"Whether you think you can or you think you can't—you're right." This quote from Henry Ford captures the idea of a growth mindset–a mindset that can help you be sure of yourself and your capabilities! Watch the video and read more below about how a growth mindset—a key durable skill—helps you persevere through setbacks and continuously improve!

What is a growth mindset?

Having a growth mindset is about believing you can improve at anything with effort and persistence. It’s the difference between saying “I can’t do this” and “I can’t do this yet.” It’s about having trust and belief in yourself that you can do anything you put your mind to.

Why a growth mindset matters

With a growth mindset, you can view school, work, and things in your personal life as opportunities to try new things. You can also view any challenges that come up as chances to grow, not just barriers preventing you from success. As you build a growth mindset, you will learn from your mistakes and come to believe that you can get better with persistence and effort.

Employers desire candidates embracing a growth mindset because they’re adaptable and ready to learn. While a candidate may have the knowledge or skill set necessary to enter a job, there will always be new things to learn. Being open to new information and new ways of working will go a long way in any job!

Additionally, as AI use becomes more common in school, our personal lives, and at work, it has the potential to weaken our critical thinking skills and desire to learn new things. Having a growth mindset can help you overcome this tendency and work with AI to learn new information and skills!

Actionable ways to embrace a growth mindset

Here are a few specific ways you can develop a growth mindset:

Reframe mistakes as lessons

If you fall short or make a mistake in school or at work, take some time to reflect. What could be done differently next time? What did you learn from the experience? Being able to reframe your mistakes as lessons can help you better prepare for whatever comes your way next time.

Track progress, not just success 

Whether you’re trying to become a better baker or learn how to budget your money, try tracking any progress you make on a weekly or monthly basis. It can be easy to only track success—like saving your goal amount of money or perfecting a recipe you’ve been working on—but progress is just as important! Focusing on growth in addition to results can help you stay motivated.

Why a growth mindset is a lifelong skill

A growth mindset supports everything from career success to your personal well-being! No matter what you’re trying to achieve in work or life, if you believe that you can grow, you will be fueled by what you can learn rather than what you already know. 

Want to learn more about durable skills? Dive into the essential and timeless skills that help young people thrive in work, school, and life to achieve long-term success!