5 Best Practices to Develop a Growth Mindset in Your Team

Who doesn't want to become a leader and build the strongest team?  

We all want to lead one day!

Since childhood, whether it's school, college, or home, we get teamwork training in various ways! We've been developing teamwork skills for a long time, but have you ever forced someone to grow without their consent?

The potential of some team members may be there, but their mindset may be fixed. They prevent themselves from growing.

Taking the initiative for your team to develop a growth mindset and strengthen every team member is your responsibility as a leader.

WHY FOSTERING A GROWTH MINDSET IS CRUCIAL TO SUCCEED AS A TEAM?

A fixed mindset can't achieve anything, neither monetary nor influential. If you want to achieve major things with your team, it's important to foster a growth mindset. 

Having a growth mindset is essential. It can help you overcome obstacles you may face when learning something new or developing a new skill. 

Teams that have a strong growth mindset actively seek learning opportunities which result in better career opportunities.

A growth mindset improves collaboration, sharing information, seeking feedback, and admitting errors. 

Teams that are constantly seeking to improve is a good thing for your business because companies must continually adapt to stay alive.

5 BEST PRACTICES TO DEVELOP A GROWTH MINDSET IN YOUR TEAM

You can find and train people who fit your values and work ethic by following these five simple practices:

1. Instill a Sense of Normalcy About Failures

My experiences say that it is not an easy task for everyone to accept failure and consider it a normal part of life. When some team members are struggling with this mindset, it's your job to enable your team members that it's okay to fail. Failure is the first step in moving toward the success path. 

Follow these tips:

• Ask them to accept their failures and mistakes

• Guide them on how to find out the reasons

• Help them to find out what you can learn and how you can reflect on it

• Empower them to follow reflection and move ahead

Every time we fail at something, we can choose to look for the lesson we're meant to learn. These lessons are very important; they're how we grow, and how we keep from making that same mistake again. 

2. Measure Performance Rather than Assessing Results Every Time

Making decisions based on results is not the best way to determine whether your team is growing. It is essential to measure someone's performance after they have started something and reached a high level. Often, you check the final outcome and decide something.

Follow these tips:

• Assign some jobs and record the performance 

• Measure performance once the job gets done

Let me share an example: Asking employees to evaluate their own performance can be very effective. Often, employees may be more critical of their performance. Whether it's good or bad, the metrics in your performance assessment package all come as numbers.

3. Give Challenges and Encourage Them to Take Risks

If you want to develop a growth mindset in your team, another best way is to give them challenges. Some team players often avoid taking on challenges and prefer living in their comfort zone. You all know that living in the comfort zone can't grow you and can't enable you to become a risk-taker. So, give challenges to the team so they can come out of their comfort zone.

Follow these tips:

• Find out the comfort zones of the team 

• Give challenges to break that zone and enter the growth zone

Many times, I took challenges beyond my strengths. I conquered them. Also, I challenged an older colleague who denied taking work. It was clear to me that she could do it. She just needed a little push to make it happen.

4. Create a Learning Culture and Promote Upskills

When building a team, it is common for you to try bringing different expertise into one place. Initially, it would be tough for everyone to work together as they are unknown to each other. It's your responsibility that creates a learning environment culture where everyone respects others' expertise. If some team members are preventing themselves from upskilling, you can see their potential. Encourage them that learning is a never-ending process, and upskilling would benefit your growth.  

Follow these tips:

• Develop upskilling programs

• Schedule meet-ups to exchange the thoughts

Most industry and top leaders promote development opportunities to retain their talents. 

5. Show Appreciation in Different Ways

Do you know that appreciation not only increases productivity but also trust? When you appreciate your team, they feel motivated and connected to you. Lack of appreciation can't lead a strong team with a growth mindset.

Follow these tips:

• Use various ways of appreciation

• Drop a thank you message, recognize in front of a crowd/public, or give something, send a birthday message, etc.

Some of the best ways to recognize your team include props, awards, recognition programs, gift cards, fitness opportunities, paid time off and social media accolades.

Final Thoughts

No matter whether you work alone or with others, growth requires people who have a growth mindset and are open to growth!

Put these tips into practice and make a strong team with those who believe in growth.