For decades, the coaching and training industry has grappled with a vexing issue: the fleeting nature of positive outcomes from traditional coaching methods.

Why do these initial victories often evaporate? The answer, as we'll discover, lies not in the surface-level symptoms but in the very foundation of our thought processes and brain functions.

The Pitfalls of Traditional Coaching

Look at following examples. 

Let's say that a professional who struggles with empathy is sent to refine their active listening techniques. Do you think the training course will have solved the problem for this person? Unlikely. Firstly, lack of empathy suggests that their mindset is likely to be that of Survival with a strong tendency to judge others, as well as themselves and their circumstance. When you think about it that way, it's very clear that active listening skills will not address the root cause of the problem.

Or think of the technically adept individual, whose projects are perpetually overdue,nudged towards a time management course. Do you think the training course will gave solved the problem for this person? Again, unlikely, as the actual reason why they are late is due to procrastination. And the procrastination is caused by their need for the work to be perfect and their lack of belief in themselves and their abilities. When you think about it that way, again it's very clear that time management skills will not address the root cause of this problem. 

At first glance, these solutions seem logical. Yet, they barely scratch the surface, failing to address the root causes: a mindset anchored in Survival mode, marred by judgment and a relentless pursuit of perfection fuelled by self-doubt. Their learning agility will also be challenged, making it even less likely for them to turn those new skills and insights into habits.  

Scenarios like this are a reality of millions of professionals who go on personal professional development courses or read tons of books, but apply very little of what they had learned to their circumstance. 

To sum up, there are the three main reasons the initial positive results of coaching and training mostly evaporate:

1) Focus on symptoms rather than a root cause

2) Acquiring insights but not converting those insights into habits 

3) Framework overwhelm – having to many often conflicting frameworks to choose from, eg. 7 habits of highly effective people, techniques to handle stress etc.

So what is the solution for addressing these challenges? 

The solution lies in an upgrade of the mindset - upgrade of the operating system and addressing the root cause problem instead of symptoms.

One shift - many applications. 

As mindset is what enables most personal and professional growth. 

Survival vs. Growth Mindset

Research found that when UK professionals have a mindset of Growth, they have significantly higher levels of resilience, wellbeing, self-responsibility and learning agility.

However, only 36% of UK professionals have a mindset of Growth. A performance-limiting 64% are in Survival. 

When we’re in Survival, we tend to be defensive, judgmental and critical. We struggle to acknowledge our own strengths and accept compliments. We’re also more reactive, which frequently leads to overwhelm and, ultimately, emotional detachment. We become harsh to ourselves as well as others, often blaming others for our circumstances, and, at the same time, avoiding conflict and staying in our comfort zone.

When we are in Growth, we are much more curious and adaptable, present and compassionate - towards ourselves and others. We are proactive and solutions-focused, open to sharing and acting on what is true for us, and with that, stretching outside of our comfort zone.

Every problem in performance can be solved with strengthening Growth and weakening Survival. And since our saboteurs and inherent Survival wiring are much more potent than our Growth powers, there is some work to be done! Work that needs to be done on different parts of the brain. 

The Path to Self-Leadership

The journey to self-leadership, then, is one of transitioning from the confines of Survival to the expansiveness of growth. It's about rewiring our brains to foster resilience, well-being, and a relentless pursuit of learning. 

As our Survival responses predominantly live in our brainstem, limbic system and part of left brain, whilst our Growth powers are in the middle prefrontal cortex, empathy circuitry and parts of right brain. Our Survival mindset motivates itself through negative emotions, like fear, stress anger, guilt, shame and insecurity. Whereas Growth does his job through positive emotions, like empathy, curiosity, creativity, passion and purpose. 

So the key here is to push yourself through the fear coming from Survival and instead pull yourself through the love from Growth. 

And yes, I hear your objection coming up: the majority of my clients have become very successful by working their way up from the mindset of Survival and fear indeed. 

However, as they also now realise, success created from fear will never lead to happiness.

The only way to achieve your full potential, highest success, sustained high performance and sustained happiness is by re-learning to show up from the mindset of Growth more consistently.

Conclusion

Understanding and leveraging the neuroscience of self-leadership is not just an academic exercise; it can lead to sustained high performance and genuine happiness. By recognising the power of our brains to foster a Growth mindset, we can unlock our true potential, transcending the limitations imposed by survival thinking.

So, are you ready to harness your brainpower and master the art of self-leadership?

FAQs

Q: How can I start shifting from a Survival to a Growth mindset?
A: Begin by cultivating self-awareness, recognising your survival triggers, and consciously choosing growth-oriented responses. Practices such as mindfulness, reflective journaling, and seeking feedback can accelerate this process.

Q: Are there specific activities that strengthen the Growth mindset areas of the brain?
A: Yes! Activities that promote empathy, curiosity, and creativity, such as engaging in new experiences, practicing gratitude, and developing compassion towards yourself and others, can activate and strengthen growth mindset neural pathways.

Click here to learn more about our webinar and programs designed to guide you from Survival to Growth. 

Sources: Positive Intelligence, Mindset Practice.