“Growth mindset” has become a business buzzword in recent years. It’s becoming increasingly associated with innovation and entrepreneurship. But what exactly is a growth mindset?

Professor Dweck’s acclaimed book, Mindset: The New Psychology for Success, is where it all began. In the book, Professor Dweck explains how our attitudes can significantly influence our capacity to learn and grow. Our mindset determines the way we utilise our innate talents and skills-based qualities but also determines how quickly we can learn and master new abilities.

If you believe your abilities are fixed, then you’re likely to believe your capacity for growth is limited. If you believe your intelligence is inherent and unchangeable, what need is there to learn something new? Why bother trying? This way of thinking is defined as a fixed mindset.

On the other hand, those who believe they can cultivate new talents and learn new skills have a growth mindset. These people have an insatiable appetite for learning. They see the world as a place of endless opportunities.

Here are 5 reasons a growth mindset is so important for career advancement:

1. The desire for growth will outweigh your fear of failure. This means a growth mindset makes you more driven to achieve results, rather than shying away from challenges.
2. People with a growth mindset are more likely to be open to new ideas and embrace change. If you adopt a growth mindset, you’ll think creatively to find innovative solutions for your team or organisation.
3. Your ability to receive constructive criticism will only fuel your quest for further learning. You’ll be able to weather any storm and persist until you achieve outstanding results.
4. People with a growth mindset celebrate the effort, not the success. Someone with a fixed mindset sees accomplishment (output) as a reflection of someone’s inherent abilities. Someone with a growth mindset is rewarded by the process and effort (input) which allows them to learn and grow. This is important in a business context because they see their learning as an ongoing journey, one that doesn’t have a start and end point. Someone with a growth mindset can always learn a new skill and expand their horizons.
5. Your attitude towards your career will help you stand out from the crowd. It will help you to demonstrate initiative. You’ll continue building your resume and enriching your skill set. It will help you create meaningful connections and open up new possibilities.

Written by Jack Nodding.