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Growth mindset vs.

fixed mindset
The power of mindsets in shaping our
lives

ADDY OSMANI
NOV 21, 2023

12 7 Share

The mindset we adopt plays a pivotal role in

shaping our lives. It dictates how we deal with
challenges, how we learn, and how we grow - or
don’t.

The Fixed Mindset

People with a xed mindset view their abilities
and intelligence as static traits. They believe they
are born with a set amount of talent and that's it
- they have what they have, and there's no
changing that.

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This perspective leads to some problematic

behaviors:

Fear of Failure: Failure is seen as a

re ection of their intelligence and an
identity that is to be avoided.

Avoiding Challenges: A xed mindset

deters people from taking on challenges
because they don’t want to risk failing.

Jealousy: They view the success of others as

a threat because it makes them feel inferior.

For those who operate with a xed mindset,

comfort zones are exactly where they want to be
- the unknown is threatening and scary.

The Growth Mindset

On the other hand, folks with a growth mindset
believe that their abilities and intelligence can
be developed over time through consistent
e ort, learning, and perseverance.

This perspective leads to a whole host of

empowering behaviors:

Embracing Failure: They see failure as a

springboard for growth, an opportunity to
learn, and improve.

Craving Challenges: Di culties and

obstacles are seen as opportunities to grow,
hence they're more inclined to pursue
them.

Inspiration from Others: They feel

inspired by the success of others, not
threatened. It serves as a motivation to aim
higher.

Where did the idea of

these mindsets come
from?
Carol Dweck. She is a researcher at Stanford
University and is well–known for her work on
the “growth mindset vs. xed mindset”
framework.

Here is how Carol describes the di erence

between these two mindsets and their impact
on performance:

In a xed mindset students believe their

basic abilities, their intelligence, their
talents, are just xed traits. They have a
certain amount and that’s that, and then
their goal becomes to look smart all the time
and never look dumb. In a growth mindset
students understand that their talents and
abilities can be developed through e ort,
good teaching and persistence. They don’t
necessarily think everyone’s the same or
anyone can be Einstein, but they believe
everyone can get smarter if they work at it.

Carol Dweck, Stanford University

In 2015, we were fortunate enough to have

Carol speak about mindsets at Google.

The Real-world
Implications
There are several real-world implications that
stem from the mindset you choose.

Workplace Culture
A workplace lled with xed mindset
individuals is likely to be competitive in a
destructive way. Folks avoid taking risks or
contributing new ideas for fear of failure or
judgment.

On the other hand, a growth mindset fosters a

collaborative culture where challenges are
embraced and learning is continual.

According to Carol Dweck’s research, visualized

by Management30:

Learning and Development

Folks with a xed mindset may also stop
learning a er formal education because they see
no point in learning something they're "not
good at."

On the ip side, folks with a growth-mindset

o en engage in lifelong learning, understanding
that skills are built, not born.

The Impact of Mindset on

Relationships
Fixed Mindset in Relationships
Fear of Vulnerability: People with a xed
mindset o en fear showing their true
selves in relationships, worrying that they
might be deemed inadequate.

Blame Game: They might blame their

partners for relationship challenges, unable
to see their own role in resolving con icts.

Resistance to Change: They struggle to

adapt to changes in their partner, holding
onto an idealized version of who they were.

Growth Mindset in Relationships

Embracing Vulnerability: Viewing
vulnerability as a strength, they open up
more, deepening the connection.

Constructive Feedback: They welcome

feedback in relationships, seeing it as an
opportunity to improve and grow together.

Adapting to Change: Recognizing that

change is part of life, they are more exible
and understanding as their partner evolves.

Mindset and Personal

Health
Fixed Mindset and Health
Neglect of Health: Believing that health is
predominantly determined by genetics,
they might neglect healthy habits.

Resistance to Medical Advice: They may

view health advice as irrelevant, believing
their current state is unchangeable.

Growth Mindset and Health

Proactive Health Choices: Understanding
the impact of lifestyle on health, they make
more informed and healthier choices.

Openness to Medical Guidance: They are

more receptive to medical advice, viewing
it as an opportunity to enhance their
wellbeing.

Mindset in the Context of

Financial Management
Fixed Mindset and Finances
Financial Pessimism: Believing their
nancial intelligence is xed, they may feel
helpless about improving their nancial
situation.

Aversion to Financial Risk: They tend to

avoid nancial opportunities like
investments, fearing failure.

Growth Mindset and Finances

Financial Optimism: Con dent in their
ability to learn, they are more likely to
educate themselves about nances.

Calculated Financial Risks: They are more

open to taking calculated risks,
understanding that this can lead to greater
nancial growth.

My experiences with
growth mindset at
Google
Embracing a growth mindset at Google has
been important in my journey as an engineer
and leader. Change can feel persistent in tech
(whether it’s stacks, patterns or AI) and this
mindset has encouraged me to welcome change
and continuous learning. It's not merely about
acquiring new tech skills but about perceiving
every challenge as an opportunity for deeper
understanding and growth, both for myself and
my teams.

Here are some pragmatic tips that have guided

me and can bene t others:

1. Embrace & Support Continuous Learning:

I make it a point to dedicate time regularly
to learn and try out new technologies (and
support my team in doing the same). This
keeps our skills sharp and our perspectives
fresh.

2. Foster a Safe-to-Fail Environment:

Leading a team with a growth mindset
means creating a space where risks are not
just allowed but encouraged. We view
failures as part of the learning process. This
approach helps in cultivating innovation
and resilience.

3. Regular Re ective Practice: A er each

project, we support holding retrospectives
to discuss what worked and what didn’t.
This practice isn’t about assigning blame
but about uncovering learning
opportunities.

4. Practicing Empathy and Adaptability:

Understanding and adapting to the needs
of my team has been crucial. This means
being open to feedback and willing to alter
my approach for the betterment of the
team. I always have room to grow.

5. Set Achievable Goals: We set realistic,

incremental goals that keep us focused and
provide a sense of accomplishment, which
fuels further growth.

By integrating these practices into our work, I

believe we’ve cultivated a team environment
that's a little more resilient, innovative, and
which can thrive in change. These strategies can
be bene cial for anyone looking to foster a
growth mindset.

Misconceptions
"Growth mindset" has turned into a trendy
term, o en featured in corporate mission
statements. However, there’s sometimes a lack
of deep understanding of what it truly means.
Let's address three misunderstandings:

1. Having a Growth Mindset Isn't Inherent:

Folks o en mistake having a growth
mindset with general traits like exibility,
open-mindedness, or optimism. They think
they've always embodied these qualities.
However, the reality is more nuanced. We
all exhibit a blend of xed and growth
mindsets, and this blend changes based on
our experiences. A pure growth mindset is
a myth; acknowledging this helps us truly
bene t from this concept.

2. E ort Alone Isn't the Key: The idea that a

growth mindset is solely about valuing
e ort is misleading. Whether it's in
education or the workplace, the end results
are important. E ort that doesn't produce
results isn't bene cial. It's crucial to
recognize not just hard work but also
learning and progress. This involves
appreciating behaviors like seeking help,
experimenting with new approaches, and
learning from setbacks to move forward.
Carol’s research shows that true success
stems from deeply engaging in these
processes.

3. A Growth Mindset Requires More Than

Lip Service: Simply declaring a growth
mindset in mission statements isn't
enough. It's meaningless if not backed by
tangible actions. Companies with a genuine
growth mindset foster an environment
where risk-taking is encouraged and
learning from failures is valued. They
promote collaboration over competition
and support every employee's development
through concrete actions and policies, not
just words.

Understanding and adopting a growth mindset

is challenging. We all have moments that trigger
a xed mindset – like facing a challenge,
criticism, or comparison, leading to
defensiveness or insecurity, which hinders
growth. Additionally, many workplace
environments are riddled with xed-mindset
triggers. A culture focused solely on innate
talent can impede the adoption of growth-
mindset behaviors like collaboration,
innovation, seeking feedback, or admitting
mistakes.

To truly cultivate a growth mindset, it's crucial

to recognize and manage these triggers. Many
leaders have learned to identify when their
xed-mindset persona emerges and how it
in uences their reactions. They've worked to
align this persona with their goals, despite the
challenges.

Making the Shift

With awareness and practice, you can cultivate
more of a growth mindset:

Acknowledge and Understand Your

Weaknesses: You can't change what you
don't acknowledge.

Learn from Others: Rather than feeling

threatened by other’s success, try to learn
from them.

Embrace Challenges: Even if you fail, you’ll

learn valuable lessons that can help you in
the future.

This journey isn't easy, but the rewards are

substantial. Deepening our understanding and
implementation of growth-mindset principles
enriches our sense of self, our values, and our
path forward.

Conclusion
While a xed mindset can close you o to the
world of possibilities, a growth mindset can
open you up to a lifetime of learning,
improvement, and ful llment.

Remember, the only limits that exist are the

ones you place on yourself.

Choose growth over limitation.

Peak Performance is a reader-

supported publication. To receive
new posts and support my work,
consider becoming a free or paid
subscriber.

Type your email... Subscribe

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7 Comments

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Team See-Docs See-Docs Newsletter

Nov 25, 2023 Liked by Addy Osmani

Awesome, Thank you for sharing.

In my curiosity I was also able to identify

other types of Mindset:

- Fixed Mindset

- Growth Mindset

- Gambler Mindset

- Victim Mindset

- Zero Sum Mindset

- Follower Mindset

- “I’ll do it Later” Mindset

- One try Mindset

- My Way or No Way Mindset

- Gratitude Mindset

- Abundance Mindset

- Solution Oriented Mindset

- Creative Mindset

- Collector Mindset

- Winner takes all mindset

- Engineer mindset

Apparently some are more effective than

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Tural Asgar Tural Əsgər Nov 22, 2023

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