"Every mistake is an opportunity to learn & grow." - Sultan Al Qassemi, Emirati commentator, educator, & columnist

As a community, SIRA has a very diverse member base. We’re all professionals from all walks of life, backgrounds, & perspectives. 

The one thing we have in common is our values.

Our values are founded on the principles of openness, integrity, & inclusion, we believe in the power of positivity & the importance of embracing a growth mindset. 

But what exactly is a growth mindset, & why is it so essential for personal & professional development? In this blog post, we'll explore these questions & provide practical tips for developing a growth mindset.

What is a Growth Mindset?

The concept of a growth mindset was popularized in 2006, by Dr. Carol Dweck, a Stanford University psychologist. In her book, "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success," Dweck explains that individuals with a growth mindset believe that their abilities & intelligence can be developed through hard work, perseverance, & learning from their own mistakes. In contrast, individuals with a fixed mindset believe that their talents & intelligence are fixed traits that cannot be changed.

Individuals with a growth mindset believe that they can improve their skills & abilities by putting in effort, continuously learning, & persevering through challenges. This mindset allows individuals to embrace change, take risks, & view obstacles as opportunities for growth, rather than as barriers to success. In contrast, individuals with a fixed mindset believe that their talents & intelligence are predetermined & unchangeable, leading them to avoid challenges & give up more easily when faced with difficulties.

It’s important to note that we don’t have either a fixed or growth mindset. It’s not an either-or proposition. We may exhibit different degrees of a growth or fixed mindset depending on the situation, context, & our own beliefs & experiences. 

Developing a growth mindset is a journey that takes time & effort, & it's not something that can happen overnight. By understanding that a growth mindset is a spectrum & not binary or black & white, we can take steps to shift our mindset towards a more positive & growth-oriented outlook.

Why is a Growth Mindset Important?

At SIRA, we believe that a growth mindset is essential for personal & professional development. Here's why:

1. Embracing Change: Those with a growth mindset embrace change as an opportunity to learn & grow, rather than viewing it as a threat. This mindset allows individuals to adapt to new situations, take on new challenges, & innovate.
2. Driving Positive Results: A growth mindset fosters a "can-do" attitude that drives individuals to work harder & persist in the face of setbacks. This resilience & determination can lead to positive results & achievement of personal & professional goals.
3. Lifelong Learning: A growth mindset encourages individuals to seek out new knowledge & skills, continuously learn & develop themselves, & remain curious about the world around them.

Why is embracing a growth mindset an important value for SIRA members?

Being part of a community like SIRA means that we have the opportunity to learn from others, share knowledge, & collaborate to achieve common goals. In order to truly benefit from this experience, we must be willing to embrace a growth mindset & be open to new ideas & perspectives.

At SIRA, we come from diverse backgrounds & have different experiences, skills, & knowledge. This means that we may have different ideas about what works best or what strategies are most effective. In order to benefit from this diversity & learn from others, we must be willing to let go of preconceived notions or outdated practices that may no longer be effective. This requires being open-minded & willing to unlearn things that may have worked in the past but may no longer be relevant or useful.

Embracing a growth mindset in a professional community also means being willing to take risks, try new things, & make mistakes. When we are open to learning & trying new things, we are more likely to innovate, solve problems, & come up with new ideas that can benefit the community as a whole.

How to Embrace a Growth Mindset?

Now that we've explored the benefits of a growth mindset, let's discuss practical ways to embrace it:

1. Embrace Challenges: Rather than shying away from difficult tasks, embrace them as an opportunity to learn & grow. Don't be afraid to take risks & step outside of your comfort zone.
2. Learn from Failure: Don't view failure as a personal reflection of your abilities. Instead, see it as an opportunity to learn & improve. Analyze what went wrong & identify areas for improvement.
3. Cultivate Curiosity: Stay curious about the world around you. Read books, listen to podcasts, attend workshops, & engage with others who have different perspectives.
4. Focus on Effort, Not Talent: Instead of praising natural talent, focus on the effort & hard work that led to the achievement. This reinforces the idea that intelligence & abilities can be developed through hard work & dedication.
5. Add “yet” to your vocabulary: Ever caught yourself saying, “this is not my thing”, “I’m not good at this”, “I don’t know how to do this”? Just add the word yet. 

So what are your thoughts on growth mindsets? & if you’re looking to surround yourself with professionals with a growth mindset, apply to join our community. 

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