For over 30 years now—which makes me feel a bit old—I’ve been playing basketball. I’ve played at a fairly high level and still hit the court three times a week. One of those games is in the local A-grade competition, which is quite strong. I often find myself up against 20-somethings coming up through the sport. Now, I was never going to go professional, but by most measures, I’m pretty decent at basketball despite my aging body. Playing at this level for so long, it’s become second nature. I don’t really think about it; I just do it. Basketball is relatively easy for me, so I keep playing.
Recently, though, I’ve started to consider the benefits of tackling things that are hard and that I’m not good at. Among my friends, I’m known as one of the world’s worst golfers. I didn’t play often, and when I did, my score would be so high it would run off the scorecard. I’d often struggle to even make contact with the ball, and when I did, it would land just a few feet away. I could throw the ball further than I could hit it—though I was informed that this wasn’t within the rules. I certainly didn’t enjoy playing golf, so I avoided it.
I suspect most people are like me. We gravitate towards activities we enjoy and are good at. It’s human nature. But what happens when we challenge ourselves to do something we’re not good at? And what if we decide to get better at it?
Getting good at anything worthwhile requires time, patience, resilience, and commitment. Whether it’s learning something new like a programming language, working in a new job, or taking up a new sport or hobby, improvement takes work and patience.
The Growth Mindset
In business terms, this willingness to accept new challenges is called a growth mindset. Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist, introduced this concept—the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. When we approach challenges with a growth mindset, we view them as opportunities for learning rather than threats to our self-esteem. This mindset transforms failures into valuable learning experiences and encourages perseverance.
There’s significant value in adopting this growth mindset, no matter the activity you’re focused on improving.
The Benefits of Tackling Challenges
1. Improved Problem-Solving Skills: Struggling with tasks you’re bad at forces you to think critically and creatively. It enhances your problem-solving abilities, crucial in both professional and personal settings.
2. Increased Resilience: Facing and overcoming challenges builds resilience. It teaches you to bounce back from setbacks and persist despite difficulties, an invaluable trait in navigating life’s inevitable ups and downs.
3. Greater Self-Awareness: Trying new things and facing your weaknesses gives you a better understanding of your strengths and areas for improvement. This self-awareness is essential for personal and professional growth.
4. Enhanced Adaptability: In today’s rapidly changing world, adaptability is a key skill. Tackling tasks you’re not good at helps you become more flexible and open to new experiences and ideas.
5. Boosted Confidence: Successfully improving at something you initially struggle with can significantly boost your confidence. It shows you that you can learn and grow even in areas where you initially struggle.
6. Increased Empathy: When we struggle with a task, we develop greater empathy for others who might be facing their own challenges. While I struggle with golf, I can empathise with the junior project manager just learning the ropes at work. I can see the hard work she’s putting in and support her growth.
7. Patience: Starting out, you will likely fail regularly. I fail at nearly every hole every weekend at golf. However, over time, things improve. Tasks that once felt impossible will feel a little less so, and from time to time, it will all come together—usually only to go backwards again, but you will see improvement if you are patient.
So, my question to you is: When did you last consciously try to do something you knew you’d struggle with?
If you’re inspired by my golfing journey and are considering undertaking your own challenge, here are some practical steps to embrace:
Practical Steps to Embrace Challenges
1. Identify Your Weaknesses: Reflect on areas where you feel less competent. It could be a specific skill at work, a hobby, or even a personal habit you want to change.
2. Set Realistic Goals: Start with small, achievable goals. This makes the task less daunting and helps you build momentum as you progress.
3. Seek Feedback: Constructive feedback from others can provide valuable insights and help you improve more effectively. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice and learn from those who excel in the areas you’re working on.
4. Be Patient: Improvement takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself and celebrate small victories along the way.
5. Stay Positive: Maintain a positive attitude and focus on the progress you’re making rather than the setbacks. Remember, every effort counts towards your growth.
I now play golf every Sunday morning. I’m still pretty bad at it, but I am getting better. More importantly, I get to spend a few hours each weekend with three other guys who are fast becoming good friends. We take a long and frustrating walk together in the sunshine, talking, telling jokes, and giving each other completely useless golf swing advice. This task that I used to hate is now one of my favourite times of the week.
FAQs
Q: What is the growth mindset?
A: The growth mindset, coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, hard work, and perseverance.
Q: How can engaging in activities I’m not good at benefit me?
A: Engaging in activities where you’re not naturally talented pushes you out of your comfort zone, fostering personal growth, resilience, patience, and a deeper appreciation for the learning process.
Q: Can you give an example of how tackling a challenging task has helped you?
A: Learning golf, despite being initially terrible at it, has taught me patience, humility, resilience, and perseverance—all valuable life skills.
Q: How does the growth mindset apply to professional life?
A: In a professional setting, adopting a growth mindset encourages continuous learning, adaptability, and resilience, leading to long-term success and personal development.
Q: What should I do when I feel like giving up on a challenging task?
A: Remind yourself of the growth mindset principles. Focus on the progress you’ve made, no matter how small, and view setbacks as opportunities for learning and improvement. And rest assured, your improvement at your chosen task will likely be quicker than my golf game improvement.
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