“When you enter a mindset, you enter a new world” (Dweck, 2016, p. 15).
Life and learning inevitably come with hardships and challenges, and graduate school is no exception. The growth mindset is fundamental because, without one, we can all get stuck living with a fixed mindset life, believing there is no means to improve and better ourselves. Students with a fixed mindset may never bounce back from problematic experiences if they do not develop a growth mindset. Research has proven that intelligence improves over time with effort. This portfolio includes a When Life Happens section to guide and assist online graduate students with their options when challenges arise along their academic journey. A growth mindset plan is necessary to improve these resources.
This Growth Mindset Plan will first outline the differences between growth and fixed mindsets because, as Scott Jeffrey (2020) cites, “[Dr. Carol] Dweck has found that just learning about the growth mindset can cause major shifts in how people view themselves and their lives.”
Fixed Mindset
With a fixed mindset, we are closed off from feedback unless it “[reflects] on [our] ability” (Dweck, 2016, p. 18). [We] give up if [we] face challenges. With a fixed mindset, “Success is about proving [we] are smart or talented. Validating [ourselves]” (Dweck, 2016, p. 15). We have a specific measure of intelligence and do not believe that any of these things can be changed.
Growth Mindset
With a growth mindset, we are open to feedback from others because we know that no one is perfect and aim to improve. With a growth mindset, success is about “stretching [ourselves] to learn something new. Developing [ourselves]” (Dweck, 2016, p. 15). We see failure and challenges as opportunities to grow through experience. We know that improvement is possible with effort.
FOLLOW THIS FOUR STEP PROCESS To Evolve from a Fixed Mindset to a Growth Mindset
Step 1
Learn to hear your fixed mindset voice
Step 2
Recognize that you have a choice
Step 3
Talk back to the fixed mindset voice with a growth mindset one
Step 4
Take the growth mindset action
Once we recognize fixed mindset thoughts, words, and actions, it is crucial to take a moment to remember that we have a choice and have the power to change our mindset. We must learn about the fixed mindset by paying close attention to our thoughts and habits. We can empower ourselves by responding to our fixed mindset voice with alternative growth mindset thoughts and phrases. Through repetition and continued growth mindset action, we can evolve our mindset.
While developing our growth mindset, we must be vigilant to avoid a false growth mindset. We cannot just say we have developed a growth mindset but must continually work to refine and improve our mindset. We must seek learning strategies and reinforce progress, not just effort. We need strategies to learn from failures, strategies to approach challenges as opportunities to learn, and strategies to seek feedback from peers and colleagues so that everyone grows together. During an interview, Carol Dweck (2015) clarified that “… the most common misconception is simply equating the growth mindset with effort […] Students need to try new strategies and seek input from others when they’re stuck. They need this repertoire of approaches—not just sheer effort—to learn and improve.”
Using this Growth Mindset Plan will strengthen the Invitation to Innovate Advising by proposing to share the Mindsets research upon admission through welcome emails. There is a powerful shift when adding the word yet to a mindset. We are not experts – yet. The growth mindset permits us to fail forward. Being open to failure frees us to experiment. With a growth mindset, we can strive to tap into our creative, inquisitive thoughts and try new things. We may not have made meaningful connections (yet) with new material, but we will as we continue to study, learn, and reflect on our learning.
Developing a growth mindset allows us to view a challenge as an exciting opportunity instead of a punishment. Learning from past attempts encourages us to create connections between concepts which deepens our learning so that we can develop higher-order thinking/processing. Additionally, the growth mindset will help with the acceptance of feedback. With the growth mindset, feedback is an opportunity to correct faulty thinking, improve, assess bias, and think more deeply about the suggestions provided. Adopting a growth mindset can release us from the perfectionist trap of all-or-nothing thinking.
Additionally, this advisor will model a growth mindset in correspondence and this portfolio by adding micro-messaging that incorporates language that includes “phrases about the universality of challenges …, and nods to the importance of effort …, strategies …, and help-seeking … for success” (Kyte et al., 2020). Sharing the growth mindset message will be especially important when addressing questions about dropping coursework, withdrawing from the institution due to challenges, and facing probation/suspension.
This advisor will continue to shift toward growth mindset thinking and messaging. Through personal growth, reflection, and lifelong learning, the research, and resources provided at The Advisor That Cares will continually update for continued evolution toward the learner’s mindset.
Additional Resources on the Growth Mindset
- https://www.ted.com/speakers/carol_dweck
- https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/gradhacker/fixed-vs-growth-mindsets
- https://www.thinkconceptually.com/blog/feedback-that-yields-a-growth-mindset
- https://www.lifehack.org/865689/growth-mindset-examples
- https://www.mindsetworks.com/Videos
References
Dweck, C. S. (2015, September 22). Carol Dweck revisits the ‘growth mindset’. Education Week. Retrieved June 8, 2022, from https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-carol-dweck-revisits-the-growth-mindset/2015/09
Dweck, C. S. (2016). The Mindsets. In Mindset (Updated Edition). Ballantine Books.
Jeffrey, S. (2020, June 23). Change your fixed mindset into a growth mindset [complete guide]. Scott Jeffrey. Retrieved June 14, 2022, from https://scottjeffrey.com/change-your-fixed-mindset/
Kyte, S. B., Collins, E., & Deil-Amen, R. (2020). Mindset messaging: Fostering student support and confidence through micro-messaging in advisor communication. NACADA Journal, 40(1), 36–48. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-19-08
Rives, J. (2018, March 18). Growth and Fixed Mindset Definition. Growth Mindset Institute. https://www.growthmindsetinstitute.org/2018/03/08/growth-and-fixed-mindset-definition/
The Advisor That Cares 