Dec. 4, 2017 "A new way of thinking": Today I found this article by Naomi Titleman Colla in the Globe and Mail:
‘Growth mindset’ encourages thoughts that help workers adapt to rapid change
In this new world of work, jobs are changing so rapidly. They are being unbundled, rescoped, reassigned and eliminated at an increasingly accelerated pace.
We can’t imagine the jobs our kids will have when they graduate even five years from now, especially given the current halflife of a skill is about two and a half to five years.
We can’t imagine the jobs our kids will have when they graduate even five years from now, especially given the current halflife of a skill is about two and a half to five years.
And how will our current work force adapt to the constantly changing nature of work?
How can we even fathom the skills that will stand the test of time, living in a world in which machines are learning faster than humans?
This uncertainty causes anxiety for those of us currently in the work force, and as parents of our future work force.
How can we even fathom the skills that will stand the test of time, living in a world in which machines are learning faster than humans?
This uncertainty causes anxiety for those of us currently in the work force, and as parents of our future work force.
Enter growth mindset: the antidote to “future of work” anxiety.
Growth mindset is a concept covered in depth in Carol Dweck’s book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. In contrast with “fixed mindset,” the premise is that if you acknowledge that talents can be developed and great abilities built over time, you are more likely to succeed.
It empowers us to take risks, seek feedback, learn from others and be more open- minded about opportunities. Growth mindset enables us to not only be open to evolution, but also to better cope with the pace of change in this new world of work.
It empowers us to take risks, seek feedback, learn from others and be more open- minded about opportunities. Growth mindset enables us to not only be open to evolution, but also to better cope with the pace of change in this new world of work.
HOW WE ENGENDER GROWTH MINDSET IN OUR FUTURE WORK FORCE
Teachers at a local elementary school are building growth mindset for their students as early as kindergarten.
One of the Grade 3 teachers told me she had noticed fixed- mindset language both in herself and in her students. It was inhibiting growth – particularly in girls and specifically in the
STEM ( science, technology, engineering and math) subjects.
Her hope was to change the mindset from“I’m not a math person” to one that inspires passion through problem solving and creativity – and the “Power of the
Yeti.”
Power of the Yeti is how she encourages children to not look at their abilities as set in stone, but rather as progressing through hard work, and to think in terms of not being able to do something – “yet.”
Her magnetic board is covered in pairs of puzzle pieces, each connecting a fixed- mindset and growth mindset statement – for example: “This is too hard” ( fixed), “This may take some time” ( growth) – that the children use as motivation when they are stuck in fixed mindset.
Her magnetic board is covered in pairs of puzzle pieces, each connecting a fixed- mindset and growth mindset statement – for example: “This is too hard” ( fixed), “This may take some time” ( growth) – that the children use as motivation when they are stuck in fixed mindset.
I chatted with the students to see how growth mindset was helping them in the classroom and was impressed to hear how they were “training their brains” to adapt. These students have been taught the self- talk and given the tools to take risks, to try different problem- solving strategies and to learn from others and from their own mistakes.
The students are learning to recognize that there’s always room to improve – and that they should strive to push themselves beyond their comfort zones.
The students are learning to recognize that there’s always room to improve – and that they should strive to push themselves beyond their comfort zones.
Imagine if our work force unilaterally thought in these terms.
Growth mindset enables us to not only be open to evolution, but also to better cope with the pace of change in this new world of work.
THREE STEPS TO APPLY THESE LEARNINGS TO THE WORKPLACE
1.) Build awareness: Use language and tactics to shift fixed mindset to growth. For example, calling someone out for having “fixed mindset” or not allowing ideas to be dismissed unless there is documented reasoning why.
2.) Encourage lifelong learning and unconventional career paths: Give employees the latitude to explore their passions and their strengths – and to evolve. You may be surprised who can become your next chief digital officer.
3.) Reward ( and don’t penalize) career risk taking: When an employee takes on a developmental “stretch” role and doesn’t succeed, there must be a safety net. When employees see these situations end badly, trust is quickly eroded and risk- taking behaviour is stifled.
In short, growth mindset is the critical foundation to building future leaders and lifelong learners who are open to multipath careers. Instead of seeing emerging jobs as intimidating and unattainable, let’s stay curious and be open to possibilities: “I am not an AI specialist … yet!”
"How to spark creativity in the age of AI": Today I found this article by Greg Wells in the Globe and Mail:
Advances in physiological research can provide us with insights about how we can develop our own mental agility
Physiologist and exercise medicine researcher at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, assistant professor at the University of Toronto, author of Superbodies and The Ripple Effect
We are living through one of the greatest revolutions in human history. Microprocessors have given us the internet, mobile phones and more recently, artificial intelligence ( AI).
AI has the potential to influence and disrupt the workplace dramatically in the coming years. Self- driving cars are the obvious next disruptive technology, but AI will also change law, banking, medicine and other industries.
With the advent of AI, creative thinking becomes ever more critical.
The stream of breakthrough ideas that will make the world a better place relies on us developing novel strategies, techniques and experiences that leverage new technologies.
As Bob Moritz, chairman of professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, said recently at the World Economic Forum’s annual summit in Davos, Switzerland, “We’re still looking for creativity, because that can’t be coded. Robotics and computers and coding actually gives you a very straight and narrow path to go down a fine course.
The world we’re living in today is a lot more zigzag, and people are going to be important to that equation …”
The world we’re living in today is a lot more zigzag, and people are going to be important to that equation …”
Creativity does not happen by accident.
Advances in physiological research can provide us with insights about how we can spark our own agile thinking and problem solving.
Advances in physiological research can provide us with insights about how we can spark our own agile thinking and problem solving.
A good place to start is to sleep more, not less. When we are under pressure, it can be tempting to claw back some hours in the day. If you need to solve a problem or come up with a new creative approach, reducing your sleep hours is the opposite of what your brain needs.
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and had a “Eureka!” moment – a deep insight? I certainly have; it’s one reason I keep a notebook by my bed. I need to ensure that I capture the insights generated during sleep.
Creative problem solving appears to happen during the REM phase of sleep, which typically occurs more in the second half of your sleep, if you’re getting the recommended 71⁄ 2 hours. In a 2009 study at the University of California, San Diego, researchers found that REM sleep “directly enhances creative processing more than any other sleep or wake state.” So, if you need to build more creativity into your life, give yourself permission to sleep a bit more.
You can also sprinkle physical activity throughout your day to improve your creativity and learning. Scientists at the University of California, Irvine, found that exercise can increase levels of brain- derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF) and other growth factors, stimulate neurogenesis and improve learning and mental performance. As little as 15 minutes of exercise improves mental performance, so why not add this to your day before important tasks?
Go for a short walk before a presentation. Have a walking meeting if you need to problem solve.
Or, if you can start your day with a workout, you’ll prime your brain for excellence and begin the process of remodeling the areas of your brain that will help you think more clearly.
If you’re wondering what kind of exercise is best for creativity, research suggests that aerobic activities such as walking, swimming, cycling and running are best.
Exercising in nature appears to be specifically helpful for problem solving. That can be as simple as a brisk walk in a local park.
One last idea to consider is adding deliberate mindfulness practice and meditation to your daily routine, especially on days when you need to spark your creativity. Practising mindfulness and meditation has been shown to improve attentional control, problem solving, concentration and creativity.
New imaging techniques – including functional magnetic resonance imaging, which
shows brain activation, and diffusion tensor imaging, which shows the neural networks in the brain – demonstrate that mindfulness and meditation can improve brain function.
Think of meditation as strength training for the brain. Just as you would lift weights to build and strengthen your muscles, you can use meditation to build and strengthen your brain and then, in addition, control and sharpen your mind. Try apps such as headspace. com or calm. com to get started.
As a leader in business, you’re probably pushing the limits on a daily basis. Adopting deliberate practices that improve your creativity and mental agility will allow you to perform at a higher level more easily and more consistently.
Putting these ideas into practice does require a shift in mindset and a reallocation of your priorities.
Putting these ideas into practice does require a shift in mindset and a reallocation of your priorities.
It will be challenging in the short term, but the long- term benefits will be powerful for you personally and for your career and business.
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