Combining the Strengths Mindset with the Growth Mindset for the Win
Investing time to get better at what you enjoy is the essence of the strengths mindset. In addition, the strengths mindset is an approach that shuns fixing weaknesses, and instead focuses on strengthening strengths and only managing weaknesses.
The growth mindset is a mindset that trust that hard work will lead to self-improvement regardless of how inept you are currently. In addition, when you have a growth mindset you believe that the innate talents you are born with are just the starting point for your development.
Combining these two mindsets is a match made in heaven. The reason for this is that you can’t be born with a strength. A strength is the product of hard work over time. However, you are born with a natural inclination to enjoy spending time doing certain types of activities. Recognizing those things that naturally interest you is how you combine the strengths mindset with the growth mindset for a winning formula for life.
How to Combine the Strengths Mindset with the Growth Mindset
When you apply the growth mindset of hard work leading to improvement, the first thing you must decide is what to work hard on to improve. There is only so much time to invest in personal growth. So, deciding whether to develop a skill by applying your time working hard in an area that naturally interest you or to an area that requires repeated doses of external motivation is the question.
When you use the strengths mindset, the answer to this question is easy.
When you have self-motivation because you naturally love to do something, it’s by far easier to work hard. Therefore, you are far more likely to do your best work when you are working hard in these areas. That is why these areas are your strengths.
Spending as little time and energy as possible in areas of weakness is a matter of time management not a fixed mindset. With only so much time in life to pursue your best work, your best bet is to invest in working hard to grow your skills in the areas of those things you love.
That, my friend, is how you combine the strengths mindset with the growth mindset for the win!