Cultivating a Growth Mindset with CliftonStrengths

In our constantly evolving professional environment, embracing a growth mindset is a pivotal step toward personal and professional development. Carol Dweck defines a growth mind set as, “When people understand that their abilities can be developed.” This mindset transforms us from thinking that our current abilities are stagnant and confined to understanding that we are empowered to develop and improve over time. CliftonStrengths, a framework for uncovering our natural tendencies, is a powerful tool in embracing a growth mindset in a way that leads to results. It guides us in identifying and cultivating our abilities, taking advantage of our innate strengths.

Growth Mindset and CliftonStrengths: So, what exactly is a growth mindset and CliftonStrengths? Popularized by psychologist Carol Dweck, a growth mindset is the belief that our basic abilities are not fixed and can be developed through dedication and hard work. This perspective creates a love for learning and resilience that is essential for great personal and professional development and satisfaction. CliftonStrengths, similarly, is a tool that helps identify and harness your natural talents. When these concepts come together, they empower you to continually evolve, transforming everyday challenges into opportunities for growth.

Developing a Growth Mindset through CliftonStrengths: Embracing a growth mindset through the lens of CliftonStrengths means recognizing your talents and purposefully using them to overcome obstacles and take on new challenges – ultimately taking the things you do naturally well (your talents) and converting them to strengths. This process involves embracing change, actively seeking feedback, and viewing setbacks as opportunities for learning and improvement. It also requires you to deeply understand and value the things that you bring to a team, relationships, and situations. The beauty is that when you start to see your talents as muscles that can be strengthened and flexed, rather than unchangeable traits, you unlock potential for personal growth and achievement.

Focusing on Strengths for Improved Performance: John’s role requires him to execute list of dozens of tasks, daily. He struggled with finding satisfaction in his work and wasn’t a particularly high performer. This changed when he tapped into his strengths.

John’s CliftonStrengths assessment revealed that he isn’t driven or motivated by ‘executing’ tasks. Rather, he is highly motivated and energized when he gets to use his ‘strategic thinking’ talents (e.g., strategic, ideation, intellection). Instead of trudging through his tasks in an execution-oriented manner, John refocused on streamlining processes. By applying his strategic thinking to reorganize his workflow and daily requirements, he not only increased efficiency but also found his work much more rewarding. This led to him being recognized as a higher performer, too!

Here's the thing: the same amount of work got done (more, even!). However, using this approach, he was able to shift his focus and way he was operating to leverage the things he naturally excels to achieve success, improving his overall satisfaction and performance.

Applying CliftonStrengths with Peers: Numerous people have been credited with the famous quote: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” A growth mindset is about going far, not always fast. Leading with a growth mindset requires you to recognize your strengths (and blind spots!) and complement those abilities with the those around you. This is where the beauty of CliftonStrengths comes in again.

Anna and Mark are coworkers. Anna, a high strategic thinker (6 of her top 10 strengths are in the ‘strategic thinking’ category!), often clashed with Mark, who was action-oriented and quick to execute. Both approaches bring value to a team, but have some drawbacks if not considered. Anna thinks about all possibilities and brings the team clarity, but can be slower to action. Mark drives things forward quickly and efficiently, but sometimes misses details as a result.

Initially, their interactions had a lot of tension, especially when planning for a major program improvement. However, they both had strong communication skills. After taking a step backwards and discussing their strengths and ‘operating styles,’ they identified ways that they could work together in a more productive way. Anna's strategic planning complemented Mark's swift execution, leading to a more cohesive and effective partnership. By recognizing this, the two were able to help develop and execute a highly successful plan. Anna focused on defining the plan, anticipating obstacles, and considering all the possible advantages of different actions. Mark worked with Anna to prioritize each of the actions and objectives and to drive the progress of the plan forward.

Conclusion: The integration of a growth mindset and CliftonStrengths transcends beyond mere personal achievement; it's a catalyst for substantial contributions to organizational development, cultural transformation, and personal satisfaction. In navigating the twists and turns of your professional path, it's essential to keep a growth mindset in the driver's seat, hand in hand with a deep understanding of your CliftonStrengths. This approach will propel your personal career trajectory and allow you to leave a lasting imprint on your organization.

Call to Action: Gain a deeper understanding of your CliftonStrengths: what are they, when have you used them in the last week, and how will you use them in the next week? Share your stories of how understanding your strengths has shaped your personal and professional journey. Together, let's continue to learn, grow, and impact our organizations positively.

Note: All client names have been changed for anonymity.