It dictates how we handle challenges, how we lead, and what we achieve. Ultimately, it is who we become.
Yet, too often we let it run in the background, unchecked. Reacting… instead of designing. Surviving… instead of thriving. Letting outdated or limiting beliefs quietly dictate our reality.
The great news is that our mindsets don’t have to be Fixed!
It’s a design choice. It’s something that we can refine, reshape and strengthen by adopting what Carol Dweck describes as, having a Growth Mindset.
I often remind my fellow sceptics (that’s me sometimes!) that a great mindset isn’t about toxic positivity, or the “good vibes only” mantra.
In fact, someone who always maintains an unwaveringly positive outlook can be just as frustrating to be around as an extreme pessimist - like Eeyore from Winnie-the-Pooh.
Please, I beg you, don’t evolve into becoming either of these types of characters!
It’s about Pragmatic Optimism.
See things as they are, while believing in what they could be. It’s about grit when things get tough. Gratitude even when it’s not easy. And always having a bias for action.
The most successful leaders, teams and organisations aren’t the ones who avoid setbacks, or have all the answers. They’re the ones who have built a way of thinking that allows them to reframe obstacles, embrace curiosity, and turn setbacks into the fuel for progress.
Every day, our inner dialogue (often our inner critic!) shapes how we see ourselves and our potential. Therefore, reframing the stories that we tell ourselves is a vital skillset to practice until it becomes a habit, and possibly even a ritual.
Because reinforcing old narratives ensures that we stay ‘stuck’. We need to catch these redundant stories and then rewrite them through a lens of growth and possibility.
As my favourite mindset guru Ben Crowe says,
Our ability to shift perspective isn’t just a soft skill - it’s a hard survival skill!
The key question that we need to be asking ourselves: is our mindset working for us, or against us? Because if we’re not shaping it with intention, then it’s shaping you by default.
And that’s a risk we can’t afford to take.
Wishing you a wonderful week while you rewrite your stories and redesign your mindset to work for you!
Richard Dore
Co-CEO - Director of Partnerships
Proteus Leadership
Mindsets are everything!
Our mindset drives the way that we see and make sense of the world. Our mindset dictates how we behave in this world, both now and into the future.
When designed well, mindsets can be a superpower for you, your team, and all relationships. They become the game-changer for reaching our full potential.
Working proactively on our mindset will bridge the gap between our intentions and our current reality. By developing a commitment to working on our mindset, gives us a roadmap to navigate life’s challenges through action-orientated behaviours that deliver ongoing positive transformation.
Half-Day Virtual Workshop: 2 April
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