Tips for Fostering an Experimental Mindset in Learning and Development

Without realizing it, we more than often bring a fixed mindset to any given problem. This can block us from seeing creative solutions problems or unlocking unforeseen opportunities. We end up in a cycle of iteration vs. innovation. 🌀🕯️💡 Start by embracing a growth mindset. 🧠 A growth mindset, proposed by @Stanford professor Carol Dweck in her book Mindset, describes those who believe that their success depends on time and effort. People with a growth mindset feel their skills and intelligence can be improved with effort and persistence. Then also practice a beginner's mind (Shoshin, 初心). 🌈 Having a beginner's mind means you approach the world through a beginner's eyes. You set aside your expert's mind in favor of seeing things differently, with childlike wonder. 🤩 A beginner's mind is… -Open to new experiences and perspectives. -Always curious and ready to learn. -Mindful and present in the moment (you show up differently) -Ready to let go of expectations, assumptions, and judgments that block growth. -Open to embracing change. -Humble, able to accept mistakes and see failures as opportunities. -Brave, set to take steps outside your comfort zone. “If your mind is empty … it is open to everything. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.” – Shunryu Suzuki 1. Set aside current experiences, case studies, and playbooks. You can't do new things if you approach them as you always do. Let go of the word 'should' and replace it with 'what if' and 'why not'. Be open to surprises. 2. Take inspiration from children. Be open to wonder and amazement. 3. Practice creativity as part of your everyday routines. 4. Slooooooow down. 5. Be curious. Ask questions as if everything is new. 6. Be optimistic. It's easy to find problems and make excuses. 7. Leave your ego behind. As my friend @ryanholiday says, "ego is the enemy." 8. Invite new voices to the table, regardless of role. Be inclusive. Be open. Create a safe space for everyone. 9. Be ready to make mistakes and even fail. If you don't fail, you're not trying anything new. Keep going. 10. Stay curious! 🙌 #creativity #innovation #leadership #growthmindset #leadershipmindset #beginnersmind

Recently I've been talking with others about taking a more 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒆𝒕 towards challenges and solutions, and I’ve observed that as soon as I utter the word "experiment" it brings an immense amount of 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒇. Here’s why I think that is... - 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞/𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Viewing solutions as experiments removes the need to get it right the first time. - 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: This approach encourages adaptability, allowing for new methods without fear of permanent consequences. - 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚: Each experiment, including each experiment attempt, deepens understanding and enhances skills. Through my own "experimental learnings and failures" (eek) and through coaching (thank you, James Johnson!) I've learned that it can be helpful (!) to apply rigour. For example... - 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚: Make experiment selection intentional by setting clear objectives and success metrics. - 𝐄𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: Collect enough data points to draw meaningful conclusions. (And if you don't want to collect more data - e.g., you want to pivot - then "own" and communicate the "why not?".) - 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐠𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞! Don't "define" alone and don't execute alone. Establish a process that gets your team involved from the get-go. (𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨: 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰! 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 (𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦!) 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.)

𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 | 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 In our quest for innovation and excellence, the role of a leader transcends beyond merely guiding the team. It's about becoming co-explorers on a journey fraught with challenges and boundless opportunities. Let me share a thought that's been pivotal in my approach to leadership: As leaders, when we openly experiment, embrace our failures as lessons, and show genuine interest in others' ideas, we're not just guiding—we're participating in a shared journey of discovery. Why does this matter? 1. 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Innovation doesn't come from playing it safe. It comes from venturing into the unknown, with the courage to test new ideas and the humility to learn from what doesn't work. 2. 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬: Every setback is a setup for a comeback. The lessons we learn from our failures are the stepping stones to our greatest successes. They are not to be feared, but embraced. 3. 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬: The magic happens when we genuinely engage with ideas that are not our own. It's about creating a space where every voice is heard and every suggestion is valued. This approach has not only enriched my leadership journey but has also fostered a culture where every member feels like they are a part of something greater than themselves. We are all teachers and students, learning from each other, inspired by the collective wisdom and creativity of the group. No matter your role or industry, I encourage you to embrace this mindset. Let's foster environments where curiosity is the compass that guides us, where we're not afraid to venture into the unknown together. The journey of discovery is infinitely more rewarding when we travel it as a team. Let's discuss! How do you cultivate a culture of curiosity and learning within your teams? What have been your most memorable lessons learned through experimentation and embracing failure? #Leadership #Innovation #Teamwork #LearningFromFailure #CultureOfCuriosity

Are You Wrestling with the Wrong Kind of Problem? We all crave simple solutions to the challenges we face. But the truth is, many modern problems are complex, not merely complicated. What's the difference? - Complicated: Think building a clock. It's difficult, requires expertise, but ultimately has a predictable path to success if you follow the blueprint. - Complex: Think raising a child. There's no single "right" answer, no guidebook that guarantees an outcome. It demands adaptation, learning from what works (and what doesn't). Mistaking complexity for complication leads to frustration and wasted effort. Here's how to shift your mindset: - Embrace experimentation: Try small, safe-to-fail experiments, learn quickly, and iterate. - Seek diverse input: Complex problems demand multiple perspectives to uncover hidden assumptions. - Focus on patterns, not rigid plans: Look for the bigger trends that emerge, then adjust your strategy accordingly. Managing organizations as complicated systems is the surest path to failure. Leaders who recognize and embrace complexity are the ones poised for long-term success.

As leaders, we may not often realize it, but every day we oversee the world's largest learning laboratory: our business workplace. The real question is, how effectively are we at using it? Very few of us would argue that the most successful organizations are those that prioritize continuous learning and development. Understanding this, you may ask, "how can I leverage or make this a competitive advantage?" By transforming our workplaces into "learning laboratories," we can create an effective environment for team members who want to continuously grow, innovate, and enhance their skills. This approach not only benefits the individual but also drives organizational success. If you want your team(s) to be high-performing (meaning they're self-starting, inquisitive, always looking to improve, and highly autonomous) there is no better way than developing your workplace into a laboratory for learning on-the-job. A workplace/laboratory built for learning promotes a culture of innovation. When team members have the freedom scale to explore new ideas and approaches without the fear of failure, they are more likely to become solutions-driven. This can potentially lead to the development of new products, services, and processes that sustain your organization allowing it to keep its competitive edge. If you're thinking positively about this, consider that you get those highly skilled, and innovative team members in addition to increased employee engagement and retention! A workplace that values learning and development creates a positive environment where employees feel valued and motivated to contribute their best. Team members who know their personal and professional growth are supported by leadership are more likely to be satisfied and remain loyal to the company. The main idea behind the creation of a learning environment is to build more collaborative teams. When employees are encouraged to share their knowledge and learn from one another, it strengthens team dynamics and improves communication. This collaborative spirit is crucial for learning how to effectively execute operationally, overcome challenges, and achieve organizational goals. So, what does a "learning lab" look like inside your organization? Here are three simple steps to begin: 1. Encourage a growth mindset across your organization. 2. Provide access to learning resources. 3. Create opportunities for practical application. Commit fully to these steps and watch your people excel and the first elements of your learning lab come together. The way we learn as a society is constantly evolving. Today, new jobs are emerging that have no historical precedent or textbooks to refer to. Learning and expertise are developing around us at an unprecedented speed. Remember, everyday you preside over a "ready made" environment to grow and develop your people. As leaders, we own that responsibility, let's not let it go to waste. #CEOs #Leadership #Learning #Execution