The Importance of a Growth Mindset in Business Performance
In today's business world, it is more fast paced than it ever has been. That’s why consistently achieving high performance is less of a vague goal, and more of a need in order to succeed. However, many top-level professionals focus solely on strategies and tactics, and don’t consider one of the most important factors in high performance: mindset. Mindset plays a crucial role in creating not just success, but continual improvement that pays dividends long term.
As a human performance specialist, I’ve seen first-hand the importance of mindset in business performance, and this article will explore how you can make the switch to help you achieve bigger and better goals.
It's important to understand that mindset is not just about positive thinking. While a positive attitude can certainly help, mindset is about understanding and managing the entirety of both your thoughts and beliefs in order to achieve your desired outcomes. When it comes to business performance, this means understanding that your thoughts and beliefs about yourself, your abilities, and the world around you can either limit or empower you.
American psychologist Carol Dweck introduced the idea of a fixed mindset vs a growth mindset. A fixed mindset is one that is closed off - the belief that your intelligence, skills, abilities, knowledge cannot change after childhood. A growth mindset is the belief that these things can be developed and improved. If you adhere to a growth mindset, you are able to open yourself up to embracing challenges, risks, and obstacles, and see them as opportunities to grow and learn.
It's easy to see how a fixed mindset can negatively impact business performance. If an individual believes that their abilities are fixed, then they will struggle to find motivation to improve and take risks. I’ve always maintained the belief that if you are not growing, you are dying. With a fixed mindset, you’re not just stagnating, you’re degenerating.
On the other hand, a growth mindset can lead to a greater willingness to learn and adapt. It also allows people to present the true versions of themselves, as they don’t need to prove that they’re smarter or more creative than they currently are. It’s a recognition that life is a journey, and putting in the effort day by day will yield results beyond our imagination.
Practising awareness and reflection is a key strategy in developing a growth mindset. Begin your day with journal writing, detailing your accomplishments and your biggest challenges you are facing right now. Along with that, write down what you are grateful for. It could be someone you have around you, the opportunities that you have, or the appreciation that you have for life as a whole. Being aware of the great parts of our finite lives gives us the strength to grow and improve.
Reflection allows you to identify areas of both your personal and professional life that are affecting your thoughts and beliefs. Events out of our control can impact our performance and cause a spiral of distraction from our goals. Reflection is about replacing the things that hold us back with beliefs and plans to empower us and bring us forward.
Managing stress is also incredibly important. Let’s face it, stress can’t be avoided. It’s a part of the business world. It’s a reminder that we’re human, we have limitations. When you let it become unmanaged, performance will be affected. Burnout is very real, and no one is mentally strong enough to avoid it. To consistently achieve high performance, mindfulness and stress management needs to be utilised. Find your outlet. Yoga, meditation, sports, or whatever hobby you indulge in, will give you the balance you need to focus on the present moment and not get stuck in a cycle of pressure.
Another aspect that helps so much with a growth mindset is surrounding yourself with positive, supportive people. Associating with people who also have a growth mindset and are committed to learning and personal development. Additionally, using mentors or coaches such as myself to provide continual accountability, guidance and support keeps you on the right track.
Lastly, learning to embrace failure and view it as an opportunity to learn and grow is the cornerstone of developing a growth mindset. Failure is an inevitable part of the business world and beyond, and it's important to learn how to handle it in a constructive way. When you begin to view failure as an opportunity to learn, it builds resilience within you teaches you the lessons you need to improve.
In conclusion, mindset plays a crucial role in business performance. Developing a growth mindset, practising self-reflection, managing stress, and approaching failure without fear are the stepping stones to achieving high performance. It is a process that spans years but requires daily focus, and it is the key to unlock your full potential and achieve success in your career.
Start your journey
Every day is a chance to make positive changes. Get in touch with Reem Borrows at Dreem Coaching & Consulting today to see how her custom-built workshops can help grow and develop your business and self to create lasting success.
To broaden your leadership capabilities, tune in to the Leaders Leading Leaders podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast, and visit dreem.com.au to begin achieving your dreams.
