How Can You Develop a Growth Mindset as a Woman in Business? 

How can you develop a growth mindset? If you have ever asked this question, we have answers for you.

We will dive into the importance of a Growth Mindset for businesswomen and entrepreneurs, give examples of a growth mindset, and show how to receive feedback with a growth mindset. Ultimately, we will show you how you can develop a growth mindset that will guarantee professional growth and fun.  

What is a Growth Mindset

A fixed mindset is where you perceive your abilities as unchangeable, often creating self-imposed limitations. A growth mindset on the other hand encourages a new way of thinking. 

With a growth mindset, you believe that you can grow and develop your skills through application and experience, and your potential is both unfixed and uncapped. 

This term was popularized by Carol Dweck in her book, Mindset, and this concept can be applied to school, work, and relationships.

In the article, we will focus on how it can help you in the business world, especially female entrepreneurs and businesswomen. 

Why is it Important to Have a Growth Mindset

With a growth mindset, effort is your path to mastery and failure is not an undesired outcome, but a stepping stone to learning. 

The growth mindset is instrumental because it helps us to take risks knowing that if we fail, it is not going to damage our self-image. A growth mindset helps us to be resilient, problem-solvers, and creative which are all essential principles of entrepreneurship. Furthermore, a growth mindset helps you to enter situations with the right frame of mind – you are open-minded and positive. 

If you avoid challenges, you seemingly stay smart because no experience will contradict your unchanging beliefs. With a fixed mindset, you avoid challenges that you think you can’t handle and you see feedback as a personal attack, always feeling the need to prove yourself. This type of being does not encourage growth or big thinking

What if Instead of worrying about looking smart, you worry about learning? A growth mindset can let you let go of perfectionism, build confidence, and enhance your skills. In one world, effort is bad and often proves you are not talented. In another world, effort is what makes you smart. 

Recommended Reading: 15 Effective Confidence-building Exercises for Women

What Are The Benefits of Having a Growth Mindset in Business

• Increased Resilience
• Increased confidence
• Exponential Growth and Learning
• Better Problem-solving Skills
• Greater Jobs Satisfaction 
• Stronger relationships and collaboration 

Examples of a Growth Mindset

If you have a growth mindset, feedback isn’t seen as a personal attack. It is an exciting opportunity to improve. A company should prioritize the process over the results – this is one of the fundamental ideas of a growth mindset. It is about getting better, not being good initially. If you have ever wondered how you can develop a growth mindset, seeing real-life examples can be a good place to start. 

Here are some examples of a growth mindset in a business setting and how to receive feedback with a growth mindset:

• You pitched to an investor and didn’t get any leads

Fixed mindset: My business idea doesn’t work, I should just quit. 

Growth mindset: Hmm, interesting. It may be time to analyze my pitch and get feedback to see if I can improve it.

• A colleague brushed off your idea

Fixed mindset: That was a terrible idea, and my colleague obviously doesn’t like me. 

Growth mindset: Okay, maybe I need to check in with my colleague and see if anything is wrong.

• You were asked to contribute in a meeting as a new colleague and didn’t answer the question properly

Fixed mindset: I will just have to keep quiet in all future conversations as I have nothing valuable to add, I am not a creative person.

Growth mindset: This was my first ever meeting and it was an opportunity to learn how they conduct meetings. What can I take away from the format and what my other colleagues said? 

• Got a bad peer review on a project. 

Fixed mindset: I am bad at this and shouldn’t get involved in future projects. 

Growth mindset: Okay that is not great but it is not the end of the world. Let me examine his review and see how I can improve.

With a growth mindset, you can still get upset by events or feedback but it doesn’t derail you – you will still feel prepared to take risks, confront challenges, and keep working. In fact, setbacks only motivate you to keep pushing and learning, you see obstacles as an exciting challenge. You see big, audacious goals as an exciting opportunity to try new things. 

How Can You Develop a Growth Mindset?

Cultivating a growth mindset is a journey that demands conscious effort, practice, and self-reflection. 

Start by recognizing moments when your fixed mindset manifests as:

• Self-limiting beliefs

• Fear of failure

• Negative response to feedback

Once you identify these patterns, intentionally shift your perspective. For example, when something goes wrong, ask yourself:

• “What did I learn from this experience?”

• “What would I do differently next time?”

• “How can I apply this learning from now on?”

Ask these questions instead of trying to blame an external source for what went wrong. Always take responsibility for yourself, reflect on your actions, and be willing to try again.

Try 32 Life-changing Growth Mindset Affirmations 

6 Ways to Develop a Growth Mindset

1. See each challenge as a small battle you can win or get something from. Approach each challenge with a ‘can do’ mentality. These challenges are opportunities for learning and growing. 

2. Make learning your ultimate goal, and try to enter every new project or engagement with an open mind. 

Repeat this affirmation for female entrepreneurs, “I am prepared to fail if it leads to growth because that is the ultimate goal.”

3. Use the phrase “yet.” Say, I haven’t reached this goal or target yet and keep going even when faced with challenges. Value growth over speed. 

Repeat this affirmation, “I am open to self-improvement and will participate in activities that broaden my mind.”

4. Constantly seek feedback and use it. Don’t see criticism as a personal attack, but accept and act upon it as a tool for growth. 

Use this affirmation, “I am open to feedback, knowing it won’t damage or change my self-worth.”

5. Fully embrace mistakes. View failure as a learning experience and a stepping stone to success.

Recommended Reading: 9 Fatal Startup Mistakes: Learn From Successful Female Entrepreneurs

6. Interact with other growth-minded people or communities. Find mentors and hang around people who inspire growth and value the process. These people can provide support and encouragement which can motivate you and help you grow.

Repeat this affirmation, “I will surround myself with people who challenge me and champion my ideas.”

Best Books for Growth Mindset

If you want to dive deeper into how you can really cultivate a growth mindset, there are some exceptional books that you can read that will help you become more resilient, and growth-orientated, and can transform your personal and professional life. 

Here are some of the best books for a growth mindset: 

Mindset by Carol S. Dweck

How can you develop a growth mindset? This is the best book to tackle that question. It is one of the best self-improvement books for women and shows how you can push boundaries and never stop learning.

Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo

Everything is Figureoutable will retrain your brain to think more creatively and positively in the face of setbacks. It is a book that brings many elements of the growth mindset to life by showing how you can adopt a problem-solving approach and be more resilient. 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

The 7 simple yet profound principles of Stephen R. Covey can help you overcome personal and professional problems. This book can help you develop a growth mindset to lead a more fulfilling and principled life. 

You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero

With many revolutionary insights, this book can help you live an awesome life by overcoming self-sabotaging behavior, and by shifting your energy and mindset. 

Atomic Habits by James Clear

This is an incredibly practical and easy-to-read guide to developing habits and behaviors that will help you succeed. It focuses on everyday and iterative improvement to reach those big, overarching goals. 

Recommended Reading: 30 Must-read Self-improvement Books for Women in 2024 

Conclusion: There is no Conclusion

The journey of learning never ends, especially with a growth mindset. 

Transforming from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset will improve both your professional journey and personal life. It helps you to overcome setbacks, bounce back, and fearlessly chase your dreams. If you have ever wondered how can you develop a growth mindset, you can bookmark these examples and use these tips. 

You don’t have to be perfect now. You just have to be relentless in your pursuit of growth and self-improvement.