Fix vs. Growth Mindset: Keys to Transforming Healthcare
In healthcare, it’s common to encounter people who feel stuck. Healthcare has long been criticized as one of the slowest industries to adapt, innovate, and “level up.” Part of the problem lies in the prevalence of a fixed mindset—a mindset that resists change, avoids risk, and sees failure as an endpoint rather than a stepping stone. To truly transform healthcare, we need a growth mindset at every level. Leaders must have self-awareness, recognize where they are, and actively shift themselves and others toward a growth mindset. There is a lot of literature on this already, but this is just as it may be used to transform healthcare and help people live longer and better.
A fixed mindset is defined by resistance to change, fear of failure, and an aversion to risk. In a fixed mindset, people believe their abilities and intelligence are static, and they often avoid challenges that could lead to growth. Descriptors of a fixed mindset include:
• Viewing failure as an endpoint
• Being averse to taking risks
• Focusing on limitations rather than possibilities
• Relying on past successes without seeking new challenges
• Feeling threatened by others’ achievements
• Believing that abilities are inherent and cannot be improved
These behaviors create a stagnant environment where people settle for the status quo rather than strive for greater impact.
By contrast, a growth mindset embraces failure as an opportunity to learn thrives on challenges, and is driven by curiosity and possibility. In a growth mindset, people believe their abilities can be developed through dedication, effort, and a willingness to learn. Key descriptors of a growth mindset include:
• Viewing failure as a stepping stone to success
• Embracing risk and seeking new challenges
• Focusing on potential rather than limitations
• Feeling inspired by others’ successes
• Seeing intelligence and skills as qualities that can be cultivated
• Being curious, creative, and filled with a sense of wonder
This mindset shift unlocks potential for individuals and entire teams, creating a culture where people can innovate, grow, and transform healthcare delivery.
To become a disruptive force in healthcare, everyone must recognize where they are at any given moment and move from a fixed to a growth mindset. “Going vertical” is about more than just mindset; it’s about adopting a posture of seeking something higher, something more significant, and even something supernatural. For me, shifting to a growth mindset also means deepening my connection with God, aligning my purpose with a greater power, and embracing a mindset that drives meaningful change.
Chart: Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
The chart below visually represents the shift from fixed to growth mindsets. It includes key descriptors of each mindset, with a dashed line separating the two and a vertical arrow labeled “Go Vertical,” symbolizing the movement needed to embrace growth. The growth mindset is positioned above the fixed mindset, emphasizing the upward progression toward possibility, innovation, and improved healthcare outcomes.
This visual reminds us that progress in healthcare—like personal growth—requires a conscious decision to go vertical and embrace the mindset that drives change. Let’s commit to fostering a growth mindset within ourselves and our teams, enabling healthcare transformation and helping people live longer and better.