Thriving In Turbulence

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TAKEAWAYS

• Given the many uncertainties in the business environment, workers are increasingly concerned about their job security.
• Developing a growth mindset can enhance resilience, and help future-proof one’s career.
• People who adopt a growth mindset are more likely to persevere through challenges, embrace learning, and achieve greater success in various aspects of their lives.

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Geopolitical tensions, recession fears, layoffs and the relentless pace of technological disruption. Being part of the professional landscape feels like navigating a perfect storm.

Many have either been retrenched or are facing the prospect of retrenchment. Even for those who are employed, the pressure is immense, with constant demands to do more with less, while facing uncertainties over job security.

Times like these call for greater resilience. But how, exactly, does one become more resilient?

Enter the growth mindset. The concept was pioneered by Carol S. Dweck, a professor of psychology at Stanford University. Her research introduced two core mindsets: a “fixed mindset”, which is the belief that abilities like intelligence are static traits, and a “growth mindset”, the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.

Prof Dweck’s work demonstrates that individuals who adopt a growth mindset are more likely to persevere through challenges, embrace learning, and achieve greater success in various aspects of their lives.

WHAT IS A GROWTH MINDSET, REALLY?

“A growth mindset is the belief that our abilities and intelligence aren’t fixed. They’re expandable,” says Gabrielle Loh, a personal brand & leadership strategist and Founder of Impactful Presence. “It’s the willingness to say, ‘I don’t know … yet. But I can learn, improve, and figure it out.’”

This contrasts sharply with a fixed mindset, which assumes our talents and abilities are static traits. Someone with a fixed mindset might avoid challenges to prevent failure, whereas someone with a growth mindset seeks them out, knowing they are essential for development.

Alex Loh, a growth mindset coach and corporate trainer who brands himself as a “growth connector”, outlines four core principles of a growth mindset:

1. You believe your innate talents and intelligence can be developed further.
2. You seek out discomfort and challenge, viewing them as opportunities.
3. You persist through obstacles rather than give up easily.
4. You treat failure as a crucial opportunity for learning and growth, not a final verdict.

Alex recalls the experience of his client Caleb (not his real name). A personal trainer, Caleb was initially “down and out” during the COVID-19 lockdown, with gyms closed and his income gone. Through Alex’s coaching, he learnt to embrace the challenges. “He took the opportunity during the downtime to upskill in social media marketing while his peers were home watching Netflix all day and lamenting their sad circumstances.”

“He then applied these new skills to move his training business online, generating new leads and a new revenue stream. When the restrictions were lifted, he was thriving more than ever before, as he had gained a bigger customer base from his virtual training,” shares Alex.

IT’S NOT BLIND OPTIMISM

A common misconception is that a growth mindset is simply about positive thinking. In reality, it’s far more active and pragmatic than that.

As Michael Foo, Founder of Positive Minds Coaching, explains, “Being hopeful is wishing for a better outcome without taking action. A growth mindset, on the other hand, is working despite the challenges to produce a better outcome.”

“It’s the difference between saying, ‘I’m sure things will get better’ and ‘Things can get better, but I need to do something about it.’ It requires ownership to change how we respond to challenges, setbacks, failures and feedback,” elaborates Michael.

A FRAMEWORK FOR SHIFTING YOUR PERSPECTIVE

Making the switch from a fixed to a growth mindset is an intentional process. Alex offers his A.S.K.I.A.R. framework as a practical guide for this journey:

• Awareness: The process starts here. Acknowledge the problem or challenge. Ask yourself, “Is my thinking fixed right now?” “Am I open to feedback?” “What could I have done better?”
• Reframe: Consciously change your internal narrative. Instead of seeing a setback as a personal failure, reframe it as an opportunity. It’s not “I failed”, but “This is a data point for improvement”. Embrace the power of the word “yet” – “I haven’t mastered this yet.”
• Knowledge: Identify what you’re missing. What information or skills do you need? Where can you acquire them? Who can you talk to for guidance or mentorship?
• Intention: Form a clear plan. It’s not enough to think about it; you must decide what you will do. For instance, “I want to learn how to use this new AI tool.”
• Action: Execute your plan. This is the most critical step, where intention becomes reality. Enrol in the course, schedule the meeting, start the project.
• Review: Take time to reflect on your actions and the results. What went well? What could be improved? This feedback loop is what makes growth continuous.

EMBRACE FAILURE AS FUEL

In a culture that often stigmatises mistakes, a growth mindset radically redefines the role of failure. The Chinese proverb, “Failure is the mother of success”, perfectly captures this spirit.

Failure is not the end; it is essential feedback. It’s how our brain rewires and learns. It provides the necessary data to do things differently – and better – the next time. Each stumble, when reviewed and learned from, becomes a stepping stone that builds genuine, earned confidence.

Gabrielle shares how adopting a growth mindset helped her client to move past a setback. When asked to leave his PhD programme, Tom (not his real name) descended into a spiral of negativity, believing he had no strengths. Through coaching, he began to reframe his situation. He worked on his personal brand, revamped his CV, and learned how to network effectively. This process rebuilt his confidence. Within six months, he had landed a role as a sustainability consultant. A year later, leveraging his newfound skills and self-belief, he secured an analyst position at a global intelligence firm, along with a 40% salary increase.

How can you reframe setbacks in the moment? Gabrielle suggests zooming out and asking yourself these questions:

1. What is this situation trying to teach me?
2. What would I do differently next time?
3. What strengths am I building right now, perhaps without even realising it?

CONCLUSION

In today’s volatile world, the most durable career security comes from a deep-seated belief in your own ability to adapt, learn, and evolve. Making this your core conviction is the difference between merely surviving the storm, and mastering the art of sailing through it. This is how a growth mindset can future-proof your career.