“One thing about human intelligence is absolutely certain: it is malleable, meaning it can be changed through exposure to new information or even by looking at what you already know in a new way. There is no limit to what you can learn, and, contrary to what some may think, nobody's brain has ever been "filled."
― Terry Doyle and Todd Zakrajsek, The New Science of Learning: How to Learn in Harmony With Your Brain
Growth mindset neuroscience is about a belief in the changeability of the human brain and our ability to increase our intelligence and abilities.
As MIT’s Teaching + Learning Lab puts it:
"students who believe they can substantially increase their intelligence and ability through experience and effort (‘growth mindset’) often react to academic challenges by allocating more effort, experimenting with new approaches, and seeking feedback"
A person’s mindset and their belief about intelligence is shown to influence their behaviors and responses to failures and challenge. (Dweck, 2006;Paunescu et al.2015).
Mindset is listed as one of the most powerful leverage points to change, according to systems thinking expert Donella Meadows. When we increase our understanding of neuroscience and neuroplasticity, our mindset toward learning and intelligence changes.
But BEFORE growth mindset... there is something critically important to focus on.
Without it, human nervous system architecture is wired to keep us on the defensive. This lowers our access to the features of the brain and body needed for learning, innovation, problem-solving and creativity.
Therefore, before you even think or talk about Growth Mindset, focus on building psychological safety.
CULTIVATE PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY
One of the most powerful ways we can increase a sense of psychological safety with others is to be as authentic as we can be.
The more authentic you are in not just believing - but KNOWING- change and growth are possible, the more personal your language* and nonverbal cues will be. This gets reflected in tiny nuances of words you use and frequencies you transmit from personal, internalized feelings - that help another person resonate and trust what you are saying.
When we teach about growth mindset but we don't challenge ourselves to learn new things, or embrace our own mistakes, the people we are teaching can pick up on that.
For us toauthentically teach growth mindset, we need to be able to explain from a standpoint of a beginner, someone who is ‘starting from scratch’ and going through the many learning dips, discomfort and awkwardness of learning a new skill, habit, belief or behavior.
That’s why it’s important to learn new things that challenge you, and then reflect on how you deal with your own obstacles, mistakes, and negative self-talk. Then you can draw on personal examples instead of using catchphrases. Your authenticity and vulnerability send out social frequencies that lower people’s defensiveness, which primes them for learning. This is the essence of trust.
Trust comes from a sense of safety.
It is a biological mechanism of letting down the systems we use for vigilance. Without this, our brain has a difficult time allowing resources to be used for open-mindedness and flexibility.
In upcoming Neuroscience + Growth Mindset Mondays I will share the science behind 4 other non-negotiable keys to inspiring and building growth mindset
* (I also cover the specific ways language actually triggers a growth or fixed mindset in this podcast episode)
The Neuro-Coach program is an exclusive opportunity to work 1-on-1 with me to help you become more ‘fluent’ in neuroscience so you can attract more clients and enhance your position as an authority.
Through this program, we will build out three key pillars through Client Nervous System Mapping, specialized science-based avatars, and other systems to help you stand out among your competitors and diversify your client base with the power of neuroscience.
Participants of this program will also become a Neuro-Coach Alumni and be featured on my website and other channels, as well as have an exclusive opportunity to get personalized brain maps for themselves and clients to use as pre- and post-assessments and marketing material.
Full disclosure that there is a selection process, so take the time to read about it here and book a 15-minute call with me if interested (scheduling link is on the link listed above). The roster for spring has been filled, but I'll be opening up a couple more spots for early summer and then again in the fall. This is a high demand program, so if this sounds at all intriguing, book a call before those future spots fill up!
*please note that the suggestions and exercises offered in these videos are not offered as a substitute for professional mental health care or medical care and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any mental health or medical conditions.
