Agile Mindset: Fixed vs Growth Minds

• Determines goals
• Reactions to failures
• Belief about actions and strategies
• Attitude towards others’ success

However, negative life experiences can alter the way a human thinks when they are faced with cognitive dissonance and this automatically alters their mindsets. An Agile mindset faces challenges with a positive outlook works hard and pick strategies while a Fixed mindset see challenges are bumps and this influences their decision-making process which is inclined to being indolent as they believe intelligence is born with, not from determination. The mind is almost like a muscle for those with an Agile mindset, the harder the effort given; the results become enhanced. But those with a fixed mindset see the mind as a determining element like height, either one is born with it or not. Unfortunately, people with a fixed mindset are quick to judge and categorise people basing on little information while the Agile mindset tends to be less negative or positive in their choices. A fixed mindset tends to reflect one’s abilities/talents and is hardwired to stereotype others as well. Agile mindset people tend to stereotype too, but they hold their judgements and willing to learn more. When this is applied in organisations, subconsciously stereotyping staffs can be detrimental as this contributes to their underperformance, demotivation and destructive behaviour. Labelling people is prophetic as this changes human behaviours. “Our behaviour has an effect on other’s behaviour and without anyone understanding any of it, you have a self-fulfilling prophecy” (Pygmalion in Management by J. Sterling Livingston, Sept/Oct 1988 Harvard Business Review). Thus at work, managers/bosses stereotyping employees and determining their performance grounding on hunches are to be avoided.

By
Dr Dayana N. H. Chaskar