Do You Have a Fixed or Growth Mindset?

Published On - December 21, 2021

Ted Bonel 1. PEOPLE
“You’re in charge of your mind. You can help it grow by using it in the right way.” — Carol Dweck

When faced with challenges or setbacks, how do you respond?

Do you see failure as proof that you’ve reached your limit — or as feedback to help you improve?

Your answer reveals something deeper than personality or motivation.
It reveals your mindset — the invisible belief system shaping how you learn, lead, and grow.

 

The Two Mindsets

Stanford psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck discovered that people tend to operate from one of two dominant mindsets:

 

1.Fixed Mindset

You believe your talents and intelligence are static — that you’re either good at something or not.
When challenged, you avoid risk to protect your sense of competence.

2.  Growth Mindset
You believe ability can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence.
Challenges excite you because they offer the chance to grow.

As Dweck says:

“Many people have elements of both. People can have different mindsets in different areas.
I might think my artistic skills are fixed but my intelligence can be developed.”

Mindsets aren’t permanent. They’re patterns of thought — and like any habit, they can be rewired.

 

Why Growth Mindset Matters in Leadership

A growth mindset doesn’t just make individuals more resilient — it makes companies more adaptable.

Teams with a growth mindset:

  • Learn faster from failure.
  • Ask better questions.
  • Collaborate more openly.
  • See feedback as fuel, not criticism.

In a world of constant change, that’s a competitive advantage.

A fixed mindset, by contrast, creates defensiveness and stagnation. Leaders who “already know” the answers stop learning — and so do their teams.

 

How to Develop a Growth Mindset

Developing a growth mindset starts with awareness — noticing when your inner dialogue sounds fixed.
Then, it takes discipline and practice to shift it.

Here are five simple ways to start:

  1. View Challenges as Opportunities
    Setbacks are not stop signs — they’re feedback loops. Every problem holds a chance to learn.
  2. Prioritize Learning Over Approval
    Seek feedback, not validation. Criticism is one of the fastest routes to improvement.
  3. Value Effort as the Path to Mastery
    Bruce Lee said it best: “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”
  4. Commit to Continuous Learning
    Study, train, and experiment. The brain is elastic — it grows with effort and repetition.
  5. Reflect and Reframe Mistakes
    When something goes wrong, don’t ask “Who’s to blame?” — ask “What can we learn?”

 

Mindset and Scaling Up

At Strategy & Execution Advisors, we help leadership teams embed a growth mindset across every level of the business using frameworks like Scaling Up.

From strategy development to people systems, a growth mindset unlocks agility, innovation, and performance.
It’s not just a personal philosophy — it’s a competitive strategy.

So ask yourself:

  • Where is your mindset serving you — and where is it holding you back?

 

Want to develop growth-minded leaders in your business?

Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.

To Scale Up your business! Take our Scaling Up/Four Decisions Needs Assessment to discover how your business measures against other Scaled Up companies. We’ll contact you.

Strategy and Execution Business Advisors and Scaling Up Coaches in Brisbane & Australia
TED BONEL, SCALING UP PRACTITIONER – STRATEGY & EXECUTION BUSINESS ADVISORS

Are you looking to scale your business and execute strategy with clarity and impact? I help CEOs and founders turn big ideas into real-world results, guiding small to mid-market companies through tailored strategic insights that drive growth.

My expertise lies in simplifying complexity – bridging high-level strategic frameworks with the practical realities of running a business. Unlike many consultants who focus solely on theory or execution, I specialise in both—translating strategy into actionable, transformative steps that deliver lasting results.

Want to develop growth-minded leaders in your business?
Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.

 

ABOUT STRATEGY & EXECUTION

For over 20 years, Strategy & Execution has supported leaders and organisations in developing and executing winning strategies. We provide expert facilitation, executive education, and hands-on consulting to help businesses refine their strategic direction and implement it effectively.

Using proven methodologies like Scaling Up, E-Myth Mastery, Outthinker, and more, we challenge conventional thinking and equip organisations with the tools to accelerate growth. Our approach is dynamic—combining deep business experience with practical execution. We don’t just advise; we roll up our sleeves and work alongside you to make strategy happen.

If you’re preparing for a strategy development or execution challenge and are committed to creating real value, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more about our work or upcoming workshops