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There has been a lot of talk about the need for a growth mindset to thrive in today’s ever-changing world of work. Today’s workplace is experiencing vast and rapid change that is making workers anxious about becoming obsolete. According to psychologist Carol Dweck, who coined the term growth mindset, success depends on believing that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and feedback. But what does that mean for you, and how does it play out in the today’s workplace?

The Characteristics Of A Growth Mindset

Although a singular term, having a growth mindset is not one thing. It’s a collection of mindsets, behaviors, and skills that, together, position you to remain relevant regardless of the magnitude and frequency of change. Demonstrating your growth mindset in all that you do, helps you grow build your personal brand as a leader and deliver greater impact on your team and organization. Consider these characteristics of a professional with a growth mindset.

Committing to Lifelong Learning

This means that you understand that talent and skills evolve, and being relevant means being eager to build and apply new skills ongoingly. Being a lifelong learner requires creating your personal development plan and committing to implementing it. Learning needs to take place daily, not just through formal learning programs.

Acknowledging Growth

Try this. At the end of every workday, ask yourself, “What did I learn today?” Keep a journal of your responses so you can identify trends in your responses to the question. This simple act creates punctuation for the day and reminds you of your accomplishments.

Being Curious

People with a growth mindset may be interesting, but what’s more important is that they are interested in others, ideas, and possibilities.

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Seeking Feedback

Growth can come from both successes and setbacks, and it is also comes from receiving meaningful, actionable feedback. Professionals with a growth mindset and all authentic leaders seek feedback regularly. Rather than see constructive feedback as a personal critique, they view it as a gift that will help them expand their success.

Embracing Challenges

People with a growth mindset see challenges as opportunities, not threats. They pursue tough tasks rather than avoiding or ignoring them. That’s because they’ve learned to get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Staying Focused on the Big Picture

They don’t worry about missteps along the way, because they see them as steps in the process. They see setbacks as learning opportunities, not failures, and use them as fuel for improvement and moving forward.

Being Connected

They are comfortable not having all the answers and actively engage with people from whom they can learn and with whom they can share their expertise. They build strong networks, seek out mentors, and commit to being mentors for others.

Teaching Others

One of the best ways to learn is to teach. Explaining a concept to someone else transforms what you know into what you truly understand. That deeper level of understanding help you hone your skills and apply them more thoughtfully.

Adapting to Change

They are well aware that the path to learning and success is rarely straight. They are willing to refine their approach and even pivot to achieve goals or master new skills. By believing that change is a constant and an opportunity, they embrace change rather than resist it.

Being Resilient

They are in it for the long haul. They can celebrate small wins while staying focused on long-term goals. They are adept at bouncing back from unexpected setbacks.

To Adopt A Growth Mindset, Try This

There are activities you can engage in that, when done regularly, will help you establish a growth mindset so you remain relevant. Think about how these activities can be integrated into your daily habits.

Embrace and even get excited about failure. Instead of asking “Why did I fail?”, ask “What did I learn from this?” That makes each mistake helpful toward achieving your goals. Scientists do this all the time. They don’t expect immediate success, they know that progress requires experimentation.

**Change your language. What you say to yourself impacts what you do and what you believe. Instead of saying **“I can’t, say “I can’t yet.” This subtle change, ‘yet,’ will signal your brain that you are pursuing something important and that you will master it. It moves you from a defeatist mindset to one of possibility and future success.

**Seek challenge, not comfort. **Growth by definition is sometimes uncomfortable. We rarely grow by staying in our comfort zones. Get in the habit of doing things that are challenging. Choose one task each week that stretches you just beyond your current skills. If public speaking feels hard for you right now, make a commitment to speak up in meetings or volunteer to deliver a virtual presentation or a lunch and learn. Start small. Volunteer to lead a project, learn a new tool, or take on a stretch assignment.

Understand your own reactions. When you experience defensiveness or feel threatened or impatient, that’s a sign of your fixed mindset being in control. When you pay attention to it, acknowledge it, and name it, you can more easily leave it behind. That allows you to shift into a curiosity/possibility mindset.

**Surround yourself with learners. **We are who we hang out with. Just as Doug and Debbie Downer are always spreading their negativity in hopes of recruiting others, growth mindsets can be contagious. When you spend time with people who exemplify growth, are comfortable being vulnerable and acknowledging what they don’t know, their habits will rub off on you.

Develop A Growth Mindset And Watch Your Career Soar

The world of work is evolving rapidly and constantly. The only way to stay relevant, deliver value, and advance your career in this environment is to have a growth mindset. It makes you indispensable in a work environment that feels unpredictable. The great news is that anyone can establish a growth mindset. It just takes a little effort and determination. Take action today and watch your career soar.

William Arrudais a keynote speaker, author, and personal-branding pioneer. He speaks on branding, leadership, and virtual presentation mastery. Join his free online session, Deliver Captivating Meetings & Presentations.