Leading with a Growth Mindset

According to Carol Dweck, a great phycologist and sociologist of this time attributes anyone's success to a specific type of mindset. This mindset is known as the growth mindset. A growth mindset motivates individuals to self-regulate their thoughts which in turn impacts his or her achievement. When individuals believe a task can be completed, a plan to succeed will follow. Within the plan of action, practice, collaboration, research, and continued revising will occur. Believing that one can accomplish challenging task motivates and calls to action behaviors that can yield success. Accomplishing a task is not always attainable immediately, but over time with continued practice, collaboration and research, growth will occur until the challenging task is a success. Telling your brain that you can accomplish a task is a powerful tool that can yield success. A growth mindset makes it easier to endure challenges with perseverance and sets the standard of not giving up. Contrary beliefs belong to an individual with a fixed mindset. A fixed mindset is opposite of a growth mindset which individuals believe current skills, knowledge and abilities cannot improve. Therefore, the effort of creating plans of action, continuous practice, collaboration, or research are not valued. The less than helpful thoughts make success impossible to accomplish due to lack of belief.

Understanding the importance of a growth mindset has caused me to reflect on my past thoughts and behaviors when presented with challenging task. As I recalled experiences that were newly introduced, I realized how believing I couldn't accomplish challenging tasks resulted with incomplete projects and lack of enthusiasm towards learning how to do something new. I instantly decided whatever I told myself I could do, I would do. If I couldn't do it immediately, practice and collaboration would guide me to achieving success. As I embrace a growth mindset, I am able to face challenges and take risks with a plan. Currently, I am faced with a new structured learning environment know as COVA. COVA enables students to experience choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning experiences. This model is completely different than what I have experienced in a traditional learning environment. I have complete control of my learning. Embracing the growth mindset as I face such challenge has enabled me to formulate plans of action to attain growth and success as I complete digital learning and leading coursework. I have allowed myself to fail forward utilizing my plan of action that outlines thoughts, behaviors, and collaboration methods. Throughout this COVA experience I have learned how to learn as I face challenges during my journey of authentic choice, voice, and ownership learning.

Digital leaders like Joi Ito, former director of MIT media lab utilizes the growth mindset as he and his students seek to improve technology various functionalities. Creativity and perseverance produced meaningful products that improved time management constraints and manufacture cost. Today, society has been introduced to technology innovations which are a result of growth mindset thinking. Innovators approached complex problems with an expectation to improve his or her understanding and skill.

As a future digital leader, I will utilize a growth mindset to help others and myself attain challenging goals or tasks. First, I will lead with the belief that I can be a digital leader and respond to my thoughts with plans of action to increase my knowledge and skill practice. I will expose myself to more platforms of instructional technology to become connected to the now in technology. The platforms will consist of social media professional learning communities, blogs, technology association, and books that foster digital leading in education. Staying connected will support growth and innovation while failing forward to increase technology skills and understanding of digital technology trends. Next, I will determine whys to show evidence of my learning and growth so that I am able to monitor my growth and improvement of skills. Research reveals reflection supports learning and reflecting on experiences are excellent opportunities. Maintaining and monitoring my plan of action will consist of reflecting, planning, observing act are reflective steps that will increase my ability to think about thinking. until the desired outcome is accomplished should be followed. If anything is confusing at this step, collaborative connections will aid in identifying solutions to getting better. As reflection occurs, I will come to an understanding of my strengths and weaknesses.

Leading requires transparency and authenticity. Because I have the privilege of being a digital graduate student, I understand how to support learners who may or may not approach digital learning with tenacity and resolve. Teaching and modeling behaviors of growth mindset presents opportunities to be transparent about my personal digital learning experience. I believe the authenticity of my journey will enable me to empathize while assuring that the uncomfortable feelings are a part of the learning process. Consistency will build trust and buy-in for any authentic learning environment. 

Reference

Dweck, C. (2015). Carol Dweck Revisits the 'Growth Mindset'. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/09/23/carol-dweck-revisits-the-growth- mindset.html

Dweck, C. (2016). Recognizing and Overcoming False Growth Mindset. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/recognizing-overcoming-false-growth-mindset-carol- dweck