Fixed vs. Growth What Mind set are you?

When I work with an athlete, I treat them all the same at the start. It is as if they don’t know anything, and we adapt as we go through the work out. If they grasp the cues and understand, I advance the drill or workout but there is something a lot of coaches and parents forget to train. All the training in the world doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t get a good grasp of a kids mindset. Coming from so many different backgrounds, cultures, experiences and personalities that make up a kid’s minds and see the world in their own unique one of a kind way. We forget that our mindset is the most important thing. Because you can be either be fixed and set in your beliefs or be able to adapt and grow. So which are you, Fixed mindset or Growth mindset?

The Fixed Mindset

As the name suggests, someone with a fixed mindset views intelligence, skills and traits as fixed, meaning they are what they are and cannot be improved. In a fixed mindset, you would see confidence as something you either have or don’t have. If you struggle with believing in yourself, you may feel that it’s hopeless and you’ll never be as confident as your teammates. Having this mindset, you are prone to avoid challenges, so you are limited to growth and experience learning opportunities. This idea is strengthened when you see people (sometimes with no real reason to be) who are incredibly confident, and it seems to come effortlessly to them. A physical example is speed. You can look at it as something you’re either born with or not or you might believe that you’re simply destined to always be slow. The fixed mindset means you cannot grow. The skills you have and the traits you possess are there, and you can’t improve.

The Growth Mindset

You hear people talk about it all the time, the great Kobe Bryant made it his mantra The Mamba Mentality which means to try to be our best versions constantly. He stated that it referred to individuals being better each day than they were yesterday. Simply put, the mamba mentality is about conquering your fears and being your best self. The growth mindset views intelligence, skills, and traits as ever evolving. You can always improve your skills if you have the determination and work ethic to do so. They welcome challenges and are not worried about making mistakes, or embarrassment. They see everything as you never lose but you either win or learn. Going off the two examples from above, let’s say that right now you struggle with self-confidence. In the fixed mindset you’d say, “Oh well, that’s just the way I am.” But in the growth mindset you’d say, “What can I do to build my confidence?” The growth mindset isn’t about pretending you’re something you’re not. In fact, with this mindset you are forced to come to terms with where you stand right now. If you are a slow runner, within the growth mindset you see this as something you can change. Through training, you can increase your speed. The growth mindset means you are always looking for ways to improve. And if you’re not currently looking, it means at the very least you know you are capable of improving.

So now that you know both, which one are you? Are you part of that Mamba Mentality or are you fixed in where you stand?

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