If you find yourself (or others) saying ‘that’s just the way I am’ or ‘it’s just my personality and I can’t change it’ you (or those others) have what Stanford University Psychologist Carol Dweck in her book Mindset calls a FIXED MINDSET.

1. Your Leadership Mindset
If you find yourself (or others) saying ‘that’s just the
way I am’ or ‘it’s just my personality and I can’t
change it’ you (or those others) have what Stanford
University Psychologist Carol Dweck in her book
Mindset calls a FIXED MINDSET. Here’s what she
says:
‘A fixed mindset comes from the belief that your
qualities are carved in stone – who you are is who
you are, period. Characteristics such as intelligence,
personality, and creativity are fixed traits, rather
than something that can be developed.’
‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ is an expression that springs to mind, here. Or
‘I’ve never been any good at……..’ Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy!
What inspiring leaders want to cultivate is what Dweck calls A ‘growth
mindset’. With this mindset you believe that you can change things through effort,
practice and experience. So, yes, you can have leadership presence; yes, you can
influence your senior team; yes, you can have a better work-life balance; yes, you
can run effective, engaging and purposeful meetings; yes, you can deliver great
presentations. You can see where I’m
going with this…..
One of the reasons that traditional training
courses don’t always result in the desired
changes is because they completely ignore
mindset.
You’ve probably attended a few courses
where you learn new theories, models, and
frameworks – all very interesting and
useful in many ways. But, be honest,
you’ve not really applied them back at
work.

2. Or you’ve sent your team members on expensive leadership programmes which they
enjoy but (frustratingly) their leadership capability doesn’t improve one iota.
Or you’ve sent team members on assertiveness
training – they learn a few phrases, they learn
about body language, they learn ‘I’m OK, you’re
OK’ but they are no more assertive than they
were before. (Ask them about their beliefs,
their drivers, their values, their biggest fears
and you’ll start to get to the mindset behind the
behaviour).
My favourite example of Focusing on the Wrong
Thing is Time Management training. Nothing wrong with it, per se. But I know
people who can spout every theory going about time management but still choose
to let time manage them. Why?
Because sometimes it’s easier to spend time doing ‘safe’ things rather than those in
the ‘difficult’ box! (So reading emails is safer than having that difficult conversation).
I know enough now about mindset to know when I need to change mine, get off the
fence and stop making excuses. And it can be very challenging. I might

3. procrastinate for a while. Because sometimes the fence can be a comfortable place
to be – but it’s uncomfortable even painful after a while.
So here’s how to start cultivating a growth mindset.
Look at one belief you hold about yourself that is not serving you well. (often starts
with I should/I must/I ought…..)
Ask yourself ‘what effort, practice and experience do I need to change that
mindset?’
Because you can teach an old dog new tricks!
And new tricks means more rewards!
Till next time
Lynn

4. Lynn Scott Coaching Ltd
High Wood Barn
Rathmell
North Yorkshire
BD24 0JX
T 01729 840045
E pat@lynnscottcoaching.co.uk
www.lynnscottcoaching.co.uk