When the calendar rolls around to January 1, most people think about writing their New Year’s Resolutions. Several years ago, Camp Fire adopted Thriveology, a program methodology that emphasizes developing a growth mindset.
This year, instead of a resolution, how about a personal revolution – changing your mindset.
For example, instead of thinking, “I’m not good at this!” Try thinking, “What am I missing?” Instead of “I made a mistake,” remember that mistakes help us learn. If Plan A didn’t work, there’s always Plan B (and Plan C). If there’s something you can’t do, but a friend can – learn from them. And finally, instead of “It’s good enough,” ask yourself if this is really your best work.
These are examples of a growth mindset, which Carol Dweck in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, says is “based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts.” With a growth mindset, everyone can change – unlike the fixed mindset belief that your intelligence, personality and moral character are carved in stone and can’t be changed.
Dweck’s work is the basis for Thriveology and Camp Fire’s programs which emphasize to youth they can continually grow and improve their skills and intelligence. Children and youth in the Camp Fire programs are using Thriveology to empower themselves to know they can become good at something even if they weren’t born with a natural talent; they can keep trying to achieve their goals, even if it takes multiple tries.
As adults, we can take this same idea and apply it to our work. Adults can thrive when working in an environment where skills are learnable, where the organization values learning and perseverance, and where managers, as Dweck says, have “a zest for teaching and learning, an openness to giving and receiving feedback, and an ability to confront and surmount obstacles.”
So forget resolutions, and go for a revolution – having a growth mindset in all that we do!
Ann Sheets is the President/CEO at Camp Fire First Texas. Ann has been a part of Camp Fire since childhood, beginning as a Blue Bird and later earning the WoHeLo Medallion as a youth member. As President/CEO of Camp Fire First Texas, Ann heads one of the largest and most active Camp Fire councils in the nation. She is a graduate of George Williams College, receiving a master’s degree in camping administration in 1977 and was recognized as the Distinguished Alumna in 2007. She was named the 2012 CFO of the Year – Non-Profit by the Fort Worth Business Press.
