Part 2
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The Dynamic Duo
The Synergy of Growth Mindset and Emotional Intelligence
In conflict management, two powerful concepts have emerged as essential tools for navigating and resolving conflicts effectively: growth mindset and emotional intelligence. When applied together, they form an extraordinary power couple that can transform how we perceive, engage with, and ultimately resolve conflicts. We’ll explore the synergistic relationship between a growth mindset and emotional intelligence, highlighting their individual attributes and demonstrating how their integration can enhance conflict management skills. By harnessing the power of this dynamic duo, we can navigate conflicts with ease.
Growth Mindset
Growth mindset, a term coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, is the belief that our abilities, intelligence, and skills can be developed and improved through dedication and hard work. It starkly contrasts a Fixed Mindset, which is the belief that our abilities are static and cannot be changed.
A growth mindset allows us to go beyond merely following a step-by-step guide for conflict resolution. While such guides can provide valuable tools and techniques, a growth mindset offers a foundational approach that informs how those tools are used. It encourages us to adapt and evolve our conflict resolution strategies as we gain more experience and learn from each conflict situation.
When faced with conflicts, our mindset can substantially influence our response and overall approach to resolving the situation. A growth mindset, in particular, can change the way we perceive and address conflicts, allowing us to transform these challenging moments into opportunities for learning, growth, and self-improvement.
Like turning on a light in a dark room, a growth mindset illuminates possibilities, unveils potential, and guides us toward resolution. It empowers us to approach conflicts with a more open, proactive, and solution-oriented attitude. By focusing on the potential learning and growth opportunities inherent in conflicts, we can refine effective methods of addressing conflicts and significantly improve our ability to approach disagreements constructively, find mutually beneficial solutions, and develop more resilient relationships.
Neuroscientists have found that our brain physically changes when we learn new things or think in new ways. Cultivating a growth mindset has a transformative impact on the brain by enhancing neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to new experiences, learning, or injury.
The hippocampus is a primary area of the brain associated with learning and memory. A growth mindset can lead to a larger and more active hippocampus, enhancing our learning capacity and memory. With a growth mindset, we embrace challenges and learning opportunities, leading to repeated practice and perseverance, which in turn strengthens and creates new neural pathways.
Additionally, a growth mindset affects the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which is involved in decision-making, social behavior, and impulse control. When people with a growth mindset face a problem, the prefrontal cortex and other brain regions associated with attention and emotion regulation show more activity, indicating that they are likely more engaged and better able to manage stress.
A growth mindset can also impact the release of neurotransmitters, the brain chemicals that communicate information throughout our brain and body. Dopamine, the “feel good” neurotransmitter associated with reward and motivation, plays a significant role here. When we believe we can improve and subsequently achieve a goal or overcome a challenge, our brain releases dopamine, which makes us feel good and motivates us to repeat the behavior, creating a positive feedback loop.
In addition to being a more constructive approach to conflict resolution, a growth mindset can also enhance our emotional resilience and well-being. A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that individuals with a growth mindset experience less stress, anxiety, and depression in the face of conflicts (Schroder et al., 2017). Increased resilience often leads to healthier relationships and greater personal satisfaction.
A couple, Lisa and Tom, are experiencing frequent arguments over household chores. With her growth mindset, Lisa sees these conflicts as opportunities to improve communication and work together more effectively. She suggests they sit down, discuss their expectations and responsibilities, and brainstorm ways to divide tasks more fairly. Tom, with his fixed mindset, views the arguments as evidence that their relationship is flawed and becomes disengaged from the problem-solving process. Lisa’s growth mindset allows her to approach the conflict positively and collaboratively, while Tom’s fixed mindset hinders his ability to contribute constructively to the resolution.
With a growth mindset, we can shift our focus from proving ourselves right or “winning” the argument to finding common ground and learning from the situation. When we view conflicts as opportunities for growth, we become more receptive to feedback and open to exploring new ideas, making it easier to find creative solutions that address the needs of all parties.
A growth mindset enables us to consider alternative perspectives, explore new possibilities, and find common ground that leads to compromises and mutually beneficial outcomes. With it, achieving a resolution may require adjusting our own position and seeking creative solutions that meet the needs and interests of all parties involved.
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence (EI) is another key factor in how well we can navigate conflict. EI comprises the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions and those of others. It encompasses skills such as perceiving and interpreting non-verbal cues (facial expressions, body language, tone of voice), empathizing with others’ emotions, and effectively managing interpersonal interactions. The processes involved enable us to pick up on these non-verbal cues, decode their meanings, and integrate that information into our understanding of a situation’s social and emotional dynamics.
According to Daniel Goleman, a psychologist and author of the best-selling book Emotional Intelligence, emotional intelligence is broadly divided into four main components or skills:
Self-awareness
This is the ability to recognize and understand your own emotions. It involves being aware of how your emotions affect your thoughts and actions, and how they influence your interactions with others. Self-awareness also includes recognizing your strengths and weaknesses and having self-confidence.
Self-management
This involves controlling and managing your emotions, especially in stressful or difficult situations. It includes staying composed and positive, managing stress effectively, and adapting to changing circumstances. Self-management also involves having the discipline to achieve personal and professional goals.
Social Awareness
Also known as empathy, this is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It involves recognizing and understanding other people’s emotional needs and concerns and responding to those needs effectively. Social awareness also includes understanding social dynamics and navigating social networks.
Relationship Management
This component involves being able to build and maintain good relationships with others. It includes communicating clearly and effectively, working well in a team, inspiring and influencing others, and managing conflicts appropriately.
These four skills are not strictly separate; they often overlap and interact. For example, self-awareness is essential for self-management because you need to understand your emotions to control them. Similarly, social awareness is a prerequisite for relationship management because understanding others’ emotions is key to building solid relationships.
We’re better equipped to understand and empathize with the other party’s perspective when approaching conflict resolution with high emotional intelligence. Research has shown that individuals with higher emotional intelligence are more effective at resolving conflicts and maintaining positive relationships (Zeidner, M., Roberts, R.D., & Matthews, G., 2008).
Emotional intelligence empowers us with self-awareness, empathy, and practical communication skills, enabling us to connect with others on a deeper level. It allows us to understand and acknowledge feelings and concerns, creating an atmosphere of respect and understanding. The strong relationships forged through emotional intelligence provide a solid foundation for cooperation.
Power Couple
Emotional intelligence and a growth mindset are both cognitive in nature but focus on different aspects of cognitive ability. Emotional intelligence emphasizes the ability to perceive and interpret emotions, while a growth mindset revolves around cognitive beliefs about personal growth and potential. In contrast, a growth mindset primarily concerns cognitive beliefs and attitudes toward personal abilities, intelligence, and learning. The cognitive aspect of a growth mindset focuses on cultivating a belief in the malleability of our capabilities and the potential for personal growth and improvement.
While employing different cognitive abilities, emotional intelligence and a growth mindset complement each other, and each can enhance the other in conflict situations. Emotional intelligence can support a growth mindset by fostering self-awareness and empathy, which are crucial for recognizing areas of growth and embracing challenges. Conversely, a growth mindset can enhance emotional intelligence by promoting a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability, which facilitates the acquisition and refinement of emotional intelligence skills. Together, they contribute to improving the likelihood of a positive conflict outcome.
Imagine a project team experiencing conflict due to different views on achieving the project goals. A team member with high emotional intelligence and a growth mindset could be key in resolving this conflict. They could use their self-awareness to manage their own emotions and reactions, their social awareness to understand the perspectives and emotions of others, and their relationship management skills to promote respectful and open dialogue. They would approach the conflict as an opportunity to learn and improve the team’s dynamics. Ultimately, their emotional intelligence and growth mindset would contribute to a more effective conflict resolution process, leading to stronger relationships within the team and a more successful project outcome.
It’s not necessary that a single person in a conflict possess both a growth mindset and high emotional intelligence for the combination to be effective. Let’s consider Krish and Anika, who had differing opinions on a critical strategic decision for their company. Krish has a growth mindset, with a willingness to consider multiple options, while Anika demonstrates high emotional intelligence, with strong self-awareness and empathy.
Anika actively listened to Krish’s concerns and perspective, acknowledging the validity of his viewpoints. By demonstrating empathy, Anika created an atmosphere of understanding and respect, creating a sense of psychological safety and enabling Krish to openly express his thoughts. Through effective communication and genuine empathy, Anika built a positive relationship with Krish, emphasizing their shared commitment to the company’s success.
With his growth mindset, Krish approached the conflict with openness and adaptability, embracing the opportunity for learning and growth. He was willing to consider alternative perspectives, explore new ideas, and challenge his own preconceived notions. Seeing Krish’s willingness to listen, learn, and adapt, Anika felt encouraged to express her own ideas and concerns more freely. Krish’s growth mindset created a safe space for Anika to share her thoughts without the fear of being dismissed or invalidated.
By combining their growth mindset and emotional intelligence, Krish and Anika could find common ground and identify a compromise that aligned with their shared goals. Although neither excelled at both, the combination led to a much more amicable confrontation and resolution.
Emotional intelligence and a growth mindset have overlapping concepts – such as self-awareness, empathy, and the drive for self-improvement. Emotional intelligence and a growth mindset create an optimal approach to managing conflicts productively and respectfully.
In part three of this series, we’ll look inward and examine our own role in conflict and how self-awareness is our superpower in conflict management. Sign up for our emails to be notified when new articles are published.
