Using Praise to Develop a Growth Mindset in Athletes
As a teacher, I was introduced to the concept of Growth Mindset; instilling a belief in students that most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work, and that our talent and current ability is just the starting point. Dr. Carol Dweck's research on praise was eye opening for educators, it taught us that praising intelligence and outcome (“You’re so smart!” “You got them all right!”) can actually backfire. We learned that this type of praise can impact long-term achievement and desire to take risks.
So what can parents do to cultivate a growth mindset? Keep reading to learn how I've used my training as an educator to help me foster a growth mindset in my players and athletes!
Parents play a major role in the opportunity for their athlete to develop a growth mindset when it comes to developing life skills (academic, athletic, etc.). We all want to acknowledge the achievements of our children, but it turns out that how you praise makes the difference.
One of Dweck’s studies divided children into the following three groups before they were given some moderately challenging work:
Students receiving intelligence praise- “You’re such a good reader”
Students receiving effort praise- “You kept trying, nice effort!”
Students receiving no praise (control group)
Following the praise, the students were given the choice to continue with some easier problems or some challenging problems. The effort-praised students tended to select the more difficult problems, wanting to demonstrate their abilities further. Alternatively, the group praised for intelligence chose the easier problems, fearing that their perceived intelligence would be at risk. The most surprising take away from this study was that after completing the problems, those students praised for effort saw improvements in performance, whereas the students who were intelligence-praised saw a decline.
As a mental performance and confidence coach, I suggest that families and coaches consider the impact of Dweck’s findings, when communicating with their athletes. Emphasize effort, improvement, and the joy of participating in their sport! During a game or practice, instead of focusing on their talent, praise your child's effort and the improvements they make. Provide this effort-based praise regardless of the outcome! For example, if they displayed good sportsmanship or showed dedication to learning a new skill, acknowledge and show an appreciation for their hard work. It’s important to help foster a love for sports that extends beyond winning vs. losing. Parents can help by reminding their player of the joy of participation and to enjoy the journey of watching themselves develop and grow as a player.
I’d love to help you cultivate a growth mindset with your athlete. Sign up for a free 20 minute consultation.
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