What is a leader’s mindset?
The Mindset of a Leader
Who has never heard that our thoughts and mental attitudes influence reality? Well, that’s because the way we mentally analyze certain situations has a huge weight on the decisions we make. This is what the mindset of a leader is all about. But after all, is there a kind of "mental configuration" that all leaders default to? Let’s find out next
First of all, we need to understand what is the worldview under which we are conditioned. For generation X, for example, who were born between the 1960s and 1980s, work-related values are determining factors. In search of professional success, she adopted competitiveness as a determining factor.
Before that, for the Baby Boomers - who are the ones born after World War II -, work for life was what defined success. In addition, the personal and professional areas did not mix at all.
Millennials - also called Generation Y -, who today occupy part of the jobs, are not worried, like their predecessors, about spending their lives in a single place. They want challenges and, above all, occupations that stimulate them mentally.
We brought the examples above to show that the mindset of a leader today is not the same as 20 years ago. This change also stems from technological advances and the implementation of new strategies in the corporate world.
Where are we inserted? This influences our world view
The Earth turns, things change
The mindset of a leader from the past, for example, was based on the power of control. You know that expression "sends who can, obeys who has judgment?". Yeah! That’s how a team worked. Incidentally, there was no team, but bosses and employees. The leader was the boss and it was he who determined all actions. Its employees were responsible for presenting results - and satisfactory, preferably.
Although this behavior is not yet completely extinguished from the workplace, today the mindset of a leader is based, in general, on the perspective that it is always possible to develop a better job through qualification.
That is, learning is continuous, because no person in the world is able to know everything. In fact, even experts seek to improve knowledge. With this, there is a growth of self-development and the ability to influence and be influenced by team decisions.
Two types of mindset: which one do you fit?
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Psychology researcher Carol Dweck wrote the book Mindset: the New Psychology of Success. In the work, the author seeks to understand if our opinions, values and beliefs are determinant for the construction of life that we aspire to have. In fact, it finds the answer based on two main mindsets. Let’s understand how each of them works:
fixed Mindset:people who fit this profile have immutable beliefs, as its name suggests. For them, it takes certain skills (kind of gifts) to be able to do something. When faced with difficulties, they prefer only to "accept" the situation, because that cannot be changed. Because of this mental pattern, people like this tend to have negative thoughts more often, in addition to derogatory thoughts, such as "there is always someone better than me", "I will never be able to do this", "better I do not even try not to go wrong".
Mindset of growth or progressive: here is the real key to success. People who are in constant search of improvement, especially when things seem to crumble, have the mindset of a leader. For them, effort is a necessary characteristic for growth. Failures, in this case, are seen as an opportunity to try again (and better). New ways to perform the same activity enchant them. Therefore, people with this mentality are not afraid to face challenges ahead.
The 21st century calls for progressive mindset
The growth mindset is crucial in leadership figures, especially in the current business context in which we live. While fixed mindset people are only concerned with personal success and have predefined strategies for decisions, progressive mindset people know that the path must be taken together.
With the arrival of people of progressive mentality in organizations, it is common that those of fixed mindset feel "threatened".
For example: João has 20 years of business and usually performs a certain activity always in the same way. Pedro, who is young and full of energy, enters the company and says he knows other methods to do the same activity. Automatically, John feels threatened, as it is as if they are telling him that the working time he has means nothing. Besides, how dare someone change what he’s been doing for 20 years?
If we continue the story, we realize that Pedro has more chance to become a great leader, because he already has a growing mindset. It recognizes the new as positive and knows that it is possible to implement new knowledge.
Would a mindset change be possible?
The answer is yes, but we assure you in advance that this is not an easy process. However, since we all have the purpose of achieving the mindset of a leader, we are not afraid to face challenges. Let’s go to them:
Don’t be afraid to change the routine: So what if you’ve been doing the same thing for 10 or 20 years? Time, in practice, is really good for retirement, but it doesn’t determine success. So don’t be afraid to come up with new ideas. Expose your projects and make them happen.
Be tolerant of error and criticism: errors are part of the process, we have already highlighted this. Therefore, they should not be used as justification for punishment. On the other hand, it is important to accept criticism as a stage of building something better. If it is possible to improve, then why not try
Value who is by your side: in a company, we work with the concept of team, not isolated individuals. Therefore, even if showing talent and competence is positive, the ideal is that these talents are used together. This is not an individual game, but teams.
Mindset of a leader: the new is welcome
If you want to have the mindset of a leader, you need to learn how to deal with the new. We are not just talking about adaptations of functions or professional development, but new paradigms that begin on a daily basis.
For example, when was the last time you went to the movies or the bar alone? Have you ever tried to understand the thought of young people? Why do you insist on investing in conservatism? Why is change threatening you, whether in the workplace or in your personal life?
It’s not worth saying that the answer is because of your age. Remember that we comment on generations? So, they are the ones who change the world. They’re progressive, not fixed.
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