GROWTH MINDSET

I am amazed by what gets published as a book.  For whatever reason, I picked up Mindset by Carol S. Dweck.  This is a book that you can read in about an hour, as it basically says the same thing for over 200 pages.  I guess I picked it up as these pages have delved into the psychology of design and the designer / client interface.  See, for example, RISK, SATISFACTION, CHOICE AND COST.  And I wanted to see if this book provided any more insight.

Her premise is that there are two states of mind, or what she calls mindsets.  One is a growth mindset.  The other is fixed.  And as you might guess, growth is good and fixed is bad.

Yet despite the simple and obvious subject, it is interesting to consider the concept of a growth mindset.  All of the qualities that she attributes to the growth mindset are indeed what we value as designers.

The growth mindset is one which fosters learning.  It is one which looks for improvement.  A growth mindset looks for difference and discovery.  A growth mindset states that we can always do better.  It is one in which mental flexibility is maintained.  A growth mindset believes that improvement can come from hard work.

Expanding this growth mindset into our realm, problem solvers are always looking for improvement.  Inherent in our discipline is the need to find a better way.  One of our basic job descriptions is to maintain sufficient mental flexibility to be open to growth.

And of course a fixed mindset is the exact opposite of these qualities.  So while fixed qualities do not need to be itemized here, one theory that came thru for me was that our fundamental educational structure is one which moves students toward fixed mindsets.  The memorization and regurgitation of facts certainly comprised a great majority of my early education.  And it was ever present in my children’s education.

Another segment of her book worth mentioning is her treatment of analogue drawing.  She asks the question on page 67, is artistic ability a gift?  As you might predict, with a growth mindset, she posits that everyone can draw and improve their drawing.  And on page 69, there is a comparison of drawings before students took a short class, and after.  The after drawings are markedly more sophisticated.

So, yes, a growth mindset for problem solvers is required.  I can think of many problem solvers who I would characterize with fixed mindsets.

Keep growing your mind.  And there is certainly more growth with transparency than there is without.