Growth Mindset and Resiliency in Youth
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On February 19th, a group of mentors gathered to discuss the importance and idea of growth mindset along with how mentors can help encourage mentees to use growth mindset. Below are a few themes that emerged from the discussion. In addition, growth mindset resources are linked to provide additional, in-depth knowledge on how growth mindset can foster greater resiliency, perseverance, and life-long learning in youth.
- Carol Dweck is the pioneer behind growth mindset. According to Dweck, growth mindset is based around the idea that: "people believe their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work- brains and talents are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.
- The individual has the power to change his/her mindset.
- Youth thrive on challenges and view failure and setback as challenges to overcome and a springboard for personal growth and expanding on existing abilities.
- Growth mindset emphasizes the process of learning over the end result.
Growth Mindset Strategies to use with your Mentee
Below are some strategies that mentors can use with their mentees to encourage a growth mindset. While developing a growth mindset is a continuing process, the role a mentor plays can be instrumental in helping youth developing a growth mindset.
- Using the word "yet" can be a simple way to encourage growth mindset
- Model by using a growth mindset yourself
- Share personal experiences as a way to show how you personally overcame a challenge
- Encourage mentee that having a plethora of various experiences is great, regardless of outcomes
- Model problem solving
- Try to rephrase fixed mindset statements into growth mindset statements, encourage mentee to not get hung up on the outcome
Additional Growth Mindset Resources
MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, in conjunction with Stanford University's Project for Educational Research that Scales (PERTS) and City Year developed a a growth mindset toolkit to help mentors better understand what growth mindset is, the benefits of and the research behind growth mindset, how to foster a growth mindset with mentees and how to model a growth mindset with your
Fostering Resiliency in Youth
Dr. Raymond Chin led a workshop on Developing Mentoring Skills Through Trust, Resiliency and Compassion at the 2017 Vermont Mentoring Symposium. Below are the major takeaways about fostering resiliency in young people. Dr. Chin also suggested that all people read Brene Brown’s book Daring Greatly to learn more about empathy and how our culture of never enoughness effects young minds.
Trust, resiliency and compassion prepare young people for growth.
A mentor, according to Dr. Chin, can be a reliable source of goodness and kindness. When a mentor is consistent and loyal a mentee is able to expect and trust that the mentor is invested in their best interest. This is the best way to ensure a trusting relationship with a mentee.
A mentor, according to Dr. Chin, can be a reliable source of goodness and kindness. When a mentor is consistent and loyal a mentee is able to expect and trust that the mentor is invested in their best interest. This is the best way to ensure a trusting relationship with a mentee.
Evolution of Compassion
A young person can feel the difference between sympathy, empathy and compassion, and it is important that mentors model compassion. Mentors should understand the evolution of compassion and begin to consciously practice compassion
- Sympathy is the first, when we have sympathy for someone else we simply see they are suffering and feel bad for them.
- The next step is empathy, when we have empathy we can feel someone else’s pain and imagine what it would be like to be in their shoes.
- Compassion is the final and most important level to get to in a mentor relationship. When we show compassion to someone's suffering we take action to help them remedy the pain.
Resiliency Factors
According to Dr. Chin these are the most important factors in modeling resiliency
Practice being hopeful. Hope is a necessary component of resiliency, when a young person can stay hopeful in negative situations, they have an easier time overcoming tough times.
Model forgiveness. People aren’t perfect, and that’s okay. We all make mistakes and it is important to model forgiveness to the young people in our lives.
Have the courage to fail. Take opportunities to be vulnerable and let them know you get scared sometimes too, but that’s where growth comes from!
Foster creativity. Encourage imaginative thinking. Young people who can imagine different situations have better chances of taking risks and reaching for big goals.
Practice being hopeful. Hope is a necessary component of resiliency, when a young person can stay hopeful in negative situations, they have an easier time overcoming tough times.
Model forgiveness. People aren’t perfect, and that’s okay. We all make mistakes and it is important to model forgiveness to the young people in our lives.
Have the courage to fail. Take opportunities to be vulnerable and let them know you get scared sometimes too, but that’s where growth comes from!
Foster creativity. Encourage imaginative thinking. Young people who can imagine different situations have better chances of taking risks and reaching for big goals.