Organizational Behavior Essay: Growth Mindset and Grit

This reflective essay explores the theories of growth and fixed mindsets and grit within the context of organizational behavior. The student shares personal experiences in an MBA program, detailing how a growth mindset and perseverance (grit) helped overcome challenges in public speaking and academic performance. The essay contrasts this with a situation where a fixed mindset led to giving up on a dance course due to perceived lack of talent. The final section discusses the combination of both mindsets, strategies for the upcoming semester, and the importance of self-reflection and a reward system to cultivate grit and achieve long-term goals. The essay emphasizes that a growth mindset is crucial for developing skills, adapting to challenges, and achieving success, and provides a framework for combining both mindsets to improve academic performance and achieve success. The essay highlights the importance of perseverance, learning from failures, and the ability to change one's brain through effort and experience.

Running Head: ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 0
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
Student name
12-Dec-2018

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Contents
Question One: Theory of growth mindset and grit.........................................................................2
Question Two: Theory of fixed mindset and grit............................................................................4
Question Three: Theory of growth and fixed mindset and grit.......................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................9

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Question One: Theory of growth mindset and grit
In this part of the essay, I will be sharing my personal experience of mastering in a
particular field and how it feels to try to accomplish that particular course even after facing
various hurdles. Moreover, through reflection, I would be applying the theory of grit and growth
mindset to work for my mastering Couse in future.
Since my career goal was to become a successful entrepreneur and to start up my own
business. For which, I needed to learn various management skills, and the ability to deal in
various situations that would occur in the future. I decided to do MBA that is master’s in
business administration to achieve those skills after my graduation. After entering into the course
as the classes started and the practical aspects of business and related foundation were thought to
us theoretically and using case studies and practical aspect. Most importantly they use to
concentrate to make us professional and improve our confidence, learning skills, communication
skills, time management and much more. In the first semester, our first test was to make a report
on the case study provided and presenting that report effectively in class. I was aware that I lose
my confidence when it comes to public speaking and I had a problem of anxiety, I thought I
would never gonna pass my initial stage of the mastering course (Dweck & Walton, 2014).
Nevertheless, my tutors make me understand that it is not about learning, IQ or any such
thing, it is about the Grit, a grit is a perseverance and passion to accomplish something, which
does not get over within some days, weeks, or months, it needs year to accomplish that, and a
mindset that will keep us going. It is about the growth mindset which will motivate a person to

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perform and accept the failure, learn through that failure and try again (Dweck & Bempechat,
Children’s theories of intelligence: Consequences for learning. In Learning and motivation in the
classroom, 2017).
When I went for the presentation, it was very hard to control my anxiety and speak aloud
in front of many individuals, but after completing the presentation, It was not well performed by
me, but I knew that this is what I am here for, learning, and not afraid of being failed. I knew that
I haven’t achieved that yet, but will achieve in near future if I keep trying (Walton & Smith,
2015).
From that experience, I learned that to keep yourself motivated it is important to have a
growth mindset and keep on going if you failed once, and you are learning from your failure, you
will definitely notice improving yourself in next performance. Moreover, with time and practice,
I accomplish my exams and pass in those, and the reason was Grit, which kept me motivated,
and makes me accomplish what I desired to have. I get to learn that Grit is our passion to achieve
a long-term goal and with optimistic behavior to comes back from the failure and these traits of
grit lies in the base of a growth mindset, which becomes necessary to accomplish the goals set
and let to develop the grit (Dweck C. , 2017).

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Question Two: Theory of fixed mindset and grit
In this question of reflection essay, my personal experience would be shared, where I
give up on something while applying the theory of fixed mindset and grit. This theory can be
helpful in studying the human behavior or why I quit from something that I wanted to achieve
but because of lack of motivation I give up to learn that skill or matter that particular course
(Dweck C. , Carol Dweck revisits the growth mindset, 2015).
I was interested in learning dance, and my parents also ask me to do so, because my
sibling was good in dance and had a successful career in the same. That was the reason I joined
an academy and admitted to master in dance in different forms that will be completed in two
years. I decided to have that degree and skills, and I will not be giving up on anything (Trott &
Yeager, 2016).
As and when the classes started, the level of difficulties increases, because I do not
consider myself to be very good in dance, I use to believe that it the talent which will make us
successful in any field. My sister was very good at dance, from the very beginning of her journey
of dancing, which makes me more conscious. I was unable to cope up with the class, I felt that
might be I do not have that inherent skill which is needed to adapt to the dance forms thought in
the classes. Moreover, the accidents are very normal in dancing or sports, since the physical act
is required, I used to fall various time while learning dance. I decided to quit and give up on the
course as I felt that it is not my cup of tea. Noticing all the hurdles and difficulties, I strongly felt
that I should not be continuing learning these skills, as I do not have this talent in me. Therefore,
instead of focusing on developing the skills, I focused more over my basic ability of dancing, and

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after facing the failure I was not motivated to bounce back and try again, and give up instead
(Wilson, 2017).
From the experience, I have learned that, it was the mindset, which works as the reason
being a success is grit and as my fixed mind dominates; I gave up on the course. A fixed mindset
is when someone believes that the talent is which is responsible for the success and one cannot
develop skills later on, and when the mind is fixed that I am going to fail then the motivation
level is lowered to accomplish anything. My mindset that I do not have the talent of dance makes
me demotivated and I did not try to develop those skills and give up. Therefore, it can be said
that it is the grit, which is working, when the fixed mindset dominates, instead of a growth
mindset, the result turned out to be quitting, or given up attitude. Grit is all about perseverance,
and which was lacking while learning dancing, which results into low grit, and I give on
completion of a dancing course in between (Prasad & Vinothkumar, 2016).

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Question Three: Theory of growth and fixed mindset and grit
In this part of the reflective essay, the combination of a growth mindset and a fixed
mindset for the theory of grit will be considered. Theses aspect will be discussed with the help of
my personal experience. For the next trimester, the assumption that is believed, and will be the
strategy to achieve good results will be discussed. To initiate my experience for the next
trimester study, I would like to discuss the theory of grit and how fixed mindset is different from
growth mindset and how the combination of both is required to achieve something in long run
(Fiore, 2018).
The mindset weather growth or fixed is something, which is responsible for the
characteristics of an individual, which are critical for success in anything. The two types of
mindset are quite different from each other. On one hand, individuals with a fixed mindset
believe that their ability to do something g is fixed and inherent and which would not be able to
change. They are depended more on their talent and intelligence and do not try to improve them
or develop to achieve success. According to this mindset, talent can lead to success alone, and
further developing efforts are not needed. Whereas on other hand, people with growth mindset
have an open mind to learning, they believe that the skills and intelligence can grow if a person
tries to learn and develop those skills in themselves. Talent does not play a very vital role
according to this mindset. These people believe that they can grow while gaining experiences
and their effort will affect their success level, therefore they try better, and they give extra time,
to reach a higher position in success level. It is believed that the mindset has a vital role while
development of positive habits and attitude (Cain & Stoffel, 2018).

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For the learning for next semester, I realized that the growth mindset needs to be
dominating fixed mindset for myself to achieve the high grit and have success. For the further
preparation of the semester, I decided to do whatever I was lacking before, and try to learn from
my previous examination experience, and try to improve in this semester. For this, I had to
manage both the mindsets, and develop a growth mindset more so that it will be more useful in
working hard for the semester. Initially, decided to analyses and acknowledge my own weakness.
While doing so I realized that my weakness is procrastination, which is letting the work to
postpone to the next day. Due to this, I am usually late for the assignment, and with lots of
pressure, I try to do the assignment in last days, when the submission was close, which will
eventually affect my the quality of my work submitted. Next step that I decided to develop grit
was to see changes as new opportunities to gain, from previous experience I was knowing that
the anxiety while presenting the report in the class was the biggest challenge for me, this time I
will practice the same, well before the time with some improvement and tutors help. I will get
familiar to the environment before going to the stage, and practice what I have to present and
understand that thoroughly. Next thing to do was to get familiar with learning style and apply
most appropriate learning strategies (Nicholas & Gardner, 2017).
The performance and learning are two different things if the preparation of semester is
according to the goal to perform better and just score well, by any means, or the goal is to learn
something new and adapt the learning. I realized that a better way to be a success in the long run,
is to learn those skills and give importance to learning than performing only. Moreover, another
thing while developing grit while using both fixed and growth mindset is that to remember that
every individual has the ability to change their brain and through life. Moreover, for this
semester I decided to divide my whole work into pieces and concentrate over one parameter at a

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time, instead of taking the whole at one time. Moreover, while conducting that portion I will try
to do that part of assignment say introduction with full focus, and understanding what all is
required, how much research is required, and what structure to follow (ted.com, 2018).
Moreover, to get motivated I can use a reward system to complete my planned task on
time and as per schedule with best quality work and learning from the work. Moreover, it is
important to understand that there is a difference in improvement scope and failure. If the
previous remarks were to improve the performance, does not mean that you fail, or you are not
capable of passing that course. To develop a high grit, it is essential to daily reflect in your
journal, so that the mistake one day is not repeated on another day, and since you will review
yourself daily, the changes in case of deviation can be made immediately and not at the end of
the experience, after the exams (youtube, 2018).
From this experience, I learn that it is not always essential that an individual has skills
from birth and can be learned gradually in life. Moreover, I understood that it is not always
essential to learn from your own mistakes, one can learn from others mistakes as well. Most
importantly, I need to cultivated grit with all the passion, having a depth interest in the study; this
will get myself motivated and get going for the achievement of better results. The intelligence of
a person and motivation to improve and enhance talent will be helpful largely to accomplish the
task and success. Therefore, the combination of both the mindset and develop grit (Dweck C. ,
Carol Dweck revisits the growth mindset, 2015).

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References
Cain, J., & Stoffel, J. (2018). Review of grit and resilience literature within health professions
education. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 6150.
Dweck, C. (2015). Carol Dweck revisits the growth mindset. Education Week, 20.
Dweck, C. (2017). Mindset-updated edition: Changing the way you think to fulfil your potential.
UK: Hachette UK.
Dweck, C., & Bempechat, J. (2017). Children’s theories of intelligence: Consequences for
learning. In Learning and motivation in the classroom. London: Routledge.
Dweck, C., & Walton, G. (2014). Academic Tenacity: Mindsets and Skills that Promote Long-
Term Learning. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 1.
Fiore, L. (2018). Grit, Resilience, and Motivation in Early Childhood: Practical Takeaways for
Teachers. London: Routledge.
Nicholas, C., & Gardner, A. (2017). Selection bias: Examining the feasibility, utility, and
participant receptivity to incorporating simulation into the general surgery residency
selection process. The American Journal of Surgery, 1171.
Prasad, N., & Vinothkumar, M. (2016). Moderating role of resilience in the relationship between
grit and psychological well-being. International Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry,
10.

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ted.com. (2018). carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve? Retrieved from
ted.com:
https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve
?language=en
Trott, J., & Yeager, D. (2016). Using design thinking to improve psychological interventions:
The case of the growth mindset during the transition to high school. Journal of
educational psychology, 374.
Walton, G., & Smith, E. (2015). Mind-set interventions are a scalable treatment for academic
underachievement. Psychological science, 784.
Wilson, M. (2017). Disrupting structural inequalities of higher education opportunity:“Grit”,
resilience and capabilities at a South African University. Journal of Human Development
and Capabilities, 384.
youtube. (2018). TEDxBlue - Angela Lee Duckworth, Ph.D . Retrieved 2009, from youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaeFnxSfSC4