I don't know about you, but all the talk about Digital Transformation and the many conversations around technologies and new ways of working can be overwhelming. This is no surprise, Kevin Kelly captures this well in a concept he calls, "Endless Newbie". Kelly shares...
Endless Newbie is the new default for everyone, no matter your age or experience. The best way to be a newbie is to keep learning and become learning organizations.
In other words, we all have to ask “what next new thing do I need to learn?”
So let's have a look at our Learning Mindset.
Learning mindset
Some call it a Digital Mindset, some a Growth Mindset, you could call it a Learning Mindset as well. But what do we mean by it?
Contrary to what many believe, having a Learning or Digital Mindset relates less to the hard and technical skills as it relates to our beliefs and intentions. It is best to explain it by considering first what you believe in yourself.
Warm-up
Go through the following 18 statements and think if they are in line with your beliefs. There is no need to submit the results, this assessment is for yourself, to become aware of how our behavior and thoughts affect our performance.
Which statement do you agree most with and which one the least? (write down the number of those statements)
1. We would be much more productive if we could improve our way of working more frequently and consciously.
2. It is better for the most skilled person to take a specific challenge because others might create a risk for the project.
3. When a significant setback happens, we need to first find out who caused it.
4. It is good for the less skilled people to take a specific challenge, even if they cannot succeed, at least they will learn from possible mistakes and we will be there to support them.
5. I like to get things in the optimal form before showing or implementing them.
6. Creativity or Entrepreneurship is something you are born with.
7. When instructions are not clear I can't continue the task.
8. Through hard work and practice, I can become creative and entrepreneurial.
9. If something takes me more time and effort than I expected, I know I am just not good at it.
10. If something takes me a lot of time and effort, this is positive, because then I know I am learning.
11. We would be much more productive if other departments do better work.
12. When things are going smooth at work and I feel comfortable, I know I am in the right place.
13. When things are challenging at work, and when I feel challenged and uncomfortable, I know I am in the right place.
14. Feedback causes negativity.
15. I regularly ask people how I can improve something.
16. I regularly show an early version of what I am creating to get early feedback.
17. When a significant setback happens, we use it as a wake-up call to work harder next time.
18. As long as I know the purpose of a task, I will figure out a way to reach it.
In order to take your assessment forward, we will introduce the concept of Fixed Mindset to you first.
Fixed Mindset
Carol Dweck is a pioneering researcher in the field of motivation, studying why people succeed (or don't) and how to foster success. She discovered that success in school, work, sports, arts, and so on, can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities.
Sometimes we tend to adopt a Fixed mindset — the belief that abilities are fixed, and the intention to prove that we are skillful and capable — which makes us less likely to flourish than when we adopt a Learning or Growth mindset — the belief that abilities can be developed, and the intention to challenge ourselves and learn at all times.
These different beliefs result in different daily behavior and intentions, for example, those behaviors and intentions listed in the 18 statements.
Have another look at the statements in the picture below and see how they relate to the fixed and growth mindset that Carol talks about.
It’s normal to have both a fixed mindset and a growth mindset talking to us and competing for our attention. They are like voices in our heads. Think about: How do we start to challenge our fixed mindset voice so that we can adopt a growth mindset?
A good start is to look at the language we use
Carol Dweck has shown that people can learn to adopt the Growth Mindset and make dramatic strides in performance. One way is to look at our language. When you catch yourself vocalizing a self-limiting belief, add the word "yet" at the end.
For example:
When you think: “I’m not a very good facilitator.”
Say this instead: "I am not a good facilitator yet!”
If you are interested to learn more, have a look at her TED Talk:
Reflect on the "Listen, Ask, Make" Framework
- Watch the video: 3 Keys to a Digital Mindset
- Reflect on the key traits – LISTEN, ASK, MAKE
- Select one area that you would like to work on.
-
Identify one behaviour or action point that you will commit to doing. (e.g. I would like to work on MAKE - To do this, I am going to form my own perspective on Agile Ways of Working and write a blog about it on LinkedIn and AIA Workplace). You may consider the examples given earlier under LISTEN, ASK, MAKE.
So, write down:
I would like to work on ________.
To do this, I am going to ________.
5. Post your answers onto the Workplace group by clicking here
Submit to Doris
- When you have completed the task, go back to Doris in Workchat.
- Doris will help you to submit your work. Simply follow her questions.
