Leadership Wisdom of the Week #10

“Becoming is better than being.”

– Carol Dweck
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

This week’s quote comes from Carol Dweck’s book, where she recalls an old saying from the 1960s. I wanted to share it because it captures the essence of the Growth Mindset—a concept developed through Carol Dweck’s extensive research. A Growth Mindset is the belief that people can continuously develop and improve—that we are not limited to what we are born with, but can expand our capabilities through conscious effort.

Not everyone can become a concert musician or an Olympic athlete, but all of us can improve in the areas that matter to us. The opposite approach is called a Fixed Mindset. This refers to the belief that people are born with a certain level of ability, and that this largely determines their future.

This quote, and the concept of Growth Mindset as a whole, are very personal to me. One might assume that someone who has worked in people and leadership development for many years would naturally have a strong Growth Mindset. Yet I still find myself, again and again, realising how challenging it can be to see not only what is, but also what could be—the full potential in people. Growth Mindset is not something you achieve once and for all. It is something you continue to practise.

As a leader and leadership developer, I have learned to appreciate the journey of learning alongside others. I value being someone with whom people can safely be incomplete—someone who supports them as they grow into who they want to become. There have certainly been moments when I have expected more from the people I lead. In those moments, I have had to work on myself—not to show disappointment, but to encourage further development instead.

Most leaders have also experienced leading people who do not yet have a Growth Mindset themselves. It can be frustrating to lead someone who does not see their own potential. I have found that a balanced combination of encouragement, clear expectations, and honest feedback can make a profound difference. Few things are more powerful than having a leader who truly believes in you and your potential.

There are also times when I find it challenging to see myself through the lens of a Growth Mindset. Certain beliefs can make it difficult to accept that you are still a work in progress. As a leader, you are never truly finished. There are always new people, new situations, and new challenges.

On this journey, it is worth remembering that becoming the leader you want to be is far more powerful than believing you have already arrived.