If you lived in Iowa the past few years, you’ve probably heard of Caitlin Clark. In fact, if you lived anywhere with a TV, you’re probably familiar with the record-setting women’s college basketball player known for her logo threes and competitive spirit. After leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to back-to-back national title appearances in 2023 and 2024, Clark has continued to win over new fans in the WNBA, where she was named Rookie of the Year in October.
Right before playing the last game of her collegiate career at Iowa, Clark reflected on what she had learned during the previous four years, saying: “I think over the course of my career I’ve been the one that’s been able to realize I’m not going to be perfect every game.”
To me, this quote highlights Clark’s understanding that growth and progress come from learning to handle setbacks and imperfections, even when you have grown accustomed to winning. It reflects key components of a growth mindset - continuous improvement and staying resilient in the face of challenges.
What is a growth mindset?
Mindset is a set of assumptions, attitudes, and beliefs about intelligence, abilities, and learning. Psychologist Carol Dweck wrote about this concept in 2006, describing mindsets on a continuum from fixed to growth:
Fixed mindset: Belief that intelligence and skills are innate and unchangeable. This might sound like, “I’m just not a math person” or “I just don’t do creative stuff.”
Growth mindset: Belief that with effort and the right strategies, you can improve your intelligence and abilities. This mindset motivates you to put in the work to advance.
Discussions about mindset have become so prevalent in educational settings, from elementary schools to college campuses, that the original concept is often misunderstood. One misconception is that simply having a positive attitude will inevitably lead to success, but optimism without action is not sufficient for improvement and growth. Another common misconception is that any type of effort will prove useful. We tell ourselves, “That didn’t go well. I guess I’ll just try harder next time.” But while putting in the work is critical, we sometimes spend a lot of time and effort on strategies that are not very effective, leading to frustration rather than progress. This is especially true when we are learning something for the first time or experiencing major transitions.
Why is growth mindset important?
Your mindset determines how you interpret setbacks and respond to challenges. For example, receiving a poor performance evaluation or negative feedback on a presentation can be demotivating for someone with a fixed mindset, leading them to withdraw and stop trying. Conversely, someone with a growth mindset sees challenges as opportunities to learn and improve, seeking help and trying new strategies.
In the ever-changing workplace of the 21st century, cultivating a growth mindset can help you manage stress, cope with challenges, and develop skills that will boost your career success. A growth mindset also promotes the acquisition of new skills and can improve effectiveness and efficiency.
How to embrace a growth mindset
Clark and the Iowa women’s basketball team didn’t just dream of playing on the biggest court in their sport – I saw them using a growth mindset to channel their goals into tangible strategies to improve their team’s game. Clark and her teammates conveyed their understanding that they needed to put in the work and embrace feedback to continue to improve: “I never want to stop being coached. I never want to stop being told what's right, what's wrong, no matter how good I play, how bad I play. There's always things to learn, things to get better at,” Clark said at a post-game press conference in January 2024.
How can you foster this growth mindset thinking in your own life? Try these three strategies:
Reflect on your own mindset: Understanding your mindset in different situations can help you take effective action toward your goals. Increase awareness of your current beliefs about learning and abilities using a tool like the Mindset Assessment. Use the Mindset Triggers Assessment to identify the type of situations that move you along the mindset continuum.
Reframe your self-talk: When you catch yourself thinking fixed mindset thoughts, remind yourself of past challenges you’ve overcome. Reflect on strategies that helped you succeed before and apply them to new goals. Embrace the word “yet” to remind yourself that learning takes time and effort and that every step of progress should be celebrated.
Focus on what you can control: Instead of performance-based goals, identify concrete actions you can take to make progress toward your goals. Seek support and advice from knowledgeable colleagues. Ask yourself: What have I tried already? What strategy can I try next?
Embracing a growth mindset can transform challenges into opportunities, helping you reach new heights in both your personal and professional life.
For strategies to help you develop this mindset, visit the Learning at Iowa website.
Cover image by Markus Spiske.