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Developing a Growth Mindset – 4 Exercises
By VICKY BROWN
Today, we’re diving into something that can absolutely transform you and your business – developing a growth mindset. You know, a growth mindset is about so much more than just increasing your bottom line. It’s about creating a culture where everyone – you, your team, even your customers – are always learning, always improving, and always pushing forward. So, here are 4 exercises that will help.
Let’s kick things off with something I absolutely love – creating a “fail forward” board. Now, I know the word “fail” might make you cringe a bit, but hear me out. This board is all about celebrating the lessons we learn from our mistakes. Encourage your team to share their failures – big or small – and what they learned from them.
Maybe someone tried a new marketing strategy that totally flopped, or a product launch that didn’t quite take off. Get it up on that board! But here’s the crucial part – don’t just stop at what went wrong. The real magic happens when you dig into the why. Why did that marketing strategy fall flat? Why didn’t the product launch resonate with customers? These aren’t just failures, they’re feedback. And in business, feedback is worth its weight in gold.
Now, here’s the key – focus on what you learned, not what went wrong. It’s all about shifting the perspective from “Oh no, we messed up” to “Hey, we just discovered a way that doesn’t work!” Every setback becomes a stepping stone. Every mistake becomes a lesson. And before you know it, your team isn’t afraid of failure anymore. They’re seeing it as a necessary part of the innovation process.
And let me tell you, this shift in mindset can be absolutely game-changing for your business. When your team sees that it’s okay to take risks and learn from mistakes, they’ll be more likely to come up with those out-of-the-box ideas that can really move your business forward.
They’ll be more willing to speak up in meetings, to try new approaches, to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Because they know that even if things don’t work out perfectly, there’s value in the attempt. And who knows? That next big idea that transforms your business might come from someone who was emboldened by your “fail forward” board to take a chance.
“…Tell your team to pretend they have unlimited resources, unlimited support, unlimited everything. What would they do then?“
Next up, let’s talk about playing the “What If” game. This is a fun one, and it can lead to some seriously amazing ideas. Here’s how it works: get your team together – and I mean everyone, from the newest intern to your top executives – and start throwing out “What If” scenarios. But here’s the catch – there are absolutely no limitations. Tell your team to pretend they have unlimited resources, unlimited support, unlimited everything. What would they do then? The crazier the idea, the better. We’re not looking for practical here, we’re looking for possible.
Maybe someone says, “What if we could deliver our product instantly anywhere in the world?” or “What if we could predict exactly what our customers will want next year?” Now, you may be thinking that’s not realistic. And you’re right, it might not be – at least not right now. But that’s not the point.
The real magic of the “What If” game is that it gets your team thinking big, thinking without boundaries. It pushes them to break free from the “we can’t do that because…” mindset and instead ask “How could we make that happen?” And here’s the thing – sometimes, those seemingly impossible, pie-in-the-sky ideas can lead to very real, very doable innovations that you might never have thought of otherwise.
Maybe you can’t deliver your product instantly worldwide, but could you cut delivery time in half? Maybe you can’t read customers’ minds, but could you use data analytics to better predict their needs? The “What If” game isn’t about finding immediate solutions – it’s about opening doors to possibilities you haven’t even considered yet. And in business, those possibilities are where the real growth happens.
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Now, let’s talk about something that’s absolutely crucial for developing a growth mindset – regularly challenging yourself. And I’m not just talking about setting big business goals (although those are important too!). I’m talking about personally taking on new tasks or learning new skills.
Maybe you’ve always left the financial stuff to your accountant – well, why not take an online course in business finance? Or maybe you’ve been meaning to improve your public speaking skills – sign up for that local Toastmasters group! And here’s the thing – make sure your team sees you doing this.
Lead by example. When they see you stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing new challenges, they’ll be inspired to do the same. And before you know it, you’ve got a whole team of lifelong learners, constantly growing and improving.
Lastly, let’s talk about creating a “Yet” board. This is all about reframing our thinking from limitations to possibilities. Here’s how it works: whenever someone says they can’t do something, encourage them to add “yet” to the end of that sentence and put it up on the board. So “I can’t code” becomes “I can’t code… yet.” “We can’t break into that market” becomes “We can’t break into that market… yet.”
See what a difference that makes? It turns every limitation into a challenge, every roadblock into an opportunity. And let me tell you, when your whole team starts thinking this way, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.
So there you have it – four powerful ways to develop a growth mindset in your business. Remember, it’s not about being perfect or never making mistakes. It’s about always learning, always growing, and always moving forward. Because in business, just like in life, it’s not about where you start – it’s about how far you’re willing to go.
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