Right Way Vs Better Way Orientation

One of the most foundational ingredients to building a thriving and fulfilling life is having a growth mindset. Tom Bilyeu argues that having a growth mindset is evidenced in that you have the only belief that matters:

“If you believe that when you put time and energy into getting better at something, you’ll actually get better at that thing.” 

This one belief unlocks improvement in every  area of your life because it unlocks your ability to acquire the skills in whatever way is required to produce positive change. A growth mindset means that you’re in control of your fate and your future, not at the mercy of whatever you’re given. 

Taking the opposite perspective - if you believe that your results are fixed, predetermined, and unchangeable - then no matter how hard you try all attempts to improve are a waste of time. Why would anyone invest in anything if they didn’t think that they’d get what they want from it?  I wouldn’t either. This is what’s known as a fixed mindset and it cripples so many people. 

I bring this up because I want to help you recognize one subtle way that having a growth mindset shows up in the world. 

You know how some people are stubborn, adamant, and dictatorial in the way they approach things? How they have a ‘my way or the high way’ mentality where they think they know the right way to do something? Contrast that with someone who always thinks that there’s a better way to do something. They have good ideas and will advocate for them, but also have an open-mind to other possibilities. 

The way someone shows up to collaborative situations demonstrates whether they have a growth or fixed mindset.

For example, let’s say that you’re trying to load up a van for an event. Boss #1 has done it before knows the exact orientation that worked in the past, so they insist it’s packed exactly the same way again because it’s predictable and works. Boss #2 has similar experience, but is open to innovating and seeing if there are other configurations that are more favorable. Perhaps there’s a way to pack the van so that the passenger seat is open and you don’t need to take a separate car to the event.

Boss #1 has a fixed mindset that accepts reality as is, and doesn’t think to improve upon it. Boss #2 has a growth mindset and explores different options that can streamline the process, or create a better result from the same raw materials.

While you can’t control other people’s collaborative approach, you can be aware of your own. So get curious about how you receive new ideas, if you carefully consider them or not compared to the current ways of doing things, and learn something about how strong your growth mindset actually is versus what you believe it to be.