Make up Your Mind
People have a certain mindset, and so do companies. According to an article by Carol Dweck [Harvard Business Review, November 2014], How Companies Can Profit From a “Growth Mindset”, there are two ways to look at something: with a “fixed mindset” or with a “growth mindset.” It turns out that employees in a “Growth Mindset” company are 47% likelier to say that their colleagues are trustworthy, 34% likelier to feel a strong sense of ownership and commitment to the company, 65% likelier to say that the company supports risk taking, and 49% likelier to say that the company fosters innovation. However, in companies with a “Fixed Mindset, ” the employees were less committed, and didn’t think the company had their back. They worried about failing so didn’t pursue innovative projects, regularly kept secrets, cut corners and cheated to try to get ahead. I guess one is about forward momentum and the other stagnation. The author goes on to say how important mindset is when hiring: Growth-mindset organizations are likely to hire from within their ranks, while fixed-mindset organizations reflexively look for outsiders. They recommended shifting to recognizing people’s capacity for growth and focusing on effort versus output. Instead of celebrating employee achievements, you celebrate their efforts. Wow! Now there’s a new way of thinking.
