Ever wondered what the difference between a fixed mindset and growth mindset is? In this article, we shall learn not only about the differences between the two, but also view which one leads to success in our lives, career, and even relationships.
What’s the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset? The most common difference between a growth and fixed mindset is that the fixed mindset suggests that we are born with static traits and abilities, whereas the growth mindset promotes the idea that we can all learn new traits and talents and also work on them to succeed in life.
Before we get to the gist of this, it is crucial that we comprehend the need for a mindset in our lives. Be it your business, relationships, or life in general, the right mindset is everything. It sets the pace and path for all your future endeavors and how you will respond to them.
Having the right mindset is the only difference between failure and success, no matter which area of life you are concerned with. It doesn’t matter if you are starting a new job, business, or relationship, whether you will succeed, or fail is determined by your mindset.
When discussing different mindsets, it is impossible not to talk about the contribution made by a Stanford University psychologist, Carol Dweck, renowned for her very insightful book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. After studying human behavior (especially child behavior) for decades, Carol identified that as humans we have either of the two mindsets that guide every aspect of our lives: Fixed or growth mindsets.
According to Carol, our mindset influences the majority of the decisions we make. She believes that how we make decisions is greatly inspired by our understanding and confidence in our abilities and talents. How good or poor we are determines the kind of mindset we possess. She believes that if we learn to harness the power of the right mentality, no one can beat us at anything.
But which mindset is the right one and how can you make a distinction between the two? Let’s find out about it below.
Understanding the Fixed Mindset
A fixed mindset proposes that all the traits and abilities one possesses are those which they are born with. Meaning there is no way of improving or learning something new if you don’t already know it. Hence, according to this mindset, everything you are or will ever be comes down to your genes. Some key characteristics of people who have this mindset include:
- Thinking being smart is inherent and thus are scared to look inadequate.
- Focusing only on the present and not thinking about the possibilities. They believe that there is no room for improvement and thus don’t waste time and effort to do something differently and more wisely than using the ways they already know.
- Viewing difficulties as challenges and not as learning experiences. Whenever faced with a challenge, they tend to give up early or try to play safe.
- Comparing themselves with others all the time, even when there are no similarities between their abilities and strengths. Often, they choose to compare themselves with those below them so that they can feel a little bit better about themselves. This restricts them from risk-taking, as well as trying out new things because they think they are better off than many.
- Easily giving up because they believe that success is predetermined. Therefore, they are often pessimistic about things and thus don’t even try as they don’t want to be seen as a failure.
Understanding the Growth Mindset
People who are believers of the growth mindset think that every skill or talent can be learned and honed with time and effort. The overall focus is on improvement and resilience. The idea preaches the importance and “power of the yet,” as Carol Dweck puts it. This means that there is still something that can be done or improved with our current performance. This mindset promotes a non-permanent learning curve. Some of the most prominent characteristics of people with the growth mindset include:
- Looking at every situation as an opportunity to grow and learn from.
- Having a purpose and focus in life so that efforts can be made to achieve it.
- Understanding that to succeed, one mustn’t look or choose the easy way, but instead gather the tools to improve performance.
- Seeing every weakness as a step to overcome and achieve goals.
- Preferring to master just one skill rather than being mediocre at many.
In a nutshell, both the mindsets can be viewed as follows.
| Fixed Mindset | Growth Mindset |
| Aims for consistency | Aims for continuous growth |
| Views difficult tasks as challenges | Views difficult tasks as opportunities to grow |
| Compares themselves with others | Accepts their weaknesses |
| Thinks talents and skills are fixed | Learns from feedback and criticism |
| Easily gives up | Believes that talents and skills can be learned |
| Feels threatened by the success of others | Sees other people’s success as a source of inspiration |
| Feels threatened by others success | Finds inspiration in other’s success |
From what can be seen above, it doesn’t take much to identify which mindset promises growth and success. However, before we understand how, let’s have a more detailed look at the differences.
A Detailed Look at the Differences Between the Fixed and Growth Mindset
Goals
When one has a growth mindset, they are better aware of and content with their weaknesses. This allows them to set realistic goals and be optimistic about accomplishing them without viewing their weaknesses as an obstacle.
Conversely, those with a fixed mindset often set unrealistic goals and are pessimistic about them as they blame their limitations of abilities and talents for being a failure. Their pessimistic nature of viewing things overshadows the possibilities.
Peer Pressure
People with a growth mindset rarely give in to the opinion’s others hold of them and don’t give in to the peer pressure for social approval. People with a fixed mindset, however, seek social approval in all aspects of life and thus often yield to peer pressure.
Intelligence
A believer in the growth mindset believes that the brain is capable of adapting to change and learning new things with time and effort, whereas a believer of the fixed mindset sees intelligence as something limited for each individual which can’t be honed. This means that they view people as either dumb or smart.
Traits
A growth mindset evaluates one’s skills and talents based on experience and practice, whereas the fixed mindset highlights traits as something inherited and thus little can be done about it.
Persistence
People with a growth mindset are clear about the goals they wish to achieve and are willing to work their way through every obstacle and roadblock along the way as they are focused on the long-term results of their actions and decisions. On the contrary, people with a fixed mindset give up easily and think, “What’s the point?”
New Tasks
Someone with a growth mindset views new tasks as opportunities to grow and improve, whereas someone with a fixed mindset fears new tasks as they see a new challenge as an avenue leading towards failure.
Locus of Control
An individual with a growth mindset doesn’t blame his/her failure on external factors, but rather views them as learning opportunities that will help him/her grow wiser and more empowered. Conversely, someone with a fixed mindset often blames external factors like bad luck, weather, or aptitude as reasons for their failure and won’t try again.
Which Mindset Guarantees Success?
Although each mindset has its perks and disadvantages, many research studies support the idea of developing a growth mindset if the goal is to succeed in business, career, relationships, and life. But as I said, don’t just take my word for it, below are a few studies suggesting the same. Take a look at them yourself.
According to a 2015 research study by Carissa Romero, titled What We Know About Growth Mindset from Scientific Research, students with a growth mindset were 3 times better at performing on tests than those with a fixed mindset. The students were tasked with a difficult test. The performances were evaluated. The findings revealed that students with the growth mindset were amongst 20% of the top performers. On the other hand, students with a fixed mindset not only did poorly on the test but were also 4 times more likely to be in the bottom 20%.
Why? Because students with the growth mindset prioritized learning. They weren’t afraid of a challenge and accepted it as a risk.
Conversely, a student with the fixed mindset did poorly because they were fixated on the idea that they either had it in them or they didn’t. Thus, they compared the challenge with their abilities. If they thought they had the intelligence to complete it, they gave the test a try. Those who thought they didn’t have what it takes didn’t even attempt it, viewed failure as an assault on them, and made excuses such as the test was too hard or too biased. They also thought that failing once meant failing always.
In another study, several participants were asked to come into a lab. The scientists experimenting asked the participants to wear an EEG cap on their heads so that the activity of their brains can be monitored. While the brain activity of each participant was monitored, the scientists asked each of them a trivia question. The participants answered the questions and the scientists told them if they were right or wrong. The answers were given to them right away. Participants with the growth and fixed mindset both listened to the feedback provided.
What happened next was astonishing. When told the correct answer, the brain activity of those with the growth mindset increased. The newfound knowledge excited them. People of the fixed mindset, however, showed a decline in their brain activity when told if they were right or wrong. Their brain was not at all excited, even when they were told they had answered the question correctly. Those who were wrong showed no interest in learning the right answer either. Later, all the participants were asked to finish another pop quiz. It shouldn’t be hard for you to guess who performed better and who didn’t.
In yet another study titled Defensiveness Versus Remediation: Self-Theories and Modes of Self-Esteem Maintenance, researchers Carol Dweck and A. David Nussbaum tried to determine the kind of feedback people would wish to seek out after performing poorly on a given test. At the start of the experiment, the researchers gave several participants a difficult test to perform. The participants were then told that they hadn’t done too well on the test. Keep in mind that the goal was to determine which participants had the growth and fixed mindset. The participants, after being given the feedback, were asked an important question: Whether they wished to review the test papers of those who had done better than them or of those who had done worse than them.
People who had the growth mindset asked to review the test papers of those who had done better than them. They were keen on learning how to improve their existing knowledge and skills. On the other hand, people with a fixed mindset were eager to look at the test papers of those who had done worse than them so that they could feel better about themselves.
This shows that those with a growth mindset are more hopeful and focused on their goals. They don’t cry over their failures, rather they are always eager to learn how to better themselves. This proves that in any given circumstance, they will come out as the victor and win at life, meaning their mentality of viewing and accepting things is what will lead them to success.
You can also view more of such interesting studies here.
How to Develop a Growth Mindset
Now that you have decided that you want to develop a growth mindset instead of the fixed mindset, you must know that it is going to take some hefty efforts on your part. To develop a growth mindset, you must be open to learning new things, attempting new goals, embracing your weaknesses, focusing on learning rather than the results, prioritizing learning over social approval, cultivating a sense of purpose, rewarding efforts and not traits, and learning to receive criticism positively.
Embrace Your Weaknesses
We all have weaknesses. Some of us lack the knowledge of utilizing given resources to their fullest, whereas others suffer from issues with time management. If you are someone who procrastinates a lot and thus finishes things at the eleventh hour, try to change that by breaking up the task into smaller goals, each with a reward upon completion.
The reward will keep you from procrastinating, and you also won’t feel overburdened with too much work at the same time. The result will be completing the task before the deadline. Over time, this practice will become a habit and you will strategically turn your weakness into a strength.
To embrace your weaknesses, you must first accept that you have one and think of ways to overcome it. If you follow the example above, you will notice how easy it is to overcome weaknesses with time and effort. Use the same strategy to overcome your other weaknesses as well.
Look at Every New Challenge as an Opportunity
We are making new decisions all the time. You might have just decided to snack upon a sandwich rather than going in for a full three-course meal with a colleague. You might have decided to continue reading this article rather than checking your phone or responding to a few emails. We are faced with many decisions throughout the day. Some might not have any significant impact, but some do.
Individuals with a growth mindset view every obstacle and challenge as a new opportunity. When faced with multiple choices, they review their options and choose wisely. Every decision they make is a step towards their long-term goal. When we see challenges as opportunities rather than threats or obstacles, we pave way for more information to seep in. We open the gateway for new information to flow, because when we have a growth mindset, every challenge is a learning opportunity.
People with a growth mindset also don’t fear failure or defeat. This eliminates the need to run away from situations not in our favor or make excuses so that we don’t have to leave our comfort zone. If you wish to develop a growth mindset, you must view challenges as opportunities too. Looking at them in this manner will allow you to venture out comfortably.
Focus on the Process
And not on the result! Individuals with a growth mindset are accustomed to their intelligence and willingness to learn. They are more concerned about how they are learning and improving rather than just worrying about reaching their set goals.
They believe in doing things the right way as well as having a backup plan so that they don’t have to worry about the result of things. Even when they fail, they don’t look at it as a setback, but rather as an opportunity to learn new ways to deal with the existing issues. This keeps them excited throughout the process of learning and makes them less worrisome about the results.
Find a Purpose
Individuals with a growth mindset have a purpose to look forward to. They don’t just rely on short-term achievements; they focus on long-term goals. They aren’t too excited about small accomplishments as they have set their eyes at the bigger picture.
Having a purpose or goal is the one thing that forces you to get up every day. It is also the thing that keeps you motivated and forces you to keep hunting for new ways and methodologies. Therefore, if you are striving to change your mindset, start with this very goal and look at different ways on how you can change your practices, habits, and overall perspective on life.
Keep in Mind That the Brain Learns Constantly
The journey of learning isn’t constant. You keep learning something new every day. Anyone with a growth mindset doesn’t limit themselves. They are keen on learning more and more about things. They understand that the brain keeps producing new neurons every few months, and thus can encase more information.
They believe in the process of neuroplasticity which suggests that the brain keeps creating and recreating new connections, which proposes that there is always room for new information to find space. They also believe that since the mind doesn’t remain fixed, learning shouldn’t either. Therefore, they strive to gain more knowledge about anything and everything.
Don’t Seek Social Approval
If you wish to develop a growth mindset, you have to let go of the idea of what others think about you. You aren’t here to please everyone. You are here to lead a meaningful life, find a purpose worth working for, and aim for success.
The goal should never be acceptance from the people around you or being called a victor. Focusing too much on the idea of what others think of you and how they view your journey means you miss out on the potential to grow. Don’t seek betterment so that others will admire you or write songs about you, better yourself for your own benefit.
Accept Criticism in a Positive Manner
If you wish to develop a growth mindset to achieve success, you must be open to receiving criticism positively and not think of it as an insult or indicator of failure. It is okay to have a weakness, and if someone points it out there is no need to take out the guns on them. View it constructively and work on the pinpointed weakness so that you can improve in that area of specialization as well. Keep in mind that every criticism is also a source of learning. So, think of it as a gift and focus on it to improve.
One of the biggest issues with people who have a fixed mindset is that they take criticism personally and think of it as a roadblock. They don’t see it as someone trying to help them out by pointing out their weaknesses.
Reward Your Actions
People with a growth mindset don’t just reward their traits, but they reward their actions. Even those actions which failed should be rewarded for the sake of trying. If someone is good at something, it is acceptable that their talent is appreciated. If you aren’t good at it, but still try to hone your skills and learn, that too should be equally appreciated and rewarded. Make it a habit to reward yourself so that you don’t lose the motivation to continue and keep the process of learning as ongoing.
Learn from Other’s Mistakes
It is a different thing to compare yourself with others and another thing of learning from their mistakes. When you learn from the mistakes of others, you learn that they also make mistakes. They too have weaknesses they need to overcome.
You also recognize where they fell short and where they committed an error. This helps you prevent making it in the future in case you face the same challenge one day. You also get an idea of how they made up for that error, which means that you already have a plan of action in hand.
Always Have a New Goal to Work Upon
Just because you have mastered something doesn’t mean the process of learning has stopped. People with a growth mindset are never fully done with the idea of improving, and thus they keep on attempting one goal after the other. This also keeps them motivated and engaged in the things they are learning.
Thus, if you wish to keep growing and improving, keep challenging yourself with one goal after another so that you never fall back on your learning and keep improving for the better.
View Learning as Training
The more you learn new things, the more your brain trains to act and respond in a certain way. The goal should be to keep training your brain to adapt to new things, ideas, and methods. Since everything changes with time, you will need to retrain your brain with time so that you don’t fall behind and stay up to current trends.
Remember it Isn’t a Night’s Work
Learning to change and adapting to that change doesn’t happen overnight, and you are no different. Even when you think you are pumped with energy and determination; it will still take some time and a few setbacks before you change your mentality for good. Be realistic about the time required. It will happen slowly and won’t be easy either.
Also, note that it will take several methods and new techniques before they finally stick, and you become the master of them. Lastly, since the process of learning never stops, you might have instances when you just thought you had learned something new only to find out that the methodology has changed again. So, keep in mind that you will always remain a student. Lastly, if the whole idea of growth vs. fixed mindset has you intrigued, what better way to further improve your knowledge about the core concept than by listening to Carol explain it herself? Check out this video where Carol presents her views on the growth mindset and how it improves our lives, career success, and relationships.