Adapting a Growth Mindset With Lauren Harris
By : Elise Werner
On February 4th, in the last chapter meeting, The Women’s Network was excited to host Lauren Harris to discuss growth mindset. Harris is currently the training and development director for the University of Colorado Boulder.
Harris explained the importance of understanding what a “fixed mindset” is. Every single one of us has some type of fixed mindset. It is simply a product of the way our brains are designed and the way we have been raised. To better understand the significance of this, Harris shared a Ted Talk that put everything into perspective. Harris told members to try to notice a repeating theme in the video.
Failure.
The way an individual approaches failure speaks volumes about their mindset. People who possess a fixed mindset tend to focus on being judged and have a negative reaction when they are forced to exert effort. When encountering setbacks or an instance of failure, people with a fixed mindset may lose interest or even withdraw completely.
Then, there are those who find a way when presented with a setback. Rather than a fixed mindset, they have a growth mindset. A growth mindset allows individuals to focus on the process rather than the result. It is easy to only focus on other people’s successes but we are not privy to all of the failures they endured throughout the process. The good news is that we have the ability to change our mindsets. Mindsets are not on/off switches rather they are dimmer switches.
Harris then demonstrated that changing our mindset to a growth mindset required a few steps, all of which included being brutally honest with oneself. ANTS, automatic negative thoughts, are vital to adapting a growth mindset. Of course, we are our own worst critics. The person that we tend to treat the worst is ourselves and no one judges us more than ourselves.
The goal is recognizing these thoughts and owning them. Rather than telling yourself, you can’t do it, tell yourself you can’t do it yet and you are going to keep trying. By switching the inner monologue you are also changing your mindset. Harris points out that it is in this moment that you are beginning to exhibit a growth mindset. In the face of failure and setbacks, you keep going because you know that this is a part of growth.
To better understand our own mindsets, Harris presented the Mindset Continuum. This tool includes the following eight categories; world view, challenges, encountering difficulty and obstacles, effort, feedback and criticism, success of others, making mistakes, offered help and support. In each category there is a description of how each mindset would act. By seeing which mindset you fall into, you are able to identify your strengths and weaknesses.
When adapting a growth mindset it is essential to be open to the uncertainties of life. Harris shared that she was a theatre major and that it is okay to question the future. Especially amid the pandemic, there is so much uncertainty in every aspect of life. Harris’s best advice is to stay open to the future because an opportunity could arise that you never envisioned for yourself but happens to be a perfect fit. As Nelson Mandela said, “I never lose. I either live or learn”.