Mindset

Mindset from a Viking perspective

In the ancient Viking rules, we find //§1 Be Brave and Aggressive// with the sub-items

 * Be direct 
 * Grab all opportunities 
 * Use varying methods of attack 
 * Attack one target at a time 
 * Use top quality weapons

Fixed Mindset and Growth Mindset

We will come back to some of these entries later, but now we will focus on the **mindset** based on current psychological insights and research. Your mindset is basically how you perceive intelligence and talents, see also the work of Carol S. Dweck. There are two basic mindsets that you can have, a //fixed mindset// or a //growth mindset//.

A //fixed mindset// considers intelligence as something fixed, that cannot be changed, but only be used or not used. A fixed mindset has a passive relation to reality and understands the real world as a limitation. Such a mindset provides stability and safety, as long as the environment is mostly stable.

A //growth mindset// considers talents as starting point that develop according to the use of them. A growth mindset has an active and creative relation to reality and understands the real world as an invitation for change. Such a mindset provides change and development in changing environments.

Research has shown, that intelligence and talent are overrated when it comes to success, in particular it turns out that continuing work is needed for any success.

The mindset determines the way that you can approach challenges. Normally, challenges are approached by building strategies. In order to be successful, it is a good idea to be conscious in this choice, to know different strategies and deliberately choose the best option. A strategy may be defined as a plan of attack. This means that when we talk about a success strategy, we talk about how to attack our goals. A good success strategy is a plan that helps you to prepare, implement and evaluate your efforts.

The work of Carol S. Dweck on Mindset

The book [[1]] by Carol S. Dweck, Stanford University, describes and has proven how important the mindset is. She elaborated on the crucial differences that occur in education, learning and beyond, in your mindset. Your mindset is basically how you perceive intelligence and talents. Success and how much you learn and grow throughout your life depends largely on the type of mindset you have. You can have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset and something in between. Mindset here is not something you can change from day to day, it is a state of mind that is very much you and goes back to the way you were raised and educated. However, you can change your mindset over time. It is important to change your mindset if you do not have the right mindset for learning, growing, and ultimately success.

Dweck addresses educators and teachers and it is particularly important for those who work in these professions and/or have children to take notice of her ideas and research. Yet, also managers and team leaders and adult learners can learn from 'Mindset', because the way you view yourself and others and the way you judge and give feedback greatly influences if learning and growth takes place or not.

  * [Nature of Change] 
  * [Take the test "Test your mindset"]
  * [and math/science achievement]

Video resources:

  * [A Mindset for Success : Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset]
  * [Power of Belief:  Mindset and Success, Eduardo Briceno, TEDX]
  * [Power of Yet, Prof. Carol, S. Dweck, TEDX]