In business as it is in life, stasis is a precursor to failure. The value of corporate agility became readily apparent when Covid-19 forced us all to completely transform our daily operations. Companies unable to keep pace and navigate the shifting sands have paid the price with layoffs and closures.

Meanwhile, other companies have not only survived but even charted a course of growth amidst the uncertainty. This success is characteristic of leadership with the growth mindset. It encompasses a persistent passion for the chase and an irrepressible desire to challenge and overcome. Here are some ways you can nurture it from within.

Change and You

The ability to handle change – anticipate, plan for, tackle and adapt to it – is an essential element of the growth mindset. This is not an easy trait to develop; leaders must constantly have an ear to the ground and also possess the creativity to visualize both future challenges and possible solutions.

It is important to make a distinction here: the objective is not a “change-proof” organization but a “change-compatible” one. The former alludes to insulation from external developments while the latter incorporates developments as stepping stones to a better business model.

Reset

Disruption is the name of the game in the age of start-ups but it is a universally applicable concept. Before an external factor or competitor comes along to disrupt your carefully-constructed world, do it yourself. Ask these three questions to apply the growth mindset with a “reset” perspective:

  • What weakness would a competitor target?
  • What used to work but does not anymore (or not as well)?
  • What would you completely rethink if you had to begin again?

The answers will push you out of the rut of your typical thought process and force you to reassess basic essentials.

Bigger Picture

One of the greatest perils for a budding leader is the allure of micromanagement. While a growth mindset epitomizes big ideas and possibilities, micromanagement is a stressful path beset with discomfort for everyone involved. Make a conscious effort to remind yourself to look at the bigger picture, even when things go awry.

In stepping back from the frontlines of every battle, a business leader gains the marked advantage of oversight. This detached perspective reveals otherwise hidden pathways and alternatives. Also, in ceding control to individual team members, you empower them with the growth mindset, too.

Priority Shift

Perceiving every hurdle as a black or white, win or lose situation is detrimental. With a growth mindset, victories are celebrated but there is no such thing as a complete failure. There are instead shades of grey which come with knowledge and experience, regardless of the result.

This approach is particularly advantageous in terms of people management. Convey to your team the importance of constant improvement rather than the mindless pursuit of a particular goal. Such latitude allows the growth mindset to percolate from you to the entire team.

Would you like to learn more about how mindset impacts your ability to be an effective leader? Read my article How Your Mindset Shapes Your Attitude.