behavior.

Scott Jeffrey outlines Carol Dweck's four simple steps to changing your mindset:

Incorporating the Four Steps

Reflection throughout the day, weeks, and months is key!

1. Discern your fixed mindset voice.

Review the growth mindset content during meetings to gain insight and practice recognizing a fixed mindset voice. Explicit practice recognizing what this means is key. Share, analyze, and discuss different situations we have encountered with a fixed mindset voice. Collaborate on how to anticipate this voice in advance and change it to a growth mindset voice.

2. Recognize you have an option.

A fixed mindset stands in the way of development and change (Dweck, 2006). During our monthly meeting, we will share examples of when recognized our inner critic. What was the outcome? Did you anticipate this voice ahead of time?

3. Reply with a growth mindset voice.

Remember, applying new learning is challenging. Shifting our thinking is a journey. As we embrace this journey, let's support each other by holding each other accountable and celebrating the progress made. Every situation is a new opportunity. Share when and how you adjusted your thinking to a growth mindset. What words or sentences did you use? Do you have a go-to phrase that you use? Be specific! Celebrate!

4. Select a growth mindset action.

We will have many opportunities to implement our new mindset. As leaders, we will model how to embrace a challenge and see it as something interesting and something to explore. Model and reinforce not being ashamed of making mistakes. As we continue to reflect, describe the outcome after embracing a growth mindset. How did you feel? Elaborate on the learning progress.

Having a growth mindset is a state of being!

The Power of "Yet"

Yet is a small three-letter word that adjusts your thinking to that of a growth mindset when you add it to a fixed mindset thought. For example, instead of saying, "I can't do this." change it to "I can't do this yet." This simple shift in language can have a profound impact on your mindset and approach to learning. It provides a path into the future. It fosters resilience, persistence, and a love for learning. According to Dweck, those with a growth mindset find setbacks motivating. They're informative. They're a wake-up call (2006). Yet, allows you to recognize your current reality and at the same time moves you forward as you engage in the learning process. What sentence can you put yet at the end of it?

It can change your life!

"I am not confident" ....YET

"I can't solve this math problem." ....YET

"I'm not fit enough." ....YET

I'm not good at writing." ....YET

It starts with me

Self

My mom always said, "You can lie to me but you can't lie to yourself." As I embraced the growth mindset journey, I must be honest with myself about my progress. I must be aware of when my fixed mind sneaks up and learn to tame it. Based on Carol Dweck Revisits the Growth Mindset, I am fully aware that we tend to have a mixture of both mindsets. I try my best to lean towards growth.

Work

At work, challenges and set backs are a constant. Modeling to accept the challenge and take on the attitude of "We can do this!" is critical. I must lead by example. Being vocal about my mistakes, demonstrating my willingness to learn and sharing my learning process supports the people I work with in their growth mindset journey.

School

As my collegues and I embark on a masters program there are my situations that test our growth mindset as we are juggling work, school, health, hobbies, and family. Cheering, supporting and providing feedback to each other are a couple of ways I continue to learn and grow. Having a growth mindset has allowed me to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

Family

More is caught than taught. The way I want my son to react to challenging situations is the way I need to react to challenging situations. My behaviors are more powerful than my words.

We can do this!

Additional Resources

Do you provide identity or effort feedback?

Yet, will get you there.

Do you praise for intelligence or effort?

REFERENCES

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