Three advantages to adopting a growth mindset
Learning to think of your career journey as a series of challenges and development opportunities can have a hugely beneficial effect on your ability to succeed.
A shift in focus of your personal and professional goals toward a positive growth model rather than fixed ambitions may present more potential for continued achievement.
Our mindsets are shaped by our experiences and underlying values. They dictate how we view the world and our journey through it. However, it is possible to take control and adopt a new way of thinking.
What is a 'Growth Mindset'?
As opposed to, for example, 'fixed' or 'benefit' mindsets that have singular goals, a 'growth' mindset avoids a narrowed focus and is open to new ideas and opportunities.
People who prescribe to this way of thinking are constantly looking for ways to improve how they do what they do, developing their strengths to attain higher levels of achievement and ability.
There are some key advantages to adopting a growth mindset in your business and career.
1. Fulfilment
The most obvious consequence of a growth mindset is that there are endless opportunities to be had. Pursuing continuous betterment fundamentally means that you constantly have chances to get better at what you do.
This should lead to an ever-higher standard of excellence and more consistent levels of satisfaction in your work as you learn to appreciate everything, positive or negative, as a learning experience. Success is defined as having grasped something new, rather than immediate gratification.
2. Resilience
Challenges and setbacks take on a far more positive light with a growth mindset. Struggles are part of a journey, criticisms are key to improvement and change is always a good thing for the learning opportunities it brings.
Persistence is a defining characteristic of growth-focused thinkers, with adversity simply driving forward improvement in order to overcome it. Constructive feedback is vital to an effective learning strategy so that appropriate goals and standards can be set for the future.
3. Inspiration
A subtle competitive attitude allows for a better appreciation for the successes of others. As such, someone with a growth mindset can more easily find inspiration for their own attainment in the actions of peers and influencers.
The basis for growth is a belief that anyone can improve and develop through hard work, searching for learning opportunities and insights.
Find out more
Leading Figures, experts in coaching and consulting for finance and business professionals, have produced the ICAS Leadership Coaching Programmes to promote innovative thinking and accelerate the career growth of CAs.
To find out more about growth mindset and our new programme, view our 'Coaching - The Growth Mindset' on-demand video.