Business

The Fixed Mindset vs. The Growth Mindset

Published

3 years ago

October 7, 2020

Sales is a tricky business to succeed at; anyone in the industry will tell you that the idea behind sales is much more difficult in execution than you might initially think. Being successful can be achieved, but these days there are so many different ways to be successful that it’s challenging to pick one road that works the best. Brandon Harris, the Sales VP at Otter PR, has a wealth of experience in sales and has pinpointed a major limiting factor for many sales groups. He’s seen both sides of this debate’s effects with multiple companies and has since been trying to educate the sales community on this very subject.

The Fixed Mindset versus the Growth Mindset is a rather interesting choice to make as both sides have their pros and cons; however, statistical evidence suggests the idea that one might perhaps more often yield results over the other. Before we discuss that, first, each mindset must be laid out and explained.

THE FIXED MINDSET

The Fixed Mindset is a more precise and secure state of mind and practice in sales. Often, this approach focuses heavily on what works rather than merely improving. It could be argued that it doesn’t tend to heavily involve the more personal influence of sales and the value of individual strengths and weaknesses. Fixed Mindsets tend to look at cold hard facts without considering the margin of error for these facts. More often than not, you’ll see examples of leaders in a Fixed Mindset being heavily focused on having a secondary education but perhaps less work experience.

In addition, the Fixed Mindset tends to have less belief & efficacy of their employees. There needs to be a detailed set of requirements met by each individual for them to be considered qualified, and the Fixed Mindset follows them to a near tee. Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of the Fixed Mindset is a risk-averse approach to sales. There isn’t much venturing outside of the formulaic nature of how it operates and, as a result, tends to yield low-risk based results.

This is not to say there’s no value in the Fixed Mindset; the Fixed approach doesn’t tend to err on the side of risk-taking. Depending on the individual industry, this could be a good thing as risk-reward analysis can be an invaluable tool for a sales group if the market is right for it. However, the fact remains that Fixed Mindset is a far more rigid approach to sales that is more circumstantial in the way of success.

THE GROWTH MINDSET

The Growth Mindset is a more fluid approach to sales. The idea involves more risk-taking, but also more results-based decision-making. The belief that employees’ records show more of their capabilities than what they look like through the traditional ‘on paper’ lens. The Growth Mindset takes the time to teach the employees and future leaders instead of going out of business to seek new members to fill those roles.

It is a mindset heavy in the investment of existing company members rather than investing in new members who might not perform according to specifications. A growth mindset is frequently one that takes a more direct look at employees under the umbrella of the company and invests in those who have yielded the most results or show the most promise and teach them how to fill the roles they’re expected to occupy rather than leaving them at where they are already excelling.

This mindset has a far less rigid approach, focusing heavily on promoting and using resources to invest in their team. This grants employees more efficiency and empowerment to make the right decisions for the company and their department as a whole.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Harris believes that these two mindsets, while both yield some semblance of benefits, have a superior mix. He believes that the growth mindset is far more lucrative for the future of sales as it promotes a more genuine approach to sales and goes based on performance rather than what employees look like on paper. The risk-taking involved in Growth Mindset is also something that can be attributed to further success for companies who choose the Growth Mindset and take educated risks.

These decisions ultimately help the health of the company and the sales industry at large as they help set the precedent of the growth mindset as the norm. It creates a more lucrative business in terms of the revenue, and the health of the sales industry is evolving with the changing times. Whether it’s practiced effectively or not across the board, the future of sales is the growth mindset.

As leaders in the sales industry, it is your responsibility to ensure that these are things that are taken account of when in the process of moving forward with large decisions. These individual mindsets must be chosen carefully and with a great deal of thought beforehand, and if it is not done successfully it can be detrimental to the health of the company’s success.

Business

The Ultimate Guide to the Essential Social Skills in Business

Published

3 days ago

May 30, 2023

Matthew Wiles

Effective communication and strong relationships are essential for success in the workplace. One factor that can greatly influence these qualities is emotional intelligence, often abbreviated as EQ. EQ refers to the ability to identify, understand, and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Research has shown that individuals with high levels of EQ are better equipped to handle stress, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively with others (Chamorro-Premuzic & Sanger, 2016).

Research has consistently shown that emotional intelligence (EQ) is an important predictor of job performance and success in the workplace. EQ is comprised of a set of skills that allow individuals to recognize, understand, and regulate their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. In addition, individuals with high EQ are better able to communicate effectively, build relationships, and navigate complex social situations. As a result, they are often viewed as effective leaders and collaborators, and are more likely to achieve their personal and professional goals.

In fact, a number of studies have demonstrated the significant impact that EQ has on job performance and success. For example, one study of 85 upper-level managers found that those with higher EQ scores were rated as more effective leaders by their subordinates (Law, Wong, & Song, 2004). Another study of 151 employees found that those with higher EQ were more likely to be promoted within their organization over a five-year period (Carmeli, Brueller, & Dutton, 2009). These findings highlight the importance of EQ in the workplace and suggest that developing these skills can lead to significant benefits for both individuals and organizations.

According to a study conducted by TalentSmart, a leading provider of EQ assessments, EQ is responsible for 58% of success in all job types (Bradberry & Greaves, 2009). In contrast, IQ only accounts for about 4% of success in the workplace. This suggests that EQ is a crucial skill set for individuals in any professional field. Fortunately, EQ is a skill that can be developed and honed over time with practice and awareness.

There are several key components of EQ that are particularly important for success in the workplace. These include:

Self-Regulation: This refers to your capacity to recognize and control your emotions. Sometimes treating them when they arise may be necessary. Understanding how to manage your anger is essential. However, it can also cover how to control the feelings you’ll experience.

Self-Awareness: This implies recognizing and understanding your own feelings. Do noisy places make you nervous? Do other people talking over you make you angry? Knowing these truths about yourself shows that you are working on your self-awareness. Being conscious of yourself is necessary for this phase, which can be more complex than it sounds.

Socialization: This category focuses on your capacity to manage social interactions and direct relationships. It doesn’t entail dominating others but knowing how to work with others to achieve your goals. This could entail presenting your ideas to coworkers, leading a team, or resolving a personal disagreement.

Motivation: Strong motivators include external forces like money, status, or suffering. Internal motivation, however, plays a significant role in Goleman’s concept. By doing so, you demonstrate your ability to control your cause and initiate or continue initiatives of your own volition rather than in response to external demands.

Empathy: It’s equally critical to be sensitive to others’ feelings. This may entail learning to identify different emotional states in individuals — for example, can you tell the difference between someone at ease and someone anxious? — but it also requires comprehension of how other people may react to their current situation. Empathy is one of the essential traits in business and business leadership.

A thought leader in this space, Michael Ventura has built a career advising organizations on the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace. In his book, Applied Empathy, Ventura highlights the value of empathy in business and provides strategies for developing and applying this skill set. With two decades of experience as a leader, facilitator, and educator, Ventura’s work has made impact in with prestigious institutions such as Princeton University and the United Nations as well as corporate clients such as Google and Nike.

Through his work, Ventura advises leaders to focus on the development of EQ in order to help individuals improve their communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, ultimately leading to greater success in the workplace. Experts like Ventura continue to support the growing body of research on the value of EQ in business, and the evidence that organizations who invest in the EQ of their teams help to create a more empathetic and successful professional environment.

And it’s worth noting that EQ isn’t just important for individual success in the workplace, but also for overall organizational success. A study by the Center for Creative Leadership found that EQ was a better predictor of success than IQ or technical skills in the workplace, and that teams with higher levels of EQ tend to be more effective and productive (Boyatzis, Goleman, & Rhee, 1999). By cultivating a culture of empathy and emotional intelligence, organizations can improve their overall performance and create a more positive work environment for their employees.

In conclusion, emotional intelligence is a crucial component of success in the workplace, and individuals and organizations alike should prioritize the development of these skills. The ones that do not only develop a leading edge in their category, but also become a meaningful place to work for their teams. And in today’s rapidly changing talent landscape, the retention of highly capable, emotionally intelligent leaders is one of the greatest keys to unlocking success.

References:

Boyatzis, R. E., Goleman, D., & Rhee, K. S. (1999). Clustering competence in emotional intelligence: Insights from the emotional competence inventory (ECI). In R. Bar-On & J. D. A. Parker (Eds.), Handbook of emotional intelligence (pp. 343-362). Jossey-Bass.

Bradberry, T., & Greaves, J. (2009). Emotional intelligence 2.0. TalentSmart.

Chamorro-Premuzic, T., & Sanger, M. N. (2016). Does employee happiness matter? Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, 3(2), 168-191.