Growth Mindset: Practical Steps to Foster Resilience and Continuous Improvement
Last week, I delivered a growth mindset message to a range of client audiences: an engineering company, two large fire and rescue agencies, and an audience of over 200 at a safety conference in downtown Vancouver.
I passionately believe in sharing the critical message to leaders everywhere that they must create an environment of growth and resiliency in their workplaces.
It’s easy to see when the evidence is present in the culture of the organizations I interact with and when it’s not.
How We Think Makes All the Difference
One of my favorite books to share with clients is Mindset by Carol Dweck. I also like to quote Henry Ford, who once said, “Whether you think you can or can’t, you are correct.”
In today’s fast-paced world, the best leaders know that success isn’t just about hitting targets – it’s about cultivating a mindset that sees failure as part of growth and resilience as a muscle that must be strengthened.
Leaders who inspire a growth mindset prepare their teams to survive and thrive through challenges.
Are you doing what is necessary to create a growth mindset within your team or organization? Let’s explore some ideas for building a culture of resilience and continuous improvement.
1. Model a Growth Mindset from the Top Down
It starts with you.
As a leader, your tone will echo across the groups and teams you lead.
Show them you’re invested in your growth journey and a lifelong learner.
Admit when you don’t have all the answers. Share the times you’ve failed and what you’ve learned from those experiences. This openness doesn’t make you vulnerable; it makes you human. You demonstrate to your team that growth isn’t just a slogan – it’s a commitment.
2. Redefine Success and Failure
If you want your team to innovate, redefine what success and failure look like.
Success is the sum of trying, learning, and trying again. Encourage your team to take calculated risks, and when mistakes happen, frame them as valuable learning experiences.
Recognize those who push beyond their comfort zones, even if the results aren’t perfect.
When you applaud resilience and not just results, your team will be more willing to take on challenges and grow.
3. Foster a Culture of Feedback and Open Communication
Growth thrives on feedback.
Yet, too often, feedback is top-down, with leaders delivering critiques while team members remain silent. Shift this dynamic by making feedback a two-way street.
Encourage your team to provide input on your leadership. When they feel heard, they’re more open to constructive feedback themselves.
Create an environment where open communication is the norm. When people know they can speak up without fear, they’re more likely to explore new ideas and work on personal growth.
4. Invest in Learning Opportunities
A growth mindset culture doesn’t happen by accident; it requires investment.
Provide resources and opportunities for your team to develop their skills.
This could mean offering formal training programs, funding online courses, or setting aside time each week for professional development.
[Shameless plug: Fiore Group Training is a Canadian leader in employee training, with several renowned learning programs designed to educate and train employees at every level within an organization.]
It could also mean mentorship or shadowing opportunities within the company. When leaders prioritize learning, they send a strong message: “We value growth here.”
An investment in learning is an investment in resilience and innovation.
5. Embrace “Yet” Thinking
The word “yet” is small, but its impact is profound.
If someone says, “I don’t know how to do that,” encourage them to add “yet.” This single word shifts the focus from limitations to possibilities. It reinforces the belief that skills and knowledge can be acquired with effort and time.
Make “yet” a part of your team’s vocabulary. It reminds them that their current state isn’t fixed; they can grow.
6. Celebrate Effort and Progress, Not Just Results
In a growth mindset culture, effort is as valuable as achievement.
Recognize team members who demonstrate grit, resilience, and hard work. Celebrate milestones and incremental progress, not just final achievements.
Acknowledge the perseverance it took to get there, even if there’s still a way to go. When you celebrate effort, you make it clear that growth is an ongoing journey, not a final destination.
7. Challenge the Comfort Zone
Resilience grows in discomfort.
Twice last week, during our one-day SONAR Leadership workshop, I asked the participants to recall when a leader allowed them to shine. Many of the stories revolved around moments when the participants felt nervous about the assignment but ultimately understood that the leader trusted them and wanted to push them outside their comfort zone. They grew as a result.
With that in mind, encourage your team to stretch beyond what they already know.
This could mean taking on new responsibilities, tackling challenging projects, or developing skills outside their usual role.
Yes, there will be failures and discomfort. But this is where growth happens. Challenge yourself to regularly push your team’s boundaries—not just to push but to expand their understanding of their capabilities.
8. Be Patient and Persistent
Building a growth mindset culture takes time.
Progress may not be visible immediately. Change takes time.
Teams need consistent encouragement to trust the process and adopt this new thinking. Be persistent in your approach.
Reinforce growth mindset principles in meetings, performance reviews, and daily interactions. With time, these practices will start to feel natural, creating a resilient culture where everyone is motivated to improve and adapt.
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A growth mindset isn’t just about thinking differently; it’s about leading differently.
When leaders commit to fostering resilience and continuous improvement, they create teams that aren’t afraid of failure or challenge.
They create teams that look beyond limitations and focus on possibilities. The power of a growth mindset lies in achieving goals and the journey itself—growing, learning, and improving together every step of the way.
Remember, as a leader, your job isn’t to mold perfection. It’s to inspire growth.
