Developing a growth mindset | Article

Working with other sectors requires leaders to have a growth mindset to be open to the new perspectives collaboration brings. WIG expert leadership facilitator Johnny Craike shares methods to develop a learning mindset. 

Key messages:

  • People with a fixed mindset might say “I can’t do that”. Those with a growth mindset might say “I can’t do that, yet”.
  • Collaborating with a completely different industry can uncover important lessons and lead to positive impact
  • Creating an environment where people can share helps growth mindsets flourish

Defining a growth mindset

People often ask me what it takes to be a great leader, to build a high-performing team or to develop greater abilities to connect with others. There is no magic formula, but one of the most important things is to have a growth mindset. Carol Dweck, who coined to phrases “growth mindset” and “fixed mindset” said that people with a growth mindset “believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.” To put it another way, those with a fixed mindset might say “I can’t do that”. Those with a growth mindset might say “I can’t do that, yet”.

“Those with a fixed mindset might say ‘I can’t do that’. Those with a growth mindset might say ‘I can’t do that, yet’.”

In action:  Learning from Formula 1

I first came across the term as a fast streamer. I was at a Civil Service conference and heard an inspirational talk about cross-sector collaboration. The speaker shared a story about NHS surgeons talking about their surgery processes in a bustling canteen. They wanted to reduce the mortality rate in surgery and were struggling to come up with solutions. In a lull in the conversation, one of the surgeons noticed that a TV was playing Formula 1 and they witnessed a particularly quick pit stop. “What can we learn from Formula 1?” They said. A lot, it turned out.

By actively collaborating with a completely different industry, they learnt important lessons about roles, planning and communication and were able to make a positive impact on mortality rates in surgery.

Developing a growth mindset for yourself and organisation

There are many ways to develop a growth mindset. Here are my top tips:

  • Regularly ask yourself: “What else could this mean?” As the saying goes, “Every way of seeing something is a way of not seeing something.” Pause and challenge your own limiting assumptions.
  • Focus on solutions, not problems. Work with others and ask yourself what would move you 10% closer to a solution.
  • Create an environment where people can share. Understanding the views of others requires us to loosen the grip on our own autobiographical responses. But if we can, we can explore and discover far more effectively.
Continue your learning journey through WIG's leadership programmes

Our unique cross-sector approach gives your organisation fresh insights and builds a collaborative network.  We help individuals from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors develop the practical skills and understanding to take the next step in their leadership journey. We are currently accepting applications for our popular Women's Leadership, Step Up Step Across, and Senior Leaders programmes as well as our new Advanced Collaborative Leadership Programme, with special discounts for member organisations.

Written by

Johnny is an accredited European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) leadership/ mental fitness coach and facilitator. His career started in higher education before he moved into the Civil Service. He has over 10 years’ senior leadership experience within the public and charitable sectors.

Johnny uses a strengths-based approach, helping clients to understand their strengths and identify small steps they can make to overcome challenges. He has coached more than 230 people and delivered learning programmes for over 70 organisations including American Express, DB Schenker, Goodyear, Merck, 17 civil service departments/ Local Authorities, Delaware North, Societe Generale, KPMG, Notting Hill Genesis and L&Q. He is an experienced facilitator, having designed and delivered hundreds of events and workshops- ranging from focus groups to conferences for over 350 people. He is highly proficient in online delivery.

Johnny has worked with clients across all levels of organisations but specialises in working with leaders and emerging leaders.  Alongside coaching and facilitation, Johnny creates innovative games and events and develops staff engagement/ learning strategies. He prides himself on helping people to think in a different way- collaborating with organisations and individuals from NASA and Olympic athletes to startups and social enterprises.

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