Every business wants to see themselves as high performance organizations, but sadly, not all are. One of the most significant factors that separate high performance organizations from the rest of the pack is their mindset.
High performance organizations will always have a growth mindset! That mindset will help them separate themselves from the pack, and stand out.
But, when engaged in Executive Coaching or Business Team Coaching, I often ask if they have a growth or fixed mindset and their answer will always be – of course, we most certainly have a growth mindset! After all, who wants to admit to having a fixed mindset?
But high performance organizations demonstrate their commitment to growth not by what they say, but by what they do and how they behave. So, when I ask businesses to demonstrate where they manifest a culture of growth mindset, the answers frequently prove the opposite!
So, what are some of the qualities and behaviors that high performance organizations exhibit that proves they have a growth mindset?
- They value passion, commitment and growth over being a genius
- They accept, and even encourage, failing as long as there is learning
- They don’t expect you to be the finished article, as long as you want to grow
- They really encourage and reward stepping out of your comfort zone – even if you trip up every so often!
- Talent or ability is not praised – growth is! Praising talent for it’s own sake is dangerous because it stunts growth
- Praises and rewards real effort, grit and determination to succeed.
The culture of growth mindset comes from the top in every organization, and in there is a significant risk because, in my experience as an Executive Coach to CEOs, it is not unusual for someone to shift from having a growth mindset to a fixed mindset when they become CEOs, and don’t realize they have made that shift.
The reason is that quite often when they achieve their goal of becoming CEO, they feel that they must have all the answers, or at least, appear to have! That causes them to stop growing because failure becomes a much bigger fear. One of the characteristics of the CEO in high performance organizations is the lack of fear of failure. It’s not recklessness – it’s simply a willingness to step outside that comfort zone and try new things.
So, how would you rate yourself and your business? Has it a growth or a fixed mindset? Be honest! Now do something if you see that your behavior is not one of a growth mindset.