Growth Mindset: Seminar Highlights
We recently held our Autumn Tutor Enrichment Seminar: Growth Mindset. The session explored how our beliefs about learning and intelligence can shape our success, both as tutors and lifelong learners. Led by our expert facilitator, Helen Deavin, the seminar encouraged reflection, discussion, and practical application of growth mindset principles in tutoring and beyond.
Our expert, Helen Deavin, is Managing Director for Matthew Syed Consulting, helping some of the world’s leading organisations to build a growth mindset to drive improvements in their culture and business outcomes.
Helen specialises in strategic change scenarios. She focusses on achieving quantifiable business results through the application of proven management methodologies to improve the financial, customer and operational performance on a global, regional and country basis.
Helen is actively involved in volunteer and charity work. She is a qualified mentor for the Youth Offending Program and a business advisor for the Young Enterprise charity.
After exploring the difference definition of growth mindset, Helen guided tutors through strategies to build resilience, curiosity, and reflective practice in their own lives as well as their work with pupils.
Here are just some of the pearls of wisdom shared during the event:
Carol Dweck pioneered the concept of the Growth Mindset.
Her research shows that when we see intelligence and ability as qualities that can be developed, we become more open to learning and improvement.
Mindset is different from personality.
For example, you can be an introvert and still become an excellent public speaker with practice. Our personality doesn’t limit our potential, our mindset does.
What’s happening in your head comes out in your language and actions.
The words you use and the way you approach challenges reflect your mindset, whether fixed or growth-oriented.
Mistakes are learning opportunities.
Some of the most successful people have failed many times. The key is not to avoid mistakes but to learn from them and grow stronger. We can also encourage this amongst our students by creating a positive culture of error.
You don’t need to have all the answers.
Even in your area of expertise, it’s impossible to know everything. Great learners are not ‘know-it-alls’, but ‘learn-it-alls’.
Curiosity is an underrated superpower.
Asking questions, exploring ‘why’ and ‘how’, and keeping an open mind are what fuel growth and innovation.
Mindset isn’t binary.
You can have a growth mindset in some areas and a fixed mindset in others. The key is awareness and willingness to adapt.
The power of ‘yet’.
“I can’t do this” becomes “I can’t do this yet.” That one word transforms limitations into opportunities for growth.
Flip your language.
Shift from fixed to growth mindset phrases. For example, from “I’m not good at this” to “I’m learning how to get better at this.”
Try using the ‘Rose, Bud, Thorn’ reflection tool in your tuition.
- Rose: What went well?
- Bud: What’s showing potential?
- Thorn: What was challenging?
This helps both tutors and pupils reflect constructively on their progress.
‘What if?’ thinking sparks innovation.
The mindset behind companies like Uber began with simple curiosity: “What if a taxi company didn’t own taxis?” The same creative thinking can drive progress in education too.
At Team Up, we believe that developing a growth mindset benefits not only our pupils but also our tutors. By embracing mistakes, practising curiosity, and focusing on progress, our tutors can empower students to do the same.
We’d like to thank everyone who joined the seminar for contributing their thoughts and reflections. We hope that all our tutors left feeling inspired to bring growth mindset principles into their lives and their sessions.
Keep an eye on our social media channels @teamuphub to hear about more upcoming seminars and workshops, which are exclusively available to our volunteer tutors and alumni.
If you’re interested in joining Team Up and gaining access to seminars like this, contact us at tutor.applications@teamup.org.uk or apply now to start your Team Up journey.