# [[Growth mindset]] A growth mindset, as opposed to a fixed mindset, is the belief that one's skills, intelligence, abilities, and personality traits can change. In contrast, someone with a fixed mindset believes that these things are determined at birth. Those with fixed mindsets are more likely to believe in "raw talent" or "genius" being good indicators of success. [^dweck] ## Growth mindsets in practice - In relationships, someone with a growth mindset believes that two people can grow closer and more compatible over time. Someone with a fixed mindset believes in "love at first sight" and requires perfection from the beginning. - Leaders with growth mindsets hire for "talent" and "intelligence", but that only reinforces a culture of _looking_ intelligent rather than _learning_. - Parents who praise children based on effort encourage growth mindsets, while those who praise children based on how naturally talented they are at something encourage a fixed mindset. - Those with growth mindsets can more gracefully accept constructive feedback. ## Ways to change your mindset - Pick a leader in your field and do research on how they got there. Form a list of actions that they used to get better at their craft, and then emulate them. - When you give praise, especially to people from underrepresented groups, praise their effort and improvement, not intelligence. - Put in the time. [[Focus on the process, not the results]]. Your improvement will show you that your knowledge is not fixed. - [^dweck]: Dweck, C. (2006). _The new psychology of success_. [[Shortform-Mindset|Shortform highlights]].