Feeling Stuck? 5 Ways to Shift to a Growth Mindset

Here's a reality check for you. At some point in your life, you're going to get stuck in a career rut. It may happen in your personal life or your professional one, it may take a week or a year, but it will happen. Fortunately, the signs are easy enough to spot: The days feel monotonous, the tasks unexciting. You feel like your life is on a dull, unimaginative loop. You trudge on simply because you have to, but you feel like you are not going anywhere. It's like you want to finish a race, except you're merely jogging in place.

Don't feel too bad, though; it happens to the best of us. Even your dream job can feel blah after a while, especially if you've been doing it for too long. Or, you may be working for a company you love but feel unchallenged because there seems to be no opportunity for growth. The result: You end up feeling unmotivated and unfulfilled. It inevitably affects your work performance, leaving you more stuck—and unhappy—than ever.

The good news? You don't necessarily have to do something drastic, like quit your job or pull a crazy stunt at work. (Although sometimes, these can help!) Here, we delve into how shifting to a growth mindset can get you out of the funk you're in and help move you forward in your career and life.

Growth vs. Fixed Mindset

Psychologist Carol Dweck of Stanford University was the first to explore the idea of the growth mindset and its counterpart, the fixed mindset. In her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, she describes these as the two ways people think about their intelligence and abilities.

According to Dr Dweck, when people have a fixed mindset, they believe that their intelligence and talents are fixed and static, and so they just accept them as they are. It's either you're good at something or you're not—end of story. This kind of mindset can easily lead to feelings of stagnation.

On the other hand, those with a growth mindset believe that their intelligence and skills can be improved. This assumes that everyone can grow and be better through learning, feedback, and effort. Moreover, these people see failures as opportunities to learn and they acknowledge the need for change when the current situation no longer allows them to reach their goals.

That said, those who have a growth mindset tend to be more successful than those with a fixed mindset, according to Dr Dweck's research. The question now is this: Which kind do you have? And are you willing to make the necessary shift?

Embracing the Growth Mentality

If you're ready to get unstuck, here are five ways you can train your mind to welcome growth and achieve more career success.

1. Don't be afraid to fail.

Admit it: Failure can be a scary thing. It's painful and embarrassing. It can often make us just want to give up. But here's the thing: Even the best, most successful people make mistakes and encounter rejection. Most known achievers failed their way to success.

Renowned editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, for example, was fired from her job as a junior stylist early in her career. Her former employers told her she wasn't made for the fashion industry. Instead of giving up, she considered this a "lucky break" that allowed her to enter one of her most creative periods. Of the experience, she says, "Everyone should be fired, it's character-building."

The key is to look at failure not as a dead end, but as a redirection that comes with important lessons. So go ahead and fail, then try again. That's how you learn.

2. Seek out change.

If you've been in the same desk, position, or department for a long while now, then maybe it's high time you shake things up. Our comfort zones may be great places, but growth rarely happens there. To get "unstuck," dare to explore new things—whether it's applying for a new role or even quitting your job altogether. (Interestingly, 49% of the Singaporean workforce showed interest in a job change in 2021.) It may feel unnerving, but it just might be what you need to get the blood pumping through your veins again career-wise.

Not a big fan of change? Start with baby steps. Volunteer for something you'd shy away from typically or initiate a new project or activity within your team. Instead of sitting around waiting for things to happen, make things happen.

3. Never stop learning.

Someone with a fixed mindset thinks like this: "I'm already a good writer/doctor/ (insert profession here). I don't need to get better." Meanwhile, a person with a growth mindset thinks: "I'm good, but there's always room for improvement." See the difference?

Having a growth mindset means actively seeking out opportunities to learn more and become better at what you do, instead of being content—or cocky—about your abilities. Interestingly, research shows that 85% of successful people read two or more self-help or educational books in a month, unlike their less successful counterparts who read mostly for entertainment.

So if you're feeling like you've plateaued in your career, why not try to learn more? Some things you can do: Apply for a mentorship program, sign up for online classes, or start a side hustle related to your other interests. (Check out the advantages of getting a part-time job here.)

4. Be open to criticism.

People who avoid receiving feedback and criticism or ignore them completely even if they're helpful are like old dogs—they simply can't learn new tricks. On the flip side, those who want to grow value feedback. They don't run away from judgment or criticism because they embrace them as tools in learning. They're also not threatened by other people's successes; instead, they draw inspiration from them to succeed as well.

To avoid feeling offended, the secret is not to take it personally. Separate yourself from your work duties and remember that your shortcomings at work are not a reflection of who you are as a person.

5. Constantly challenge your limits.

Think you can only do so much? Push yourself further. You just might be surprised at what you can do. In one study, researchers asked participants to cycle as hard as they could for 4,000 meters. For the second round, they were supposed to do the same. However, this time they had to race against an avatar of the previous round. Unbeknownst to them, the avatar was going faster than their earlier speed. The result? The participants rode significantly farther than they did during the first round. When you are determined to push hard, you can exceed even our expectations.

The Bottom Line

As the work landscape continues to evolve, it's vital to embrace a growth mindset. It will allow you not just to keep up with the times but also to get ahead. After all, the most sought-after skills of the past might be useless tomorrow. Learn to remain competitive consistently. Remember: It's not how good you are that matters. It's how good—and better—you want to be.

Check out our Career Resources page for more tips on how to perform better at work as well as for expert insights and professional advice.