Somewhere along their academic journey, every student will encounter difficulties—for example, struggling to learn a new topic or feeling defeated after a mistake. The game-changer is not the frustration or failure itself, but how you respond to it and push forward.
Psychologist Carol Dweck describes two common ways people think about learning: a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. Students with a growth mindset believe they can improve through effort and practice, while those with a fixed mindset tend to think their abilities are unchangeable.
Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
| Fixed Mindset | Growth Mindset |
| Avoids challenges | Sees challenges as opportunities |
| Avoids feedback and criticism | Welcomes constructive feedback |
| Gives up easily when facing setbacks | Persists through setbacks |
| Believes effort is pointless | Sees effort as the path to improvement |
| Struggles to cope with change | Embraces change |
| Feels threatened by others’ success | Learns from and feels inspired by others’ success |
How You Benefit from a Growth Mindset
When you realise you can enhance your abilities through practice, persistence and effort, you begin to see your natural intelligence and skills as a starting point rather than a limit. This makes you more willing to try new things, even when a subject feels challenging at first.
After establishing a successful career as an industrial engineer, Mrs Dino Ma Gloren Moncada decided to pursue her dream of returning to study. Transitioning into academic life at 40 came with challenges, but she chose to view them as opportunities for personal growth and lifelong learning.
A growth mindset helps you stay motivated, push through setbacks and adjust your strategies rather than giving up. It also changes how you view failure. Instead of seeing mistakes as a sign that you’re not good at something, you start to see them as part of the learning process. This mindset allows you to keep improving over time and make steady progress toward your goals.
If you adopt this way of thinking, you’re more likely to perform better because you focus on learning, practising and building confidence, rather than comparing yourself to others or avoiding complex tasks.
With a fixed mindset, you might assume that high achievers in your class are naturally talented. But in reality, those achievements usually come from consistent effort, patience and practice.
How You Can Develop a Growth Mindset
You can develop a growth mindset by changing your habits one step at a time — starting with consistent actions and willingness to learn from challenges.
- Understand your Mindset
You cannot change what you are unaware of. Self-awareness is the first step. Take a moment to pause whenever you make a mistake or face a challenge.
- Look at Challenges as Opportunities
Challenges may feel uncomfortable at first, and self-doubt is normal. But each challenge helps you learn something new and grow your abilities.
- Patience is Key
Cultivating a growth mindset does not happen overnight. Progress can be slow, and sometimes you may feel like you’re starting over again. This is all part of the journey.
- Change Your View on Failure
Every failed attempt teaches you something. Instead of seeing failure as a setback, treat it as a learning opportunity.
- Writing Your Goals Down
Writing down your goals gives you clarity and direction. It helps you stay focused, track your progress and stay motivated as you work towards achieving them.
- Learn from others
Learning from the people around you can significantly influence your growth. In the MBA Global programme at LSBF Singapore Campus, students often collaborate on projects in which they analyse real business problems and develop solutions. Observing how your classmates approach the same challenge with diverse perspectives will help you become more adaptable.
How a Growth Mindset Supports Your Career
People with a continuous learning mindset tend to embrace challenges and persist even when they face obstacles. They don’t avoid complex tasks because they believe they can improve through effort, practice and dedication.
They also don’t see failure as the limit of their abilities. Instead, they treat it as a chance to learn, grow and polish their skills. This mindset encourages individuals to keep improving, stay adaptable and actively seek opportunities to build new skills.
In Singapore, this approach aligns with the nation’s move toward a skills-first workforce by encouraging individuals to upskill. Over the long haul, this mindset equips you with the resilience to keep growing.
Speak to our programme consultants today to learn more about the MBA Global programme.
FAQs
- What is a growth mindset in simple words?
A growth mindset is the belief that you can develop skills and talents through hard work, the right strategies, and guidance from others.
- How can I develop a growth mindset?
Developing a growth mindset often involves changing how you view challenges, abilities, and the learning process. Here are a few steps that can help:
- Understand the power of beliefs
- Persist through challenges
- Learn from mistakes
- Celebrate the effort, not only the outcome
- Look at failure as a learning opportunity
- Be curious and learn new things
- Practice self-awareness
- Set goals and track the progress
- Be patient, but persistent
At LSBF Singapore, collaborative learning supports this mindset.
