Leadership isn’t simply just about making decisions or calling the shots. Above and
beyond, it is also about the lens through which we perceive the world as people.
Think: have you ever encountered a daunting challenge only to realise that your mindset could
determine your success or failure? It is in these pivotal moments of realisation that
we recognise the profound impact of our mindsets on the consequences of our actions.
That’s where changing our cognitions and mindsets comes into play. Psychologists refer
to technique as cognitive restructuring.
At sp_ce, we’re passionate about empowering leaders to reshape their mindsets for the
better. Imagine a leader facing a major setback in a crucial project. Instead of
succumbing to defeat, a true leader engages in changing the mindsets of themselves and
the people around them. Leaders challenge negative beliefs and cognitions such as “I’m not
good enough” or “I’ll never succeed” by replacing them with empowering and positive
thoughts like “I have the skills to overcome this” or “This setback is an opportunity for
growth.” It is this subtle shift in mindset that enables leaders to tackle situations with
fresh perspectives, which might be what is needed to resolve the problem or tackle the
challenge in front of them.
Moreover, changing mindsets isn’t just about altering or changing our thoughts- one can
think about it as transforming our relationship with adversity and the way we interact
with challenges that are posed to us. Picture a leader encountering resistance to change
within their organisation. Instead of viewing such resistance as a roadblock, they
perceive it as an opportunity to engage the relevant stakeholders such as employees and
contractors, gather feedback on their leadership styles, and refine their approaches to
surmount these resistances. It is this iterative process by which reframing challenges as
avenues for growth and innovation allows leaders to foster resilience and
adaptability within their teams.
We therefore need to dive a little deeper into the link between mental health and
shifting frameworks of minds. Several studies have revealed that people who practice
positive thinking and internalize a growth mindset are likely to enjoy great mental health.
In a comprehensive literature review conducted by Naseem and Khalid (2010), they
found that positive emotions and positive behavioural qualities enhance human
potential in several aspects of life: work, coping with stress, and health. They argue that
by thinking positively, our perception of stress changes- we view stress as being less
threatening, and therefore become able to cope with it more effectively. For instance, a
leader who reframes her adversities as opportunities that help one to grow personally
can benefit from lower stress levels and greater resilience. Not only do mindset
changing practices enable us to become better leaders, but also nurture mental health as
well.
Calling upon our powers of the imagination: We now envision a leader- Sarah, who is
facing significant challenges in her role due to restructuring within her organisation.
Instead of viewing these tumultuous changes as insurmountable obstacles, Sarah
instead chooses to adopt a growth mindset and reframes the situation as an opportunity
for personal and professional growth. She recognizes that navigating through
organisational changes can strengthen her leadership skills, foster resilience, and
broaden her perspective. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty, she
approaches each challenge with optimism and a proactive mindset. By embracing this
positive outlook, Sarah experiences lower stress levels and greater adaptability in
managing this transition. As a trickle-down effect, Sarah’s team also benefits from her
positive attitude, as she inspires them to remain focused and motivated during times of
change and uncertainty. As a result, Sarah not only successfully navigates through the
restructuring process but also emerges as a stronger and more effective leader. Her
ability to embrace adversity as a catalyst for growth not only enhances her own mental
well-being but also fosters a culture of resilience within her team and organization.
In this respect, let’s move forward to the idea of resilience and its connection with
changing attitudes. Resilience is the capacity to overcome misfortune and changing
mindsets is an essential part of fostering resilient people. Let’s think about a leader
who suffers one disaster after another in an undertaking. They choose to consider these
failures as learning opportunities and chances for development. They help their team by
taking a resilient approach and looking at challenges as stepping stones towards
success. In a recent study by Shelton and colleagues (2021) published in the
International Journal of Organizational Analysis, it was found that although
organisational stress is pervasive, resilience factors are associated with positive
leadership behaviours, especially in times of stress. Leaders themselves also benefit
from greater satisfaction and well-being.
However, how else can we incorporate the changing mindsets into our lives and not
only at our workplaces? It is about developing a growth mindset in all spheres of life –
whether this refers to personal relationships or interests and hobbies. For instance,
instead of perceiving failures as impediments to growth, we can regard them as
openings for learning and development. We can steer our way through life’s obstacles
confidently and fearlessly by nurturing an attitude of resilience.
Reflect on a recent leadership challenge. How did your mindset influence your
approach? By incorporating cognitive restructuring into our leadership toolkit, we’re
boosting our effectiveness as leaders and nurturing not just our well-being, but also the
well-being of others around us.
Are you ready to move on to the next stage in your leadership progression with this critical skill?
If you are looking to develop leadership skills or require guidance on the practical implementation of changing mindset techniques, we provide many tailored programs to continue this journey with you.