To begin with, “growth mindset” is a concept of self-improvement. For example, individuals with a growth mindset have the confidence to make it through and do not get discouraged when they receive negative feedback, nor do they take feedback personally. In fact, having a growth mindset makes you see mistakes as an opportunity to further learn and move on.
It is known that in every matter there are two sides of the coin. In this respect, they’re two types of mindsets: a growth mindset and a fixed mindset.
When it comes to a fixed mindset, individuals believe that their basic skills, their intelligence, and their overall talents, are just fixed characteristics and something they are born with.
On the other hand, in a growth mindset, people consider that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort and determination.
“In other words, people with a fixed mindset believe that you can’t, or you don’t have to learn or grow, while in contrast, people with a growth mindset believe in their capacity to learn and grow”.
In light of the above, American Psychologist Carol Dweck’s research marked that mindsets have a vital influence on people’s ability to learn.Specifically, it is observed that individuals who utilize growth mindset tend to learn and achieve more over time than those with a fixed perspective.
However, the good news is that even if you currently have a fixed mindset, you can always enhance and develop a growth one.
Key elements to adopt a growth mindset:
- Effort
- Challenges
- Mistakes
- Feedback
Although, one may wonder why is important to have a growth mindset onboard?
As in every workplace, being a seafarer demands several abilities due to the difficult circumstances and the challenges they’re dealing with during their serve onboard.
Among others some of the required skills are: critical thinking, problem solving attitude, stress tolerance and flexibility. Therefore, a growth mindset gives you the chance to enjoy every challenge, despite its hidden risks.
Namely, it makes you stick and solve every issue you may face and move on to greater accomplishments through gained experience or lessons learned.
“If you find yourself terrified in the face of a serious challenge, stop and reframe the situation in your mind. Consider your challenge as an “opportunity,” thus slightly shifting your perspective to make it easier for you to engage. Each challenge or opportunity invites us into a new experience that is a sort of adventure.”
…as Phycology Today explained.
What is more, following the digitalization era, the machine learning and the artificial intelligence challenges within shipping operations, the growth mindset embraces those elements and brings success.
Overall, a growth mindset could contribute to a fuller, more meaningful life onboard, since new experiences will broaden your horizons.
“And if you want to stay current in the future of work, you need to have one”.
.. Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck concluded.
