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Have you ever hired someone with a strong resume and values that aligned with your company, only to later question your decision because they had the wrong mindset? This may have been a hiring oversight, but it doesn’t have to be a permanent mistake. Help your employees make a necessary mindset adjustment so that they can be part of a successful workplace culture.
Understanding the Mindset Difference
Imagine that you have hired a C-suite leader with great qualifications, but they come from a background that has taught them not to escalate issues to the CEO. You, on the other hand, want your employees to be completely transparent about the challenges and roadblocks they’re facing so that you can problem-solve as a team. Although your new employees may have impressive skills, if they cannot make a mindset shift and start sharing about issues transparently, they will not succeed in your business.
I experienced a similar situation in my career. I began working in an environment that encouraged innovation by steering away from successful past projects and creating new ones from scratch. This approach and mindset felt daunting to me because it meant abandoning proven methods for untested ideas, without relying on past research. However, it offered fresh perspectives and strategic opportunities for our team.
My manager motivated me to make this shift by sharing some scenarios and outcomes of this new direction. I changed my mindset by using a different framework and applying a new process. This allowed me to collaborate more with team members, focus on users' needs, review different solutions, and continuously improve outcomes. As a result, I became more open to new ideas, more adaptable, and more focused on learning opportunities.
The Importance of Mindsets to Culture
This type of experience highlights a critical insight: While core values represent the principles of a company, mindsets shape how individuals approach and solve problems.
Focusing solely on core values overlooks the essential role of mindsets in shaping culture. A company's culture influences how employees behave and collaborate. By understanding and aligning both core values and mindsets, companies can create a thriving culture that fosters success and employee satisfaction.
The core values that you hold combined with your mindset determine how you will react to situations at work. It’s essential to make sure that employees have both parts of the equation so that they behave in ways that are appropriate, positive, and productive.
Successful teams are essential for thriving in today's quick-moving and constantly evolving business world. To stay ahead, it's crucial for companies to foster a culture of high performance to boost the overall success of the organization.
Making the Mindset Shift
How can you help your employee bridge a mindset gap? Invite them into a candid discussion and communicate the need for this mindset shift. You may be surprised to find that after an open conversation, many employees are ready and willing to make a mindset shift. They can then adapt to the culture and change their mindsets, becoming even stronger members of your team.
If you want to learn more about how to create a successful company culture, check out Patrick Thean’s upcoming book, The Journey to CEO Success: 7 Practices for High Growth Leadership.
