A “growth mindset:” yet another reason for exploring our story
As I’ve said before, I believe that communication of strengths and expertise is most successfully achieved through story. The simplest, most efficient and least stressful way to market ourselves is to tell stories to illustrate our attributes. When I work with clients to help them create a portfolio of stories to illustrate their strengths and expertise, I remind them to also consider the situations in which they have learned from not-so-positive experiences. Often our failures teach us more than our successes, especially if we have the courage and patience to look back and draw upon the lessons. That standard interview question, “What is your weakness?” can become an opportunity to show your growth potential and your ability to accept challenges and learn from experience.
Stanford psychologist and author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Carol Dweck, highlights the importance of how we interpret our stories or our experiences. I believe that by developing a reflective approach that consciously explores our stories, we can capitalize on what Dweck calls a “growth mindset.”
Dweck writes about “the nature of change” at the Mindset website:
Whether they’re aware of it or not, all people keep a running account of what’s happening to them, what it means, and what they should do. In other words, our minds are constantly monitoring and interpreting. That’s just how we stay on track. But sometimes the interpretation process goes awry. Some people put more extreme interpretations on things that happen—and then react with exaggerated feelings of anxiety, depression, or anger. Or superiority.
Mindsets frame the running account that’s taking place in people’s heads. They guide the whole interpretation process. The fixed mindset creates an internal monologue that is focused on judging: “This means I’m a loser.” “This means I’m a better person than they are.” “This means I’m a bad husband.” “This means my partner is selfish.”
People with a growth mindset are also constantly monitoring what’s going on, but their internal monologue is not about judging themselves and others in this way. Certainly they’re sensitive to positive and negative information, but they’re attuned to its implications for learning and constructive action: What can I learn from this? How can I improve? How can I help my partner do this better?
You can also read an excellent article about Dweck’s work in the March/April 2007 Stanford Magazine
Posted: September 10th, 2007 under Carol Dweck, Use of story, Accessing your personal story.
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