In a perfect world, we’d never have to deal with delayed invoices, clients who go MIA, or feast-or-famine workloads. But one way to start viewing professional headaches in a more surmountable light is to shift your mindset from “fixed” to one focused on “growth.”Researched and defined by psychologist Carol Dweck, the concept of fixed and growth mindsets refers to two opposing worldviews: Where people who possess the former believe that their strengths and weaknesses are set in stone, people with the latter believe that they’re capable of improving upon their strengths and developing new skills. As Maria Neizvestnaya, MA, PCC, founder of Executive Craft, Executive and Leadership Coaching, explains it, people with growth mindsets respond to struggles or shortcomings by saying, “[I’m] not there yet,” as opposed to people with fixed mindsets, who are more likely to say, “I will never succeed in this.”As you may have already guessed, a growth mindset is far more conducive to freelancing than a fixed mindset. Even if it doesn't come naturally, you can gradually adopt a growth mindset. Neizvestnaya shows us how.
Practice self-awareness
“Listen closely to that [inner] voice that shows up in difficult moments,” Neizvestnaya says. “What does it tell you?” Do you feel defeated at the first sign of a challenge or do you feel invigorated to tackle it? Do you beat yourself up when you make a mistake or do you focus on what you’ll do better or differently later? If you notice that you tend to react with a fixed attitude, give yourself permission to test out a growth mindset, one that allows you to approach problems with curiosity and optimism. You just might find a solution more easily.
Look for the lesson
“Each setback can be our greatest teacher,” Neizvestnaya says, adding that they shouldn’t be used to define our self-worth. For example, say you’re having a hard time filling your workload for next month. If you see this as a chance to try a new approach or to offer your services to other industries, you’ll learn a new way to do business successfully and refute the fixed belief that self-improvement isn’t an option. “From the perspective of a growth mindset, in fact, there is no such thing as failures. They are learning opportunities and experiences,” Neizvestnaya says.
Seek out meaningful feedback
Listening to, seeking out, and integrating feedback from your clients is also key to a growth mindset. Some clients may provide you with more constructive critiques than others. And it’ll be part of your transition into a growth mindset to learn the difference. “Constructive feedback is about your actions or the outcome of your work. It does not question your sense of self or worth,” she explains. “It simply states that there are some things that can be improved in the outcome that you have created…As a result of constructive feedback, you grow. Learn to choose people who can give you such feedback and ask for it!”
Take control of the situation
The next time you feel stuck in a less-than-rewarding gig, as yourself the following questions, Neizvestnaya says, which will help you look at your circumstances from a growth mindset:
- What are some of the things in my business that I am not choosing to tolerate any longer?
- What actions on my end lead to the outcomes I am not satisfied with?
- What outcomes do I want to achieve?
- What strategies do people who have these desired outcomes in my field of work use?
- What can I learn from that?
- What is the first strategy I will implement today to change the outcome?
These questions will remind you of the power you have in negotiating and accepting work, plus the fact that you can say “no” to work that will clearly be dissatisfying from the get-go.
Recognize how far you’ve come
When you apply a growth mindset to your obstacles, you can acknowledge how hard you worked, and, as a result, feel more confident to try again. “Acknowledge yourself for taking [a] risk,” Neizvestnaya says. “Process your experience emotionally, integrate the lessons, and move on.”
While you focus on adopting a growth mindset, Wingspan can handle the busywork that comes with freelancing. Start your free 30-day trial membership and enjoy a streamlined invoicing process.
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