Do You Have a Fixed or Growth Mindset?

Your mindset shapes your results. What you think about, you bring about.
The question is, do you have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset?

Your mindset is the set of thoughts behind your behaviors. It matters because everything you think leads to the results you create in your life.

In her book "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success," Dr. Carol Dweck identified two powerful mindsets: fixed and growth.

👉 A fixed mindset assumes abilities are static. People with this mindset avoid challenges, fear failure, and see effort as a weakness.
👉 A growth mindset believes abilities can be developed. People with this mindset embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and see effort as the path to mastery.

For leaders, this difference is critical. A fixed mindset limits your ability to adapt, learn, and innovate.
A growth mindset fosters resilience, curiosity, and continuous learning—qualities every leader and every learning organization needs.

And here’s the key: your mindset doesn’t just affect you. It shapes how you lead and how you help others grow. When you model curiosity and openness, you create space for others to do the same.

Most of us show both mindsets. You may be open in some areas but rigid in others.

If you feel the need to be “the expert,” or the one who’s always right—that’s a fixed mindset. And in those moments, you’re less likely to listen or value other perspectives.

Developing a growth mindset is about staying open to learning, every day, in every situation. It’s the foundation of leadership growth and one of the core lessons in my leadership course.

Take a moment to reflect: When was the last time you leaned into a challenge as a chance to learn rather than something to fear?