8 Qualities that Support a Growth Mindset

By Scott Garvis, CMAA
Bound AD in Residence

Your mindset can make all the difference!

Consider developing these qualities to optimize your growth:

• An open mind. Personal growth requires considering new perspectives, ideas, habits, and beliefs. If you’re dead set on approaching the world in a particular way, you’re greatly limiting your growth. Only when you are open to all the various possibilities can your growth be maximized. Consider that if you already had an optimal perspective and approach to everything, you’d already have everything you want. You may be mistaken about multiple things. Are you willing to figure out what those things are?  Are you open to the idea that you might change your objectives based on new things that you discover about the world and yourself?
• An interest in learning. Are you willing to learn about goal setting? Overcoming fear? Discipline? Communication skills? Reading about new ideas? There’s a lot that you don’t know that you need to know if you’re going to become everything that you’re capable of being.
• The willingness to fail. Trying new things requires failure. It’s rare and lucky to succeed at something the first time. Whether you’re learning to be a better public speaker, taking a class, or learning how to play the violin, there will be failure. Failure provides the opportunity to learn and then to apply that knowledge during future attempts.
• The desire to experiment. Should you skydive, write a book, or sing karaoke? Try them all and see what works for you. You can’t be certain what you want to do, or be until you’ve experimented and found the best for yourself. If it doesn’t work for you you tried something new and you have an experience to learn and grow from.
• The ability to set your ego aside. Your ego is a major obstacle when it comes to maximizing your personal growth. Your ego makes you more likely to be certain you’re right when you’re wrong. It leads you to blame others when the fault is your own. It also makes you afraid to fail.
• Value improvement over perfection. Daily improvement is incredibly powerful. It’s not possible to be great at something instantly. When you can get excited about improving by 1% at something, you have a great mindset for personal growth.
• Patience. Personal growth is an ongoing process. It may take decades to become the best possible version of yourself. Even figuring out the ideal sleeping schedule can take several weeks of trial and error. It takes time to get over your social anxiety or lose weight. Patience is an important factor!
• Determination. Changing and growing isn’t for the weak. It’s important to be determined and committed to changing yourself and your life.

• Determination is a valuable asset to have in many facets of life. Even people with minimal talent have become incredibly successful through great determination.

Your growth is challenging, but it can be a lot easier with a mindset that supports your desire to grow. Too many people try to grind their way to progress, but real growth requires more finesse much of the time. Grinding also isn’t sustainable for most people.

Your mindset can be your shortcut to fantastic growth. The optimal mindset for personal growth is open, curious, determined, and patient. Take a hard look at your mindset before continuing on your development journey.

About Scott Garvis

Scott Garvis has been a leader and innovator in intercollegiate and interscholastic athletics development and fundraising for more than 25 years – as an athletics director, coach, association board member, adviser and editorial contributor.

Scott has a record of excellence as Athletics Director, Director of Activities and Assistant Principal, having led the athletics departments at six high schools or school districts in three states.  He has achieved unparalleled success at all levels of high school athletics: large public school districts, a small public high school, a private school, and with state and national athletics administrator associations.