Charvi
It is no exaggeration to say that the consulting industry has completely changed in the last few years. Management consulting is far more complicated than it once was, and consultants use various methods to achieve desired results. A new trend in the industry is the development of a so-called growth mindset.
What is a growth mindset?
A consultant’s mindset means not only their mental attitude but also the way they approach their work. A consultant mentality is problem-solving oriented and promotes proactive communication.
A consultant mentality requires specific skills:
- Effective communication – from conveying an idea to successfully discussing a matter verbally or in writing.
- Always stay open to learning new things.
- Perspective – a consultant mentality cannot be developed by only looking at things from one angle/point of view.
- Self-discipline.
- Excellent conflict management (you work with people, after all).
- The ability to ask the right questions.
- Not being afraid to question the status quo continually.
- Pay attention to the little things (the devil is in the details, as they say).
- To be reliable. You will be surprised how much a constant means in an ever-changing environment.
As you can see, developing and maintaining an advisor mentality takes work.
“Mindset separates the best from the rest.” – Unknown.
Growth mindset versus fixed mindset
Regarding the mindset of consultants, opinions are divided between those who pursue a growth mindset and those who focus on a fixed mindset. The difference between the two is the opportunities and possibilities. Proponents of a fixed mindset believe you are born with specific skills, talents, and intellect that cannot be changed or developed. On the other hand, those who follow a growth mindset believe that with a certain amount of effort and a little practice, you can develop what you were given from birth.
With this definition of “Growth Mindset” and “Fixed Mindset,” you find yourself in the middle of the so-called “Nurture vs Nature” debate, in which there is still disagreement today. Nevertheless, a growth mindset paves the way for positivity and opens up new possibilities. For this reason, the latter will get you the furthest in the business world.
Also Read: 10 best tips on how to be more productive
How to develop a growth mindset
There is a wealth of advice and activities for developing a growth mindset. We will focus on the most popular ones below:
Be hungry for new knowledge.
For this purpose, focusing on high-quality resources in the industry is advisable. This can include helpful blogs, books, podcasts, webinars, courses and conferences, etc. If you want to be among the best, you should know as much as possible, but at the same time, focus on what works.
Recognize that you often get in your way.
People often tend to assign blame. However, if you want to cultivate a growth mindset, you should recognize that the person standing in your way the most is often you. It’s up to you if you’re stuck in a fixed mindset in many areas – be it opinions you’ve gathered throughout your life or a belief system established in childhood. It would be best if you weren’t afraid to question your beliefs and thoughts. This is the only way you will develop a growth mindset!
Be careful who you eat with
This saying means that if you want to be successful in life, you should be selective about who you spend your time with. The same goes for a consultant trying to develop a growth mindset. To be successful, you should only surround yourself with the best advisors – the thought leaders and innovators in the industry. Through contact with such role models, the activities to develop your growth mindset will almost come naturally.
Think outside the box.
Consulting is one of the most creative professions out there. You should train your creativity as often as possible. There are numerous apps that you can use for this and that stimulate your creative thinking.
Be authentic
Brene Brown has made millions from her studies of vulnerability and humiliation. The reason for this is that people identify with and respond to authenticity. Authenticity is the only way to develop and grow truly.
Set yourself clear goals.
There is a big difference between dreaming and setting goals. Your primary focus should be on the latter. This is one of the most critical growth mindset activities. Goals also serve as inspiration and motivate action. You should always set a goal within a specific period to ensure that you achieve it. Most big goals can range from 5 to 10 years. This is why breaking down your big goals into smaller milestones (with a set date for each) is essential. These time frames are crucial to achieving your goals.
Get back up!
It would be best to redefine how you perceive and deal with failure. Successful people with a growth mindset know that failure is an inevitable part of their journey. So, they tend to deal with them opportunistically. Failures can, e.g., B. signal that a change or a new tactic is required. Additionally, they can serve as motivation to become better and work harder. Someone with a growth mindset doesn’t stay on the ground after a fall but gets up again!
