What is growth mindset

What Is A Growth Mindset And What Does It Mean For Kids And Parents

Ellie Williams

The concept of a growth mindset has now become common parlance outside the education sphere into parenting advice. Here we look at how parents understanding of growth mindset can help in the development of their children.

To help make sense of it all, we’re drawing on our own experience implementing some of the recommendations with the 20,000 children we teach every year and of course on Carol Dweck’s original research regarding fixed mindset and and growth mindsets.

This blog is part of our series of blogs designed for parents and teachers supporting home learning and looking for home learning resources.

What is a growth mindset?

A growth mindset is a believe that basic abilities are not fixed and that intelligence can be developed over time. Through effort and determination, intelligence and basic qualities can grow.

A person with a growth mindset might say ‘I did well on that test because I worked hard’ or conversely ‘I got all the fractions questions wrong but I understand why and next time I will not make the same mistakes again.’

Getting Growth Mindset Right

Download this FREE resource that tells you everything you need to embed growth mindset culture in your primary school.

What is a fixed mindset?

A fixed mindset is a belief that intelligence cannot be changed in any meaningful way. The starting point is that people have an innate amount of intelligence which is fixed and there’s little one can do to change this.

A person with a fixed mindset might say ‘I did well on that test because I am clever’ or conversely ‘I’m no good at maths which is why I got all the fractions questions wrong.’

Growth mindset vs fixed mindset

A growth mindset has been linked with better life long outcomes, test results and self esteem through to secondary school or high school and beyond.

The concept of fixed and growth mindsets was first brought to public notice through the work of psychologist Carol Dweck at Stanford University in a publication entitled ‘Mindset: the new psychology of success’ Her research has become popular across the world, and many schools and classrooms now undertake growth mindset activities to build children’s confidence and support the development of a growth mindset, which in turn develops their resilience, and success in class.

It should be noted that there are many different interpretations of the value of growth mindset, with some even questioning the validity of Carol Dweck’s evidence. But the principles of growth mindset for kids are worth knowing about as a way to manage your feedback and praise with children.

Take a look at the TED Talk for more insight into theory of growth mindset.

Why should you encourage a growth mindset for your child?

1) A growth mindset will increase your child’s love of learning

Children with a fixed mindset are afraid to try new things because they don’t want to look dumb. Their goal is to look smart and avoid tasks they could fail at.

Over time, this means they are less likely to enjoy the process of learning because they are more concerned with demonstrating what they already know rather than making the effort and putting in the hard work to develop new abilities.

Children with a growth mindset view tasks that challenge them as their favourite tasks of all. This positive view of challenge helps to fuel a spirit of curiosity, giving children the confidence to engage fully with the learning process and develop their problem solving skills all while having fun.

2) A growth mindset will improve your child’s exam results

Dweck’s study followed hundreds of students through their transition from primary to secondary school. She found that those who had a growth mindset achieved higher grades when compared to those with a fixed mindset, despite all starting at a similar level. This is because their goal is to learn, even if that means appearing dumb to their peers when learning something new.

3) A growth mindset will set your child up for life

Einstein wasn’t the man he was when he as born. He developed his ability over his life, seeking challenges to grow his brain. He put in the effort year after year to ensure he kept learning at all costs. Difficulty, he thought, was a positive thing. Something to move towards rather than run away from.

Instilling this philosophy at a young age will ensure your child has the right priorities going forward.

We know that life can be difficult sometimes. If they understand that the price of learning something new means making a few mistakes here and there, they won’t be so bothered about trying to cover them up. Instead, they can focus on becoming who they want to be: growing their brains like little Einsteins!

3 Tips To Encourage A Growth Mindset For Kids

1) Don’t talk about growth mindset in isolation

Sitting your child down and telling them about what it means to have a growth mindset is not going to transform their world in an instant. A longer term approach will ensure your child reaps the benefits of a growth mindset, with their attitude starting to reflect your attitude.

To start embedding good practice at home, you could design a ‘growth mindset’ board to display some growth mindset phrases.

2) Use appropriate language

Dweck’s research indicates that views on intelligence are influenced in part by the language they are surrounded by.

When providing praise, focusing on the process rather than the result or person is a step in the right direction.

This means using phrases such as ‘thank you for your effort on that task’ rather than ‘well done on getting all those questions correct’ to start changing what is seen as valuable. Over time, your child will start to prize perseverance over correctness, building the resilience necessary for success going forward.

Importantly, it means avoiding phrases such as: ‘Not everyone is good at maths — I never understood it’ and instead focusing on ‘how they may not be good at maths YET.’

Indeed, the word ‘yet’ is truly powerful in helping to foster a growth mindset. You can hear more about the power of yet by watching this video:

3) Value mistakes and challenge

Growth mindset theory illustrates how mistakes are an opportunity to learn. You could use these occasions to remind children that everytime they learn something new, including why they got something wrong, their brain grows!

Rewarding children who spot their mistakes will take you another step closer to embedding a growth mindset. Indeed, some parents have taken the step of making banners with the title: ‘It’s ok to make mistakes’ to help change their child’s attitude.

Through all this, challenges should be seen in a positive way as an opportunity for growth. Instead of focusing on carrying out tasks in areas your child is comfortable with, encourage your child to move outside of their comfort zone to attempt new things and to try new strategies. Of course there will be some challenge involved, but this is good!

You could ask the question: ‘Did you have any fabulous struggles today?’ to encourage your child to view challenge through a positive lens, allowing their brain to get even bigger!

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Growth Mindset

The concept of a growth mindset was developed by psychologist Carol Dweck and popularized in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. In recent years, many schools and educators have started using Dweck’s theories to inform how they teach students.

A mindset, according to Dweck, is a self-perception or “self-theory” that people hold about themselves. Believing that you are either “intelligent” or “unintelligent” is a simple example of a mindset. People may also have a mindset related their personal or professional lives—“I’m a good teacher” or “I’m a bad parent,” for example. People can be aware or unaware of their mindsets, according to Dweck, but they can have profound effect on learning achievement, skill acquisition, personal relationships, professional success, and many other dimensions of life.

Dweck’s educational work centers on the distinction between “fixed” and “growth” mindsets. According to Dweck, “In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort.” Dweck’s research suggests that students who have adopted a fixed mindset—the belief that they are either “smart” or “dumb” and there is no way to change this, for example—may learn less than they could or learn at a slower rate, while also shying away from challenges (since poor performance might either confirm they can’t learn, if they believe they are “dumb,” or indicate that they are less intelligent than they think, if they believe they are “smart”). Dweck’s findings also suggest that when students with fixed mindsets fail at something, as they inevitably will, they tend to tell themselves they can’t or won’t be able to do it (“I just can’t learn Algebra”), or they make excuses to rationalize the failure (“I would have passed the test if I had had more time to study”).

Alternatively, “In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment,” writes Dweck. Students who embrace growth mindsets—the belief that they can learn more or become smarter if they work hard and persevere—may learn more, learn it more quickly, and view challenges and failures as opportunities to improve their learning and skills.

Reform

Dweck’s delineation between fixed and growth mindsets has potentially far-reaching implications for schools and teachers, since the ways in which students think about learning, intelligence, and their own abilities can have a significant effect on learning progress and academic improvement. If teachers encourage students to believe that they can learn more and become smarter if they work hard and practice, Dweck’s findings suggest, it is more likely that students will in fact learn more, and learn it faster and more thoroughly, than if they believe that learning is determined by how intelligent or unintelligent they are. Her work has also shown that a “growth mindset” can be intentionally taught to students. Teachers might, for example, intentionally praise student effort and perseverance instead of ascribing learning achievements to innate qualities or talents—e.g., giving feedback such as “You must have worked very hard,” rather than “You are so smart.”

For a related discussion, see brain-based learning.

Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset: How what you think affects what you achieve

Growth mindset or fixed mindset—can the way we think about ourselves and our abilities shape our lives? Absolutely. The way we think about our intellect and talents not only affects the way we feel, it can also affect what we achieve, whether we stick to new habits, or if we will go on to develop new skills.

A growth mindset means that you believe your intelligence and talents can be developed over time. A fixed mindset means that you believe intelligence is fixed—so if you’re not good at something, you might believe you’ll never be good at it.

At Mindset Health, we’re all about growth mindsets and encouraging people to adopt a positive outlook on learning. So, let’s look at growth vs. fixed mindsets together, explore the science, and see how people can change their mindsets over time.

Growth vs. fixed mindsets for life

Science once told us that the human brain stops developing in childhood, however, we now know that the brain is constantly evolving and changing. Many parts of the brain respond to experiences and our ‘software’ can be updated through learning.

Despite the neurological facts, some people still think that you’re stuck with the talents and ‘smarts’ you’re born with. Psychologist Carol Dweck, from Stanford University, was the first researcher to explore the idea of fixed and growth mindsets.

In Dr. Dweck’s seminal work, she described the two main ways people think about intelligence or ability as having either:

People with a fixed mindset typically believe that their level of intelligence and abilities are innate. In Dr. Dweck’s own words, fixed mindset people beleive that “they have a certain amount [of intelligence] and that’s that, and then their goal becomes to look smart all the time and never look dumb”.

For people with a growth mindset, however, they understand that not knowing or not being good at something can be a temporary state—so they don’t have to feel ashamed or try to prove they’re smarter than they currently are.

Dweck states that in a growth mindset, “students understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching, and persistence.”

What is a growth mindset?

A growth mindset views intelligence and talent as qualities that can be developed over time.

This doesn’t mean that people with a growth mindset assume that they could be the next Einstein—there are still variables in what we can all achieve. A growth mindset simply means that people believe their intelligence and talents can be improved through effort and actions.

A growth mindset also recognizes that setbacks are a necessary part of the learning process and allows people to ‘bounce back’ by increasing motivational effort.

This kind of mindset sees ‘failings’ as temporary and changeable, and as such, a growth mindset is crucial for learning, resilience, motivation, and performance.

Those who adopt a growth mindset are more likely to:

What is a fixed mindset?

In a fixed mindset, people believe attributes, such as talent and intelligence, are fixed—that’s to say, they believe they’re born with the level of intelligence and natural talents they’ll reach in adulthood.

A fixed-minded person usually avoids challenges in life, gives up easily, and becomes intimidated or threatened by the success of other people. This is in part because a fixed mindset doesn’t see intelligence and talent as something you develop—it’s something you «are».

Fixed mindsets can lead to negative thinking. For instance, a person with a fixed mindset might fail at a task and believe it’s because they aren’t smart enough to do it. Whereas a growth mindset person might fail at the same task and believe it’s because they need to spend more time practicing.

People with a fixed mindset believe individual traits cannot change, no matter how much effort you put in, and are more likely to:

Who identified the growth mindset?

Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck of Stanford University was the first to describe the growth mindset. In her ground-breaking research, Dweck investigated why some people fail and others succeed.

In one study, high school students were challenged with puzzles that ranged from easy to difficult. Much to the surprise of researchers, some students embraced failure and treated it as a learning experience, and this positive attitude was what Dweck later coined the ‘growth mindset’.

Dweck’s research also found, contrary to popular opinion, that it’s more beneficial not to praise talent or natural abilities but praise the process. In particular, effort, strategies, persistence, and resilience should be rewarded. These processes play a major role in providing constructive feedback and creating a positive student-teacher relationship.

Dweck later noted, in a 2015 article, that while effort is an important part of a growth mindset, it shouldn’t be the main focus of praise. Effort should be a means to learning and improving. When fostering a growth mindset, continue telling yourself «great effort» after finishing a task, but also look for ways to improve next time—so you feel good in the short and long term.

The benefits of a growth mindset

Studies by Dweck and others indicate that a growth mindset has a positive effect on motivation and academic performance.

One study examined the academic enjoyment of undergraduate students after learning about the neuroplasticity of the brain.

The students were encouraged to endorse a growth mindset through three one hour sessions on brain functioning. The control group was taught that there are several types of intelligence. Students showed significantly higher motivation and enjoyment of science after learning about the growth mindset than in the control group.

In another study, teaching a growth mindset to junior high school students resulted in increased motivation and academic performance. The researchers found a growth mindset was particularly beneficial for students studying science and mathematics.

Studies have also indicated that students who endorsed a growth mindset, rather than a fixed mindset, had higher grades in mathematics, languages, and grade point average (GPA).

Additional benefits of a growth mindset include:

A growth mindset is a must-have — these 13 tips will grow yours

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When you think about people who are successful, skillful, or intelligent, how do you think they got there? Did they earn those traits? Were they just lucky or gifted?

Do you consider these traits to be the result of hard work, perseverance, and persistent learning from failure? Or do you believe that skill, intelligence, and success are entirely genetic and that some people are just naturally talented in certain areas, and others aren’t?

These different viewpoints are known as fixed and growth mindsets.

Are you interested in finding out which is which and why it matters?

Let’s take a look at:

What does it mean to have a growth mindset?

So, what is a growth mindset?

In this book, Dweck demonstrates how people (students, in particular) can be divided into two groups. There are those who have a growth mindset and those who have a fixed mindset.

The growth mindset definition is:

People with growth mindsets believe that skill and intelligence are something that people can develop. They believe that while people have inherent qualities and traits, success comes from constant personal development.

The fixed mindset definition is:

By contrast, those with fixed mindsets believe that talent and intelligence are something you either have or you don’t.

What Dweck discusses is that those who do develop a high degree of talent are more often people with a growth mindset.

Interestingly, those with growth mindsets experience greater success and skill development.

It works both ways.

Debunking myths: growth mindset

There is sometimes a lack of clarity for many as to what the growth mindset theory really means.

So, let’s start by debunking some growth mindset myths and discuss a few realities and findings that stem from Dweck’s research.

5 growth mindset myths

First, let’s take a look at five common misconceptions about a growth mindset:

1. The mindsets are either/or

After all, it seems like a binary concept, with just two beliefs to choose from.

The truth is, the mindsets aren’t generally an either/or affair. Most of us sit on a spectrum somewhere in between a growth and a fixed mindset.

2. An organization can have a mindset

Another challenge presented by the growth mindset culture is the myth that organizations can have a mindset.

Inspired leaders often claim that “our organization has a growth mindset.” This typically isn’t true.

Organizations are made of many people, and each individual person has their own mindset.

An organization can seek to foster and develop growth mindsets in the individuals within it as part of its company culture. But a business cannot have a growth mindset in itself.

3. A growth mindset is the same as a positive mindset

A growth mindset is not simply about remaining positive.

Growth mindsets are about believing in the potential for development and that learning a new skill comes from practice and perseverance. It’s not simply from natural talent.

4. Growth mindsets automatically lead to positive results

A growth mindset in itself does not guarantee results. Nor is a person with a fixed mindset excluded from success.

A growth mindset coupled with the motivation to improve, a commitment to personal growth, and time put into developing a skill drives positive results.

5. Everyone has unlimited potential

The truth is that not everyone is capable of absolutely everything.

Some believe that having a growth mindset means that the achievement of anything is possible.

This is inaccurate. Individuals with a growth mindset recognize that their innate ability and limitations play a part as well.

But they also understand that their capacity for achievement does not start and stop with their genetic makeup.

4 growth mindset realities

Now that we have busted some common myths, let’s look at four realities about a growth mindset.

1. Most people are somewhere in between

When Professor Carol Dweck analyzed students’ mindsets, she did not identify a purely binary result.

Though most students in the classroom lean strongly toward one side or the other, most were found to have mindsets somewhere in the middle.

They might believe, for example, that their ability to improve at math comes down to teaching strategies and their own attention and commitment to the learning process. But they might also believe that their reading and writing abilities are inherent.

The same observations can be made in the workplace.

2. Growth mindset is more than just effort

Dweck has noticed, as growth mindsets are embraced by the leader and educator alike, that many seem to believe that it all comes down to effort.

Dweck notes that some teachers seem to believe that they can improve a student’s achievement by telling them to try harder. She calls this a ‘false growth mindset.’

Effort is important. But more crucial is a student’s attitude toward learning a new thing and their perspective on failure as a part of the learning process.

3. Not everyone can achieve everything

Each individual has limitations that a growth mindset intervention might help combat but cannot overcome entirely.

The 5’2” 22-year old is unlikely to become a player in the WNBA.

4. Positive results come from a growth mindset and working toward a goal

Growth mindset students and employees are people who understand that positive improvement is possible.

They believe that to achieve their goals, they must:

Working toward a goal without these views is unlikely to elicit positive results. Cultivating a growth mindset won’t do much without putting in the necessary time and practice to develop a new skill.

Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset

We’ve discussed what a growth mindset is. But how is it different from a fixed mindset?

Here are the differences between the two viewpoints:

Growth Mindset

Fixed Mindset

Perseveres in spite of failure

Gives in when they come up against hardship

Believes that people can increase their intelligence or skills

Believes that intelligence and skills are something you’re born with and can’t develop

Is inspired and motivated by the success of others

Is threatened by the success of others

Believes they know everything already

Accepts and embraces criticism

Ignores or dismisses criticism

How to develop a growth mindset : 13 tips

Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of a growth mindset, let’s walk through some tips on how you can develop one.

First, we will talk about actions you can take right now, and then we’ll give you some action you’ll need to commit to long-term.

Prepare to develop a growth mindset

Here are seven steps you can take right now to develop a growth mindset:

1. Determine where you sit now

Do you consider yourself more or less in the growth mindset pool, and you’re looking to make sure you stay that way? Or would you describe yourself as having a fixed mindset?

Knowing where you stand to begin with is the first phase. You can’t tell where to go if you don’t know where you are.

2. Explore why you want to develop a growth mindset

What is it about the growth mindset that motivates you to change? What benefits do you see a growth mindset bringing to your life?

Understanding this will give you purpose during the difficult stages of developing this worldview.

3. Find examples of others who have developed a growth mindset

Start talking to your friends, family, and colleagues about the growth mindset. See if anyone you know has also been working on developing one. They might be able to provide some valuable insights.

4. Change your perspective on failure

Nobody starts out on any endeavor being the perfect example of the goal. Even the world’s greatest athletes, artists, and business magnates started out as kids with little talent or expertise.

5. Understand your own limitations

6. Notice how you speak and act

Notice how you talk about talent and skill. Do you find yourself saying things like, “I’m no good at this” or “She’s just naturally talented”?

Notice how others around you speak and act, and then seek out those who have growth mindsets and foster your relationships with them.

7. Learn about brain plasticity

This will give you a neat physiological perspective on how the growth mindset actually works.

Start cultivating and developing a growth mindset

Once you’ve mastered the above seven steps, it’s time to start adding these growth mindset actions to your repertoire.

1. See your challenges as opportunities

Life will always find a way to throw something difficult at you. Try not to see these challenges as obstacles or setbacks that you dread.

Rather, try to view them more positively. Try to view them as opportunities to overcome something difficult and grow as a result. The more difficult the challenge, the greater the opportunity for learning and growth.

2. Reflect each day on what you’ve failed at (and learned from)

Many of us spend some time at the end of the day reflecting on our successes. While this is a valuable habit, try adding a couple of minutes to reflect on the areas where things didn’t go as well. What did you learn from that experience? The point isn’t to dwell or beat yourself up but to recognize and lock in the learning.

3. Stop seeking approval from others

When we seek the approval of others, we take on the wrong objective. We start taking being right as our goal, rather than learning and growing. Become aware of the difference. Pause to recognize when you are pursuing approval rather than growth and remind yourself, kindly, to stop seeking approval from others. You’ll find that you become more comfortable with the daily failures that come with stretching.

4. Identify opportunities to celebrate the success of others

When others around you succeed, celebrate! More than this, get curious about what made them successful. Even better, ask them. Connect with others to understand what actions they took and how they approached the challenge to get there.

5. Focus on rewarding actions, not traits

You can help others develop a growth mindset, too, by praising their efforts and actions rather than their inherent traits.

For example, if your child brings home a stellar result on their pop quiz, appropriate praise would sound like, “Wow, you did so well, you must have put a lot of effort into studying,” rather than, “Wow, you did so well, you must be very smart.”

6. Start using the word «yet» more often

This is a simple one. Whenever you catch yourself thinking “I’m not very good at this,” add the word «yet»:

“I’m not very good at this yet.”

Do you have a fixed or growth mindset?

Now that you’ve learned about growth mindsets and fixed mindsets, which camp do you feel you fit into?

If you identify with the growth mindset concept, great! You’re well on your way to developing your own talents. Spend some time reflecting on areas where your mindset might be more fixed, though, as most of us are a blend of the two.

If you feel like you’re more of a fixed mindset person, then the next question to ask yourself is: “Is this something I want to change?”

Need help developing a growth mindset? Our BetterUp Coaches are committed to developing organizational health and mental fitness. Learn about BetterUp here.

What is growth mindset?

By Amanda Morin

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It’s easy to get caught up in negative thinking when you’re used to setbacks. Shift the focus from “what’s going wrong” to “what’s going well.”

Needing help and asking for it isn’t a show of weakness. Self-advocacy is about creating solutions instead of just struggling with challenges.

Emphasize the steps that lead to a result, not the result itself. The point of growth mindset is to learn and to improve, not to achieve.

Growth mindset describes a way of viewing challenges and setbacks. People who have a growth mindset believe that even if they struggle with certain skills, their abilities aren’t set in stone. They think that with work, their skills can improve over time.

People with the opposite belief — that abilities are what they are and won’t change — have a fixed mindset. They think their skills won’t improve no matter how hard they try.

The mindsets aren’t set in stone. People may have a growth mindset at certain times and a fixed mindset at others. They may have different approaches to different challenges. And their mindset may change over time.

Having a growth mindset can have real benefits. It helps people reframe their approach to challenges and stay motivated to work to improve skills. Instead of thinking “I can’t do this,” they think “I can’t do it yet.”

The theory of growth mindset isn’t new. It came out of research by psychologist Carol Dweck and her colleagues. Their research focused on kids. But the concept applies to adults, too.

Growth mindset isn’t something that people are always born with. Kids and adults can develop the belief that things that are hard to do now may not always be hard.

Dive deeper

Myths about growth mindset

There’s been a lot of research into growth mindset. But there are still misconceptions about what it is and isn’t. Here are some common myths — and truths.

Myth 1: You either have it or you don’t. Not true. We all have a mix of fixed and growth mindsets that change based on our experiences and the feedback we get.

Myth 2: Growth mindset is about being positive. It’s more than that. Growth mindset means taking feedback, learning from experience, and coming up with strategies for improving.

Myth 3: Praise builds a growth mindset. It depends what you’re praising. The important thing is how a person approached a challenge, not how hard they worked, or how successful they were.

Growth mindset and learning and thinking differences

We all have times when we feel like we’ll never get better at something or that we’re destined to fail at particular tasks. But people who learn and think differently often face more setbacks than other people.

They usually know when they’re not doing as well as others and may doubt their ability to improve. They may feel judged or criticized. And that can make them feel insecure or defensive, which can get in the way of growth.

Having a growth mindset has a big impact on how people approach challenges and how they feel about themselves.

How to develop a growth mindset

A big part of having a growth mindset is not letting setbacks keep you from working to improve. It’s important to remember that setbacks can actually provide a way forward.

A key to making progress and moving forward is self-advocacy. Speaking up when something isn’t working and asking for support can lead to solutions. And that can lead to improvement.

Self-advocacy develops over time. Kids can start learning and practicing the skills at a young age. The earlier that happens, the better. But people can build self-advocacy skills at any age.

Download some growth mindset activities that can help kids and teens start thinking “What’s next?” and “I can.”