Your mindset is the one thing you can control

One thing you can control in an uncertain world is your mindset.

I saw the power of mindset during the 2008 global financial crisis. We were all hearing stories of gloom and doom at that time. Based on the news reports, we were all going down the toilet. I could not believe that leaders would just throw up their hands in horror. I interviewed many senior leaders in a Big Kahuna Leadership Survey to see what they were thinking about the dire situation we faced. 

It was heartening to find they were much more optimistic than the media reports. There was no doubt the GFC challenged them, but many leaders were creating opportunities despite the market conditions. Some viewed the global financial crisis as an imperative to reduce exorbitant costs. Others seized the opportunity to buy businesses or sell off unprofitable parts of their own business. Their general conclusion was that there were opportunities despite the adverse times. 

The point is, the mindset they adopted was a critical factor in how they responded. 

Had they adopted a fixed mindset of doom and gloom, they would have missed even obvious opportunities. 

But leaders who adopted a growth mindset found opportunities despite the challenges.

Of course, today’s global pandemic is a bigger challenge than the GFC, but the same principles apply.

In her book, Mindset, Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck argues that “the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life.” She suggests that those with a fixed mindset are more likely to avoid challenges. Those with a growth mindset are more likely to thrive on challenges and learn from failures.

🙋 How do you adopt a growth mindset despite the challenges you face? 🙋‍♀️

Best regards, Brian