Learning Mindset: Why Failure Is The Best Teacher
We all have our mountains to climb, both figuratively and literally. For me, the mountains have been a source of both triumph and humility. Something to know about me is that I am what some might call a ‘peak bagger’ aka a mountain climber whose principal goal is the attainment of a summit. This pastime results in anywhere from 50 - 60 unique summits over the course of a year; however, it's the 2 to 4 mountains I fail to climb each year that have taught me the biggest lessons about the value of a learning mindset, or as the Mental Toughness Questionnaire refers to it as: Learning Orientation.
Learning Orientation: The tendency of individuals to see all outcomes as having a positive element. Individuals with a strong Learning Orientation will see opportunity where others see threat. They tend to be less likely to be deterred by setbacks.
Before we make the connection between mountains and learning orientation, we need to first address the elephant in the room. That is, such a small proportion of failure might not seem significant enough for reflection, after all - I plan well and set realistic goals; however, what makes these ‘failures’ all that more significant personally is the infrequency and unpredictability with which they occur. In fact, it is common wisdom in psychology that predictable aversive events are considerably less aversive than unpredictable ones (Seligman, Maier & Solomon, 1971). So, naturally, when they occur, they elicit both reflection, frustration, disappointment and a host of other uncomfortable internal experiences.
So, what can failing to summit mountains teach us about cultivating learning orientation?
Resilience and Adaptability: Mountains can be unforgiving, and failure to summit is not uncommon, even for experienced climbers. However, each setback presents an opportunity to flex our muscles around adaptability. Cultivating a learning orientation means understanding that failure is part of the journey and using those experiences to bounce back stronger. Just as climbers adjust their strategies based on weather conditions or unforeseen obstacles, individuals in other domains can learn to adapt to challenges, which is a critical aspect of a learning orientation.
Continuous Improvement: I often analyze my unsuccessful attempts meticulously to identify areas for improvement. Was it a lack of physical fitness, technical skills, decision-making processes or something else? When we cultivate learning orientation, we must similarly adopt a mindset of continuous improvement. Instead of dwelling on the failure itself, focus on what can be learned from it. This approach encourages self-reflection and a commitment to refining one's skills and knowledge to achieve better results over time.
Risk Management and Decision-Making: In mountaineering, poor decisions can have severe consequences. Failing to summit can be a result of misjudging risks, ignoring warning signs, or making hasty choices. A learning orientation encourages individuals to evaluate their decision-making processes critically. It involves assessing risks, gathering information, seeking advice when necessary, and making well-informed choices. This principle applies to various aspects of life, including business, where informed decision-making is critical to success.
Outside of my own musings, there is also research evidence to suggest learning orientation is useful for a range of reasons beyond a blog post:
Increased Motivation: A learning mindset encourages a sense of curiosity and motivation to overcome obstacles. According to the Self-Determination Theory by Deci and Ryan (2000), individuals who pursue learning for the intrinsic joy of the process are more likely to persist and excel in their endeavors.
Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: A learning mindset fosters better problem-solving skills and creativity. Research conducted by Dweck (2006) suggests that individuals with a growth mindset are more likely to adopt innovative strategies to overcome challenges.
Career Success: Drewery and colleagues (2020) found that learning mindset enhanced both objective and subjective measures of career success. Objectively, fostering learning mindset impacted number of promotions as well as supervisor-rated performance and affected job satisfaction and work engagement, among other measures.
Now that we understand the benefits of a learning mindset, let's explore three tips to cultivate it based on psychological principles:
Embrace Failure as Feedback: Instead of viewing failures as personal shortcomings, see them as opportunities to gain valuable feedback and insights. This perspective shift aligns with research on attribution theory by Weiner (1985), which emphasizes the importance of attributing failure to external factors and seeking ways to improve. Note that attribution theory does not provide carte blanche to explain away our missteps. Rather, this is about reframing the way in which we view our abilities and placing more control in our hands to learn and grow.
Set Growth-Oriented Goals: When setting goals, focus on personal growth and improvement rather than just outcomes. This aligns with the principles of self-determination theory, encouraging intrinsic motivation. Research by Sheldon and Elliot (1999) supports the idea that self-concordant goals, which are aligned with one's values and interests, lead to greater motivation and persistence. Even in a business sense, there are opportunities to align our performance related aspirations to something deeper than just remuneration and benefits to unlock deeper levels of motivation.
Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself during times of failure. Research by Neff (2003) highlights the importance of self-compassion in dealing with setbacks. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer to a friend facing a similar challenge. This self-compassionate approach can reduce negative emotions and foster a more positive learning mindset. As you cultivate self-compassion, you will lean heavily into altering your self-talk. Speaking to yourself compassionately may look like telling yourself “Go easy on yourself”, or “Give yourself a break”, something poetic like “May I treat myself with kindness”, or just one-word reminders “gentle” or “easy”.
Each of my failures has been a humbling and instructive journey. These failures have shown me that a learning mindset can transform setbacks into stepping stones for personal growth and success. So, keep climbing, keep learning, and never fear the occasional stumble along the way.
References:
Drewery, David W., Robert Sproule, and T. Judene Pretti. "Lifelong learning mindset and career success: evidence from the field of accounting and finance." Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning 10.3 (2020): 567-580.
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.
Dweck, C. S., & Leggett, E. L. (1988). A social-cognitive approach to motivation and personality. Psychological Review, 95(2), 256-273.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227-268.
Seligman, Martin EP, Steven F. Maier, and Richard L. Solomon. "Unpredictable and uncontrollable aversive events." Aversive conditioning and learning (1971): 347-400.
Sheldon, K. M., & Elliot, A. J. (1999). Goal striving, need satisfaction, and longitudinal well-being: The self-concordance model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76(3), 482-497.
Neff, K. D. (2003). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2(3), 223-250.
