If you felt a sting when you saw this title, please know that it’s directed at myself, as well. When I really started delving into the concept of the fixed mindset, I was quite horrified to find out how much of it applied to me!

In the last chapter of Carol Dweck’s book, Mindset, she gives some scenarios to look at – first from a fixed mindset point of view, and then from that of a growth mindset.

One that really hit me on the raw was about entitlement – feeling that the world should recognise our special qualities and treat us accordingly. She described a situation where a person is in a low-level job, and feels it’s demeaning to have to work hard to make progress. Their boss thinks they have a bad attitude and doesn’t call on them when she needs help – and also doesn’t put them in for a promotion.

In the fixed-mindset, the person feels bitter – how can their boss not see their talents and automatically put them in the upper echelons where they belong? In the growth mindset, they might consider working harder and being more helpful to others.

The really interesting part, though, is the analysis that follows. Dr. Dweck explains that it can be very frightening to give up the idea of being inherently superior. We can certainly see that happening in the world right now.  As she says, how can you feel good about yourself if you are no more valuable than those you look down on?

In her scenario, the person starts putting in more effort, to see if they get more of the rewards they desire. They do. They begin to see that effort might be necessary. But they are really upset at the idea that it is no guarantee, that they might put in the effort and someone else might still get the promotion. It’s really outrageous – not only do they have to put in work, but to work and not have things turn out the way they wanted???

In the growth-minded mindset, the person eventually starts to enjoy putting in the work towards learning the things that they need to know to rise up the ladder. Their interactions with colleagues become less transactional and more about developing relationships. Amazingly, the people that they wished would change actually do, once they become collaborators rather than adversaries.

Here is the last paragraph of that section: In the end, many people with the fixed mindset understand that their cloak of specialness was really a suit of armour they built to feel safe, strong and worthy. While it may have protected them early on, later it constricted their growth, sent them into self-defeating battles, and cut them off from satisfying, mutual relationships.

I’d love to hear your feedback on this scenario and her conclusions about it. Hit reply and let me know!