People can have two different mindsets, the learning one and the fixed one. Carol Dweck, the author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, claims that mindsets largely influence how we live our lives. She states that people with fixed mindsets constantly look for validation of their intellect, talent, or skill, and they often make a considerable effort to avoid challenges. On the contrary, the ones with the growth (or learning) mindset welcome challenges because they believe in improving through learning. A failure is irreversible for a person with a fixed mindset and can lead to depression, while for a “learner”, it is merely an indication of the need for improvement. Overall, the author believes that the growth mindset has a positive impact on one’s personal and professional life. Dweck presents an interesting theory and supports it with some impressive examples. However, I feel that the main idea of the right mindset leading to a happy life might be overstretched as there are too many other external factors that can influence one’s life.
The Role of Effort in the Achievement
Are genius scientists or artists born that way or do they achieve success through hard work? Carol Dweck tries to answer this question in her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. The author states that Mozart, Edison, and Darwin were avid learners who achieved success because they put more effort into their work, not because they were more talented than the others. Dweck also refers to her research, according to which the students who had teachers with the growth mindset significantly improved their performance in academics over time. She adds that the ability to take criticism well and use it to improve is an essential indicator of the right attitude. The author believes that the growth mindset is the key feature of a genius rather than a predetermined natural ability. I agree that the right attitude is crucial to success, but I feel that Dweck undermines the importance of talent. One can speculate that there were thousands of hard-working musicians with a growth mindset in the 18th century, yet none were as successful as Mozart.
Growth Mindset in Sports
The most famous sportsmen are not necessarily the most talented ones. This is the central idea of the third chapter in Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck. She supports the argument with several examples of athletes who were never considered exceptionally gifted but eventually rose to the top. Meanwhile, some of the most talented young players never fulfilled their potential because of their fixed mindset. Dweck argues that some of the star players that reached the top haven’t managed to stay there for the same reason – the wrong attitude. I found the chapter to be quite inspirational, largely because of the stories of the success of Michael Jordan and Maury Wills. On the other hand, Dweck criticizes John McEnroe, who has become one of the best tennis players despite having a fixed mindset, which makes her argument considerably weaker.
Growth Mindset in Leadership
Some CEOs have a hyper-inflated ego, and some have a growth mindset. Carol Dweck explores the differences between these two types in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. She comes up with several examples of authoritarian executives who had absolute faith in their ability to make the right decisions, resulting in disasters for their companies. On the contrary, some of the well-known companies, which were on the verge of bankruptcy, recovered thanks to the efforts of effective managers with a growth mindset. The author emphasizes the value of critical thinking in business and politics, as opposed to unquestioningly following a CEO or a president. I found this chapter to be very informative, and I agree that the right mindset matters more than talent in leadership. The leaders, who can’t take criticism, turn into dictators and lead their companies and countries to failure.
How Mindsets Affect Relationships
Are there ideal relationships that don’t require any effort from the partners? Carol Dweck, the author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, claims that it’s impossible. Couples with fixed mindsets eventually break up because when they face problems, they either believe they can’t solve them, or their relationship is not worth saving because it’s not ideal. Couples with the growth mindset have more chances of staying together longer, as they are willing to invest time and effort in resolving their issues. Dweck believes that certain anti-social traits, such as shyness, jealousy, and aggression, are typical for people with a fixed mindset. I think that the author’s arguments in this chapter are quite convincing. I believe that the quality of any social interaction depends on people’s attitudes, and everyone has the potential to change.
Mindsets in Parenting, Teaching, and Coaching
Can praising one’s talent have a negative effect on them? Carol Dweck explains how it can happen in her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. She states that complimenting (or criticizing) children’s natural abilities and intellect leads to the formation of a fixed mindset in them. Instead, parents and teachers should avoid being judgmental and aim to praise and encourage their learning effort. Dweck argues that the most outstanding teachers are the ones who set high standards, treat their students equally, and believe that hard work produces achievement rather than sheer talent. She adds that while many fixed-mindset teachers and coaches have succeeded, only the ones with the growth mindset are fondly remembered by their students and players. I believe that this chapter sends a very important message, as parents and teachers have a significant influence on children’s lives. While not everyone will become a new Mozart or Einstein, children with the growth mindset will probably have a happier life than the fixed-mindset ones.
Change Your Mindset
Is the mindset something that can be taught or changed? Carol Dweck, the author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, believes that it can. She claims that her lectures and workshops on the growth mindset have received a lot of positive feedback from the students, who reported significant progress in their studies. Changing one’s mindset can also help to deal with anger, self-control issues and increase willpower. However, Dweck notes that changing the attitude is difficult and one may feel tempted to return to the old fixed-mindset habits in search of comfort. Therefore, it is crucial to keep focused on improving your mindset at all times. Overall, I thought that the chapter was well-written and convincing. The growth mindset is something that can be acquired, and it can improve one’s quality of life.
References
Dweck, C. S. (2007). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (Updated Edition) [E-book]. Ballantine Books.