Mindset

The

CONTINUUM
FIXED
Going beyond "Fixed V's Growth" GROWTH

to a deeper understanding of Mindsets

By James Anderson
Certified Growth Mindset Trainer

LOW HIGH
FIXED GROWTH MIXED GROWTH GROWTH

Sees themselves as
growth is
Change and
Limited Growth Mindset – Sees themselves as Understands they can
unchanging and very limited.
believes they are capable of
capable of change their
unchangeable. See themselves as “not cut out
growth in a limited significant growth most basic
WORLD VIEW number of domains.
Life is about discovering
yourself and searching for
for” some domains. Amount of
growth possible in other Life offers only limited choices.
in most domains. Sees great
choice in life. May see
characteristics.
Life is about deciding what you
where you fit into the world. domains is limited. themselves as restricted from
want to be and creating the
significant growth in some
abilities required to reach goals.
domains.

Avoids Takes on Prefers clear, Enjoys being Embraces

challenges. easy immediate goals challenged challenges
Sees them as a potential threat. challenges that aren’t too far out of reach, by more open-ended tasks, even when path to achievement
CHALLENGES that they believe they are or in an area they find difficult. even if not always immediately is not immediately clear.
likely to succeed at. successful.

Gives up Tries for a while, Persists when Expects eventual Persists for
immediately but gives up if not progressing
easily. May try a few
seeing progress. mastery. long periods
when they encounter difficulty. Is developing a repertoire of Understands new learning is even in the face of setbacks
alternatives when encountering
ENCOUNTERING obstacles.
strategies for getting past meant to be difficult so sticks at and when new skills need to
obstacles. tasks for long periods. be learnt to achieve mastery.
DIFFICULTY & OBSTACLES

Effort is associated Recognizes that effort is Effort is necessary, Effort is a Understands

with failure
sometimes required. but usually not enjoyable.
good thing. effort as path
and inability, so is seen as bad. Sustained effort Likely to prefer to do it easily.
Has experienced success as a to mastery.
EFFORT Expects things you can do to is a bad thing. Recognizes when effort is
being ineffective.
result of effort in the past. Actively works on developing
come easily. Misunderstands that not all Associates Effective Effort with strategies for more
types of effort produce growth. growth. Effective Effort.

ignores Accepts some direct feedback

when corrections can be
formative feedback Accepts and learns requests critical
useful negative feedback.
Sees feedback as a list of made quickly and easily. is seen as useful, from feedback. feedback
as long as it is targeted Positive feedback is seen as from targeted expert sources in
FEEDBACK
their faults. tends to focus on and achievable. recognition of the effort and order to improve both process
& CRITICISM positive feedback. process that led to the and outcome.
achievement.

feels threatened may mis-attribute Enjoys personal FINDS Lessons Seeks out masters
by comparisons to others and
avoids competitions, as these
success success, and inspiration and experts
of others to luck or natural so will engage in competition in the success of others. in an effort to “learn their
may highlight perceived deficits.
SUCCESS OF ability rather than growth and comparison when these Admires excellence. Enjoys the secrets”. Competition is seen as
OTHERS achieved through effort. make them look good. challenge posed by competition. a way for both competitors to
push themselves to improve.

Actively
Makes excuses Expects to make mistakes Recognizes mistakes made are Deliberately stretches
hides or ignores for mistakes. Looks for quick
and understands
signposts for themselves so errors have
mistakes. fixes. May attribute blame mistakes can be learning high learning
MAKING to others.
corrected. opportunities. potential
MISTAKES to facilitate further growth.

Turns down Tolerates Accepts help Expects feedback and

recognizes it as
Seeks out
help and support. Feels help when given. Disinclined to and support when offered. May help and support from
requiring help highlights their ask for help. Doesn’t like to be not continue to seek help, if desirable specialized sources.
OFFERED HELP own deficits. seen to need help. difficulties are persistent. to help them grow.
AND SUPPORT

Based on the work of Carol Dweck | © James Anderson 2017 | www.jamesanderson.com.au