Mindset in Action: Key Strategies for Any Leader to Take
As we have seen already, mindset is a powerful thing. It is what pushes us forward—or not. The previous article, Unlocking Your Potential: The Power of Controlling Your Mindset as a Retail Leader, began the discussion about the control we have over our mindset. It also brought up limiting beliefs and how they can stop forward movement and hold us back.
Perhaps you’ve heard that inner voice tell you:
“I am not good enough.”
“I could never accomplish that.”
“I won’t get promoted, others are more talented than I am.”
“No way I’ll be able to take that on, no one is going to succeed with that.”
Each of those are limiting beliefs. Arbitrary comments that you sometimes tell yourself which slow your actions, and cause you to believe you cannot succeed at something.
Author, Speaker, and Podcaster Jon Acuff framed these as negative soundtracks in his book, ‘Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking.’ Here is how he defined a negative soundtrack:
A negative soundtrack as a repetitive pattern of negative thoughts that play in our minds and reinforce negative beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. These soundtracks can include negative self-talk, such as "I'm not good enough," "I'll never be successful," or "I always mess things up." Negative soundtracks can also involve beliefs about others, such as "People can't be trusted," or "Everyone is out to get me."
It can be difficult to overcome these mindset challenges. Before we get into some tactical items that will help you to ensure you are framing up the right mindset for your situation, there are some questions that are necessary to ask yourself when you run into your inner voice.
Is this accurate?
Is what you are telling yourself true? Are you presenting yourself correct facts?
This requires some thought and potentially some research. I want to avoid making this sound like a lengthy process. Acuff also talks about overthinking as the sub-arc in his Soundtracks book, and I agree with him. The research element may be as simple as asking yourself, “are there examples of when I have done this thing, or something similar?”
Chances are, you do have examples of times you have been successful in the face of a challenge. Pull those thoughts to the forefront and build on that for your framework.
But when your inner voice tells you that you can’t do something, take a moment to look objectively at a situation and ask yourself, “is that really accurate?”
Does this thought process help me?
You’re standing on top of a beautiful canyon looking down and enjoying the scenery. Your inner voice says, "step away from the edge, you’re going to get hurt if you fall.” Does that thought process help you? Yes. Safety as a mindset in certain situations is highly advantageous.
Conversely, the inner voice that says, “you’re not ready to take on that challenge, you might fail” has to be questioned. It may be what holds you back from a giant leap forward. Ask, and answer honestly. Sadly, our inner voice sometimes takes that safety mindset a little too far and can try to “protect” us from something that will actually move us forward. There is a reason change is hard.
Would I say this to someone else?
Would you ever tell a loved one, “You’re not smart enough to do that new thing”?
How we speak to ourselves is not always as kind as what we say to others. Make sure your inner voice is not saying something to you that you know you would never tell someone else. There is no reason we need to let our mindset bully us into believing we are not good enough, smart enough, or fast enough to achieve what is possible.
As with so many other internal discussions, honesty is the best way to approach those moments. Being kind is not something you only have to reserve for others. You can be kind to yourself as well.
Plot your course toward positive outcomes
Once you’ve asked yourself those three important questions, there are other steps you can take to ensure you are framing your mindset in a positive and growth oriented way.
Embrace challenges
Don't avoid challenges. Instead, approach them with a sense of curiosity and a willingness to learn. Recognize that failure is a natural part of the learning process, and view it as an opportunity to grow and improve. Growth comes from trying new things and gaining the experience that comes along with it.
Focus on learning
Continuously seek opportunities to learn and grow, whether through reading, taking courses, attending workshops, or seeking mentorship. Learning is an expansion exercise. It will help you to see new opportunities as they evolve. Having a learning mindset will open doors that were never visible before.
Surround yourself with positive role models
Identify people who embody a growth mindset and who inspire you to be your best. Surrounding yourself with positive, supportive people can help you stay motivated and on track. We control our mindset, but don’t forget how we can be influenced by people around us. Spend twenty minutes with a few people who see the world in a very closed-minded way, and you’ll quickly start to see how even your own ideas can begin to shift.
Remember, this goes both ways: think of whom you influence, and the mindset you bring. Positively breeds positivity and vice versa.
Practice gratitude
Focus on what you have, rather than what you don't have, and develop an attitude of gratitude. This will help you cultivate a more positive and optimistic outlook on life. You’ll be amazed at how quickly spending a few minutes being grateful can reframe your mindset the way you need in tough situations. With a habit of practicing gratitude, you’ll position yourself to be in that positive mindset more often to begin with.
Monitor your progress
Regularly reflect on your mindset and the impact it has on your actions and decisions. Celebrate your successes and acknowledge areas for improvement. I would recommend doing something like this as part of a weekly review. It is a good time to check in on yourself, how you’re feeling, and if you need any resets.
Reframe negative self-talk
In the simplest terms, replace negative self-talk with positive, constructive thoughts that support a growth mindset. Challenge yourself to see challenges as opportunities for growth, rather than as threats. I am not one to preach about affirmations, but finding a way to restate what be a limiting belief into an empowering one will make a difference in the mindset you carry into any situation.
'I can’t’ can quickly become, ‘I can learn to…’
'That is not possible’ turns to, ‘I can work with these people to find a solution.’
They can remain honest and realistic to the situation, and move away from a barrier to something that allows for forward movement to occur. You may not always be able to address the entirety of a situation with one action or thought. But you know for sure if you begin with, ‘it can’t, or I can’t’ then all action ceases. That will never provide for a solution. As mentioned in the last article, you can start by asking, ‘what would need to be true to make this happen?’ Take the smallest first step to begin the momentum forward.
Negative thoughts, or soundtracks, do not help leaders be successful. They will hold you, and those around you, back from the potential and success that lies ahead. Asking some quick questions of yourself will open the door, then taking any, or all of the steps above can push your journey forward.
In the next article, we will look at ways to build sustainability into your positive, growth oriented mindset. The best way to build long-term success is to have a mindset that is always working for you, versus making it something that has to be a conscious effort. There are habits and routines you can build that will allow you to trust that your mindset framework will be the support structure you need it to be.
How can you begin to overcome the negative beliefs that may be holding you back?
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Photo by Adrien Converse on Unsplash