Have you ever had a student who said they just can’t do it?
Growth mindset is a concept that is spoken of frequently in the hallways of InsideTrack. This is an idea put forth by Stanford professor Carol Dweck after decades of research. In a growth mindset,
“People believe that the their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.”
–MindsetOnline.com
With this concept, if a student thinks he or she “just can’t do it,” a coach might suggest that they just can’t do it…yet. This replaces the mindset that intelligence and talent are fixed traits that a person is born with, not something you continually work on to improve.
Interested in learning more about growth mindset? We recommend the following:
- “The Power of Yet,” an article from Edutopia.
- “How Growth Mindset Increases Students’ Motivation, Grades and Achievement” from Mindset Works
- “The Power of Belief – Mindset at Success,” a TEDx Talk video from Eduardo Briceño, co-founder and CEO of Mindset Works.
Consider using this idea of a growth mindset in your coaching practice. Let’s help students understand that failure isn’t an end point – it’s a learning point.