Basics of Leadership
“The Mindset: The New Psychology of Success,” by Dr. Carol S. Dweck, has a good content that I can learn from. I would love to have it in bookshelves; however, I would read it only once or twice. This book teaches about the ‘two mindsets’ which are fixed mindset and growth mindset, and the remaining parts of the book is just the working out of the theme, ‘how one is affected by his/her mindset.’
“A few modern philosophers…assert that an individual’s intelligence is a fixed quantity, a quantity which cannot be increased. We must protest and react against this brutal pessimism….With practice, training, and above all, method, we manage to increase our attention, our memory, our judgment and literally to become more intelligent than we were before.” [1]
Dweck argues against this assertion, she believes that how we manage our mindset is what determines our ability, as stated that we may have started from various point of reference or abilities, “but it is clear that experience, training, and personal effort take them the rest of the way.” [2] Later in the book, we read about all the examples which ranges from individuals in sports, business, family and even relationships.
The question I asked myself is, how do I map this into my leadership training journey? Or how do I use this overlay in a leadership mapping? First, I would say, think of yourself as the leader of yourself. “Your boss in not in charge of you. You are in charge of you…You are in charge of your emotions, your thoughts, your reactions, and your decisions. It is the law of personal responsibility, because everyone is responsible for leading something, even if that something is just you.” [3] To lead oneself, would be a self-determination which could mean starting from one’s own mindset.
In a graduation speech, the speaker congratulated and encouraged the graduates with these words, “I just want to congratulate all of you for having a courage to dream and determination to make those dreams come true. Henry Ford once said whether you believe you can or you can’t you’re right. In local style, hey no such thing as no can, always can.” [4] Determination makes dream comes true.
Second, lead with determination and ‘continuous improvement.’ “Within the Toyota Production System, Kaizen humanises the workplace, empowering individual members to identify areas with improvement and suggest practical solutions. The English translation is, broadly speaking, continuous improvement. ‘Kai’ means ‘change and ‘zen’ means for the better. It is a philosophy that helps to ensure maximum quality, the elimination of waste, and improvements in efficiency, both in terms of equipment and work procedure.” [5] To be effective as in leadership, growth or ‘continuous improvement’ should be a must.
To add, dream, determination, and continuous improvement must be coupled with intentionality. “No one improves by accident. Personal growth doesn’t just happen on its own… If you want your life to improve, you must improve yourself. You must make that a conscious goal.” [6] In one of the Apostle Paul’s encouragements (to the Ephesians), he said, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, what we should walk in them.” [7] To be intentional is to ‘walk in’ in his workmanship.
In a previous graduation in the program of management and leadership, we were all given a bible with this verse written out in the front cover by the school president as departing gifts and encouragement, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”[8] Mostly, the most essential ingredients in leading oneself is to ‘walk in’ or acknowledge our workmanship and to fully trust all to him.
[1] Dweck, Carol S.. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (p. 5). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Scroggins, Clay. How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority (pp. 92). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
[4] De Aguiar, Gardner. Best Speech Ever: Mayor Billy Kenoi, of Hawaii Island, at HPU’s commencement. May 15, 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2PdRHYy1y0.
[5] Toyota Blog. What is kaizen and how does Toyota use it? May 13, 2013. https://mag.toyota.co.uk/kaizen-toyota-production-system/. (Accessed November 8, 2024).
[6] Maxwell, John C.. How Successful People Grow: 15 Ways to Get Ahead in Life. Center Street. Kindle Edition.
[7] English Standard Version Bible. Ephesians 2:10.
[8] New International Version. Proverbs 3:5-6.
About the Author
Noel Liemam
18 responses to “Basics of Leadership”
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Hi Noel,
I am curious what your culture’s perspective is concerning the two mindsets. Does micronesian society lean more towards a fixed mindset or a growth mindset? What do you hope to apply in your own life from reading “Mindset?”
Good question, Kari
Hi, Jennifer, thank you for your question as well. I believe mindset is essential for leadership in way that it encourages growth in learning and it also discourages being single-mindedness but to be open to what we see out there that can be beneficial to our journeys not only in leadership, but in life as well.
Hi, Kari, thank you for your comment. Well, in my country tradition is very influential, in organizations, in government and especially in the families. In organizations or in our government, there is always a voice to consider which is the voice of the traditional chief. This is especially within the family (aterenges) or the clan (ainang). For Micronesians, they would look at or interpret these ‘fixed mindset’ or ‘growth mindset’ differently. Because we are mostly influenced or shaped by our traditional way of living, the term ‘fixed mindset’ would be more favorable but in slightly different meaning. In short, an individual is brought up with certain expectations. I would say that the certain expectations are the fixed mindset. On the other hand, a ‘growth mindset’ would like to grow up with multiple way of looking at life or living in multiple cultures. Thanks again, Kari.
Hi, Kari. thank you for your comment. My apologies for my response to your comment that I must have pressed the wrong button that it ended up somewhere other than the intended destination.
Thanks Noel. In what ways do you find working on a growth mindset to be kaizen? In other words, how might it be continuous improvement for you?
Hi, Debbie, thank you for your comment. When I look at leadership in light of kaizen, or continuous improvement, I think of leadership as a journey. A journey that along the way, there may always be lessons/ideas that would be picked up. I could say that for a leader, after evaluation, there would still be thought of, ‘I could do this better if I do it this way.’ Thanks again, Debbie.
Hi Noel, Thank you for this post. I remember you mentioned a desire to prioritize your time well at the beginning of the semester. This is something that always requires intentionality and continuous improvement in my own life. In what ways can a growth mindset help us prioritize our time well and make wise decisions concerning our commitments?
Hi, Elysse, thank you for your comment. Yes! you are right, that is one of the main issues that I am dealing as a leader of myself, finding and adjusting to get most of the time I needed for this program. In the beginning of the program, I thought that one hour before work and one two hours after work would be better. Now I am adjusting to trying to get at most two hours before going to work which means I have to get very early to do this. It is a struggle, but its worth giving it a try! Thanks again Elysse.
Thank you, Noel. I always enjoy hearing your perspective. How can you help people in your circle (maybe even you) shift perspective from seeing challenges as obstacles to viewing them as opportunities for learning and growth?
Hi, Jennifer, thank you for your comment. This book, ‘Mindset’ seems to be a good start for ‘me and people in my circle’ to take a look at it and have some discussion around it. However, more is needed since in order to move especially to change direction, each individual must be convinced that change is needed. Thanks, again, Jennifer.
Hi Noel, I like the question you asked yourself how you would map the concept into your leadership training journey. Dweck says that all of us have both areas of fixed and growth mindsets. Do you agree with this and if so where might they show up for you?
Hi, Diane, thank you for your comment and question. That is beauty of this program, looking at global perspectives and doing the overlays including biblical and theological. And I believe that is where the ‘growth mindset’ steps in as we do our mapping. Thanks again, Diane.
Hi Noel,
Thank you for your post. I enjoyed reading it.
How does Proverbs 3:5-6 mentioned at the end of the passage relate to the themes of trust and personal responsibility in the context of leadership?
Hi, Shela, thank you for your comment. Well, I don’t really have the theological basis to real nail it down. The verses were written in our gifts (bible) during my graduation in Management and Leadership program. I looked at it as a guideline for managers and leaders as they go out in the world, or in their workplace. For me personally, I take it as a good overlay to put on my leadership topographical mapping set. Thank you, Shela.
Noel, thanks for your post. I once heard a speaker say, “The hardest person to lead is yourself”. I have found this to be true for myself as well. How does having a growth mindset help with self-leadership? How might a fixed mindset present challenges to self-leadership?
Hi, Graham, thank you for that question. I am struggling with that as well, trying to lead others while trying to lead myself as well. I am hoping that by adopting the ‘growth mindset,’ I would be more open to learning from others, criticisms, advice or perspectives. And not only that but to have a right attitude and mostly to humble myself and follow the perfect example of leadership, which is our Lord Jesus.
Noel. Well done answering all these questions. I too am curious how the growth mindset, in Micronesian/American context, relates to your NPO.