When it comes to being successful in one's life or career, many of us think that those who are blessed with intelligence or high IQ are the ones who are likely to achieve success. There is new research from Stanford University, however, that challenges this belief.
According to psychologist Carol Dweck, a person's attitude is what can better determine his or her success than their IQ. Dweck explains that there are two categories for people's attitudes - a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.
You have a fixed mindset when you believe that you cannot change because you are who you are. This belief can create problems, especially when you find yourself in a challenging situation because you will feel that you are going through something that you can't handle. You end up feeling overwhelmed and simply hopeless.
Meanwhile, with a growth mindset, you believe that you can be better than who you are now. You will be able to outperform those who have a fixed mindset. Even with a lower IQ, a person with a growth mindset has the ability to embrace challenges and turn them into opportunities to gain knowledge and experience.
No matter what level of IQ you have, there are things you can do to develop a growth mindset. Below are some techniques that can help make your mindset more positive, which is important in developing a better attitude.
Do not succumb to the feeling of helplessness.
We all go through times when we feel so helpless, but we deal with it in different ways. When a situation makes you feel helpless, you have to learn from it and move forward. You can't let that situation drag you down. Take note that the many of the most successful in the world had to go through a lot of rejections and failures before they reached success.
Have passion.
There will always be another person who's better and more talented than you are. This shouldn't discourage you, though. Whatever you lack in talent, you should make up for in passion. When you know what you are passionate about, it becomes easier to determine what you want and how you can get it. You need to identify which are your passions, and which are mere distractions.
Take action.
People with a growth mindset are not without fears. What's exceptional about these people is their ability to overcome their fears. They are very much aware that fear can cause paralyzing emotions that prevent them from doing anything. People with a growth mindset are brave enough to take action despite their fears. As a result, they are empowered. By taking action, all your concerns and worries become your motivation to be better.
Have expectations.
People who have a growth mindset acknowledge that they are not immune from failure. In fact, they know that they may fail every now and then. But still, this does not keep them from having expectations and anticipating results. They believe that they will succeed whether it is in career planning or in their personal lives, so they never stop trying until they actually attain the success they have always wanted.
Cecile Peterkin is a certified career and retirement coach, and a registered member of the Career Professionals of Canada and the International Coach Federation. She is also the Founder and Senior Career Strategist at Cosmic Coaching Centre, provider of career and life management services for middle managers and mid-career professionals across Canada, United States and Europe.