#15. Growth Mindset starts with YOU!

Growth Mindset is the buzz word now.

It is natural for you as a facilitator to expect your learners to develop a growth mindset. However, unless you develop a growth mindset yourself, it is difficult for your learners to follow suit.

There are a few things that I can think of, to set the stage for “growth mindset” to take precedence in your learning environment, and they all start with YOU (& me)!

1. “I don’t know”/ “Wow, this is something new to me!” — As a facilitator aka lifelong learner, you must demonstrate your willingness to new things. Also, there is nothing wrong in acknowledging that you don’t have solutions to ALL the questions that your learners pose. When you believe in & demonstrate lifelong learning, and only when YOU do, do they start believing in it as well. Get away from that “How can I put off learners from asking me things that I don’t know/don’t want to discuss” attitude!
2. Risk taking: Sometimes it is just easy to sit back and keep doing things that work most of the time. When you don’t move out of your comfort zone, you will most likely encounter fewer questions from your learners that really rattle you. This can hurt you and your learners really bad in the long run. You don’t need to overdo it, but don’t be stationery. Try out new things, slowly. Get away from that “I know what works for me” attitude.
3. Share your struggles (& your successes): When you share your struggles and success stories, your learners will realize that it is natural for people to go through hardships. They will realize how you came up with solutions despite going through tough times. They will trust you more. And they will be more open to trying out new things! Get away from that “It’s really a silly incident, I don’t think there is anything to learn from this” attitude. (When you recollect incidents from your own experience that gave you some learning!)