Gold Medal Mindset

We like to think of our champions and idols, as superheroes who were born different from us.  We don’t like to think of them as relatively ordinary people who made themselves extraordinary.”  Carol S. Dweck

Like many of you, I have found myself glued to the TV these past few weeks, watching the Winter Olympics from Sochi.  As always, the backstories of the athletes are as fascinating as the competition.  They remind us over and over again that many, maybe even most, of these competitors have faced failure, heartache, and disappointment numerous times in their lives.  Yet, they picked themselves up, strapped on the skis or skates again and went back out on the mountain or on the ice.

Even the commercials during the Olympic broadcasts tend to show the long hard struggles of athletes and the obstacles they have faced.  None of these athletes have had an easy road to reach their goals.  Certainly they have had support, but the childhood video footage of the future Olympians often record countless hours of practice, struggle, and hard work.

Mindset

When watching the Olympics, I can’t help but think of Carol Dweck and her fabulous book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.  In this book she makes the argument that there are two mindsets: Fixed and Growth. Below is a quick summary that doesn’t do justice to her research and work, but it is a starting point to the ideas about Mindset:

Fixed: People with fixed mindsets operate from the belief that their qualities and abilities are set or carved in stone.  “I am who I am, and that’s all there is to it.”  Those with fixed mindsets avoid challenges because failure would say to themselves and others that they aren’t capable.  They see effort as an indicator that they aren’t naturally gifted and ignore or are even offended by any feedback that isn’t positive.  They want to be praised for who they are, not for their effort and hard work.

Growth: People with growth mindsets operate from the belief that their basic qualities can be cultivated and grown through effort.  They relish a challenge and actively seek out feedback so they can learn and improve.  They see obstacles as challenges that will make them stronger, and they see life as a journey of growth.

(Side Note: Nigel Holmes created a nice diagram to illustrate the differences between Fixed and Growth Mindsets.  I have included it at the end of this blog.  Take a look at it and let me know if you want more information.  I have access to summary materials—and the book.)

Our Challenge

Great teachers, says Dweck, need growth mindset and must be determined to create growth mindset students.  They make sure students know they have talent, but that more skill can be acquired.  The message to students: “Don’t expect success to come to you.  You have to go get it.”  Great teachers both challenge and nurture their students.

In the future, I would like to explore what Mindset might mean for Hamilton Southeastern High School.  For now, however, let Dweck’s thoughts on fixed and growth mindsets percolate as you connect it to what you have seen of the Olympics.  As the Olympians return stateside, we will see and hear more about them.  They will talk about twizzles, sliders, death drops, Telemark landings, and cork 5’s, and if you listen closely, they will make connections to growth mindset.  When you hear them speak, I hope you also think closer to home about how mindset impacts the students you see daily.

Questions to Ponder:

• When the Winter Olympians speak, where do you hear indicators of growth or fixed mindsets?
• As you interact with students, where do you see and hear indicators of growth or fixed mindsets?
•  What would it be like to teach at HSHS if all students and staff had growth mindsets?
•  How can we help develop growth mindset in our students?  In ourselves?

I hope your week is full of rewarding challenges and growth this week.  Good teaching can be as difficult as a Cab Five Double Grab, and you may never see a gold medal for your work, but it is without question as important to our students as any acrobatics on the slopes of Sochi.

Phil

“Did I win?  Did I lose? Those are the wrong questions.  The correct question is: Did I make my best effort?  If so, you may be outscored, but you will never lose.”  --John Wooden

Fixed and Growth Mindset as illustrated by Nigel Holmes in Dweck’s book: