Personal Development & Growth: From Fixed to Growth Mindset - Why It Matters at Work

What we believe about our abilities shapes how we learn, respond to challenges, and grow in our roles. In this episode of In the Know at Genus, we unpack what a growth mindset really means and how small shifts in thinking can lead to big gains in confidence, resilience, and progress.

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Transcript

Welcome to In the Know at Genus, the podcast that brings you practical ideas to support your growth—both at work and in life. Today, we’re talking about something that shapes how we learn, how we respond to challenges, and how we grow in our roles. We’re talking about our overall mindset. You’ve probably heard the phrase “growth mindset” before. It’s one of those terms that’s used a lot—but what does it really mean? And why does it matter here at Genus?
Let’s start with the basics: your mindset is the way you think about your abilities. And there are two main types—fixed and growth. A fixed mindset is when you believe your skills and talents are fixed—you're either naturally good at something, or you're not. You might hear this in thoughts like: "I’ve never been good at technology," or "I’m just not a confident speaker." A growth mindset is the belief that you can develop your skills over time through effort, learning, and feedback. You don’t have to be brilliant at something to get better—you just need the willingness to try and improve. And that small shift in thinking can make a huge difference. Let’s look at a few common workplace situations. Imagine you're asked to use a new digital system. With a fixed mindset, your inner voice might say, “I always mess this up.” You feel frustrated, maybe even embarrassed, and stop engaging with it. Now imagine the same moment—but with a growth mindset. You think, “I’ve never done this before, so of course it feels tricky. But I can figure it out with practice.” It doesn’t make the task easier—but it changes your confidence and willingness to learn.
Or consider making a mistake on a project. A fixed mindset might lead you to think, “I’ve failed. I’m not cut out for this.” A growth mindset reframes it as, “What can I take from this? What would I do differently next time?” Neither mindset changes what happened—but one helps you move forward. The truth is, most of us move between fixed and growth mindsets all the time. You might feel confident in one area of your work, and completely unsure in another. That’s normal. But the key is to notice your thinking—and choose how you respond. Here are a few small shifts you can try: • Instead of “I can’t do this”, try “I can’t do this yet.” • Instead of “I’m not good at this”, try “What am I missing?” These aren’t magic phrases—but they help train your brain to see effort as valuable, and setbacks as part of the journey.
Here’s something to try this week: Think of one moment where you felt stuck, frustrated, or unsure—recently or in the past. What was your first reaction? Now take a minute to rewrite that reaction as a growth mindset response. For example, if you thought, “I’m useless at this”, reframe it as, “This is new for me, and that’s okay. I’ll get better with time.” It might feel unnatural at first—but with practice, these little changes build resilience and boost confidence. At Genus, we know that growth is part of who we are—from our science and innovation to how we support one another as one team. A growth mindset helps us adapt, solve problems, and keep moving forward—together. If you’d like to explore more, we’ve included links to short learning resources in the podcast description. Give one a go, or chat with your team about how you approach challenges—it’s amazing what can shift when we change the way we think. Thanks for joining us for this episode of In the Know at Genus. In our next and final episode of the series, we’ll talk about career development—how to navigate your path, even if you’re not sure where it leads yet. Until then, remember to never stop improving, your mindset matters more than you think.