Professional Skills: Grit and Growth Mindset

Overview

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Unlock your potential to overcome setbacks and thrive with purpose. This course equips you with a resilient mindset built on grit, growth, and self-awareness. Success isn’t just about talent — it’s about perseverance, mindset, and the ability to learn from challenges. Grit and Growth Mindset, led by Dr. Shari Collins from the ASU School of Humanities, empowers learners to develop the tools to persevere in the face of adversity, turn feedback into fuel, and reframe failures as opportunities. Whether you're looking to advance professionally or navigate personal goals more effectively, this course offers evidence-based strategies and real-world applications to help you stay motivated, resilient, and on track — no matter what life throws your way.

Syllabus

Setting goals toward growth

This module introduces the fundamental principles of setting effective goals for personal and professional development. You will explore the underlying causes and resources that contribute to successful goal attainment and learn how to formulate SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals. By understanding and applying these concepts, you will be better equipped to direct your efforts towards meaningful growth.

Building a mindset for work growth

In this module, you will delve into the concept of a growth mindset and its critical role in professional development. You will learn to differentiate between fixed and growth mindsets and understand how to cultivate a growth-oriented perspective in your work life. This module will provide strategies to emphasize your growth at work, practice new approaches, and reflect on how a growth mindset can transform your professional journey.

Developing your sense of grit

This module focuses on developing your sense of grit, a crucial trait for sustained success and resilience. You will explore the origins and resources related to grit and learn practical ways to integrate grit into your daily life. Through practice and reflection, you will gain a deeper understanding of how to persevere through challenges and maintain focus on your long-term objectives.

Using grit to overcome obstacles

In this module, you will learn how to effectively leverage your grit to overcome obstacles that arise in your personal and professional life. You will explore strategies for planning to address challenges, practice problem-solving techniques, and reflect on how grit can transform setbacks into opportunities for growth. This module will equip you with the tools to navigate difficulties with resilience and determination.

Course conclusion

This concluding module provides an opportunity to reflect on your learning journey and consider how to integrate these principles into your ongoing personal and professional development. This module serves as a final step to solidify your understanding and prepare you for continued growth.