An Experimental Mindset

Mindsets are a set of beliefs that guide behaviors. Sometimes our default mindsets are not helpful, and it can be a good choice to adopt a different one. Scientists use the scientific method to observe, make a hypothesis, and test it.

By Thebiologyprimer – Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50625082

In her book “Tiny Experiments,” Anne-Laure Le Cunff advocates moving from three default mindsets to an experimental mindset with small, actionable experiments. [book purchased through Amazon affiliate link provides a small commission that helps support the Daily PlanIt] Learn more with the Youtube video “Fix Your Destructive Mindset in 15 Minutes,” more videos and articles at Big Think, and information at her website, nesslabs. The experimental mindset process includes: Pact, Act, React, and Impact to test assumptions and review the results. An example of a tiny experiment: add a daily ten minute walk break and see how it affects your energy and focus for the day. See more ideas for personal development micro-habits.

Another book by Patti Johnson, “Make Waves,” outlines methods for creating change with many examples of how others have done it. The author challenges commonly held beliefs that can hold us back, like “Change must come from the top.” Anyone can start a wave: start by asking  “What can I do?” and “What if?”

As in writing, it’s okay to get started with a wave before you know all the answers. The author describes incremental planning, with changes expected to be made as you learn more. To start a wave, you do need to be able to clearly describe what you want to accomplish and why, and have some ideas for where to start. However, you don’t have to have everything completely planned out prior to beginning.

Do an experiment

When you don’t know the answer to a problem, it can be helpful to run experiments. The experimental method is about trying different things out to see if they work or not. We see this in the business world with the Lean Startup Method, which depends on creating a minimal viable product to test. While Yoda said “Do or do not. There is no try,” in the movie Star Wars, William Edward Hickson said “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

Things I learned:

• Be curious!
• It’s okay to start without knowing all the answers.
• Test assumptions with experiments.
• View failure as learning, and try doing something else.
• Change isn’t easy, but much can be accomplished with hard work and time.

The Change Toolkit is full of resources for making a change.

RESOURCES

50 ideas for self experiements from Psychology Today

About dailyplanit

I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.