Arthur L. Costa’s book “Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind (2008), Chapter 2. Describing the Habits of Mind” shares sixteen habits that human beings who behave intelligently acquire and display at times of problems. Human’s do not only behave intelligently in only sixteen ways and there are other attributions that can be added. Costa explains how the habits of mind are composed of many skills, lessons of past experiences and are incorporated into six dimensions which are value, inclination, sensitivity, capability, commitment, and policy. Costas’s purpose for sharing the sixteen habits is to explain these habits help people succeed in a variety of fields and disciplines and to show that people can think intelligibly by training and adapting
Arthur L. Costa explains the habits that people with growth mindsets acquire over time in “DESCRIBING 16 HABITS OF MIND.” Costa’s eighth habit, “Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations” is all about using past knowledge in order to work through new problems. I agree that this is a very important habit to have in order to make problem solving easier. Those with a growth mindset use this habit in order to learn more and understand better. This habit allows them “to abstract meaning from one experience, carry it forth, and apply it in a new and novel situation” (Costa 7). They use their past experiences and apply that knowledge when they are faced with a new problem. If they would forget everything they learned and never use any of their past knowledge they would not be able to move on when faced with a new
“There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs,” was said by motivational speaker and American author Zig Ziglar. This relates to Carol S. Dweck’s article “Brainology” and Sherman Alexie’s essay “Superman and Me.” Ziglar, Dweck, and Alexie all feel that it isn’t easy for someone to become successful. It takes hard work, perseverance, and the want to learn and grow. In Dweck’s article, she stated that someone with a growth mindset would become more successful and knowledgeable than someone with a fixed mindset, which was demonstrated by Alexie in his essay, and by a personal experience of my own.
Also, in Carol Dweck’s research article “Brainology”, she states the subtitle “Transforming Students’ Motivation to Learn”. She dishes mindsets and achievement, how do students learn these mindsets, and so on… … Dweck suggests, “Many students believe that intelligence is fixed, that each person has a certain amount, and that’s that. We call this a fixed mindset, and, as you will see, students with this mindset worry about how much of this fixed in intelligence they possess”. Many students believe that the challenge encountered in learning is a threat to their growth path. She put forward two different minds of the ideological study contrast, the finds showed that students studied with a growth mindset were more interested in learning and
The qualities that make a good leader are as varied as the people that fill leadership roles. Some leaders aren’t overly dynamic but somehow get the best out of people while others appear to be too carefree to take seriously. What is it then that makes leaders who they are? A personal philosophy of leadership is that distinguishing trait that every leader possesses. What those leadership characteristics and behaviors are will be explored in the following text, along with what I believe is the best route for me to follow as I work on developing my own personal philosophy of leadership.
Leaders must think to survive in every form of physical and mental conflict. Army leaders are responsible to solve problems, from “the mundane to the magnificent’ , with an expectation of complete success in determining the best possible decision to a given problem. Utilizing cognitive training tools to expand a stagnate mind (Drs. Paul and Elder’s Eight Elements of Thought) and following proven models of success (Army Problem Solving Process) facilitate a positive outcome for Army officers when they are making difficult decisions. Drs. Paul and Elder developed eight elements of thought that assist Army officers and provide additional definitions to the thought categories in the seven steps of the Army Problem Solving Process.
In The article “Brainology” “Carol S Dweck, a professor of psychology at Stanford University, differentiates between having a fixed and growth mindset in addition how these mindsets have a deep effect on a student’s desire to learn. Individuals who have a fixed mindset believe they are smart without putting in effort and are afraid of obstacles, lack motivation, and their focus is to appear smart.. In contrast, students with a growth mindset learn by facing obstacles and are motivated to learn. Dwecks argues that students should develop a growth mindset.
Below each level is identified, along with tools and techniques to help one achieve their goals of mind shifting. The author himself has provided specific examples of his skills and experience as a change agent and innovator.
Reading L112RC: Self-Awareness and Leadership Philosophy: Why Leaders Need One and Why they Need to Write It Down; CGSC Blackboard.
Still, even if one does put their mind to use, one must then use it in a way that will benefit society or improve oneself. Regret often comes to...
When people think of leadership so many things rush through their heads. For example am I a leader, am I apart of a group that has a leader, and what does being a leader mean? A common definition of being a leader is a person who leads or guides a group of people. So now knowing the definition of a leader who pops into your head; Phil Jackson, Mike Krzyzewski, Martin Luther King Jr.? All of these people are great leaders, but the real question is why are they so great? One very important thing that all these men have in common is they have a philosophy of leadership. This philosophy is going to help guide these men during turbulent times, or when they need guidance themselves. Nobody is perfect and everyone needs direction no matter how wise or gifted you are. I am no different, which is why writing this philosophy of leadership is going to be a fruitful experience for years to come.
Chapter 3 in the book Mindset taught me that students with a fixed mindset give low effort because they think they were either born smart or stupid and there’s no way to change that. The fixed mindset people try to avoid challenges and think mistakes as they are a failure and aren’t smart enough to accomplish it. If they happen to get a challenge they give up after the first setback. They think that it’s too challenging and that they can’t do it. People with a fixed mindset think that there’s no point in effort, you are either born smart or stupid and no matter how hard you try you can’t change that. They also believe that there is no need to study. They are smart enough to pass or to dumb to even do anything. They think that there
This was not as easy a read for me. I suppose I am a victim of my generational upbringing, in that, I feel the need to be informed in an entertaining manner. This book has good information, but I had to continually check my focus. Those times when I was truly drawn in were the times when the writer was relating back to a story from his life or others and how it worked in to the particular habit he was teaching at that time. That being said, the following areas are where I believe I can use to make myself and my team better.
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Covey, 2004) has become the cornerstone of leadership and management wisdom. The habits emphasize personal responsibility and personal leadership. There is challenge in living everyday under the guidance of the habits but there is also great benefit as living the habits can influence everything we do in life. I was introduced to Covey’s seven habits through a one day seminar at my workplace several years ago. I learned some of the terminology and a few of the concepts but never really understood the power of the practical application of the habits. Reading the Covey materials has taught me that life is not about all the tasks that I accomplish but instead about accomplishing the tasks that support what is important to me. Covey has taught me that there are elemental components that are applicable across the many roles that I have in my life. Those universal elements are integrity, vision, discipline, and passion. Embracing these ideas has opened my eyes to the endless applications and benefits of living the seven habits.
“The phenomena of closed and open-mindedness are at the heart of the interface between cognitive and social processes. Every intelligible judgment, decision, or action rests on a subjective knowledge base held with at least a minimal degree of confidence” (Kruglanski, 2004). How come it is that there are people who seem to make continuous progression in their personal and professional lives, while other people are cursed to repeat their same mistakes continuously? While the feedback is not cut and dry, there is a very interesting mind-set difference between two groups: these two groups approach challenges and difficulties very distinctively. The one group goes through life with an open mind. And the second group digs their heels in at the first
As former President of India, Abdul Kalam, once stated, "My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed." In its essence, Abdul Kalam clearly exemplifies one of the principle aspects of the IB [International Bachelorette] Learner Profile. Centering around both the fundamental values of ethical behavior and the attributes of a successful member of society, the ten traits found in the Learner Profile serve as an ideal means of instituting a foundation for the people of tomorrow. Fixated on implementing the development for the betterment of a person as an individual and as a part of a global community, the following characteristics are portrayed in the Learner Profile: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. As an individual, I have been gifted with countless blessings including intellect, love, understanding, wisdom, the ability to think, and various others (including the traits found in the Learner Profile). However, circumstances arise where the use of balance is vital; yet, it is not taken into consideration and failed to be acted upon. An evaluation of the use and importance of being a thinker, to that of the significance in maintaining balance, will demonstrate the reasons for which each feature is desired and equally paramount.