Mindset Matters: Leveraging Growth Mindset to Build Enterprise Thinking (QAA 5,6) #FEEUK

Objective:

• To explore and apply the concept of a growth mindset in the context of enterprise.
• Help learners understand how mindset affects innovation, resilience, and opportunity.
• Encourage reflection and development of a personal strategy for building entrepreneurial confidence.

Overview:

This session introduces learners to the concept of a growth mindset and its importance in entrepreneurial thinking. Through reflection, team challenges, and group discussion, learners will explore how their responses to failure, feedback, and uncertainty can shape their future success. Learners will develop a personal action plan for applying a growth mindset to their enterprise journey.

Activity: 

Total Time: 60–75 minutes

This session is hands-on, reflective, and interactive. The facilitator encourages discussion and exploration of how a growth mindset can support opportunity recognition and innovation. Additional learning material can be added to use this as part of a larger teaching package.

1. Introduction to Mindset (20 mins)

Start the session by introducing learners to the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset, using relatable examples.

Introducing Fixed vs Growth Mindset 

Help students understand the fundamental difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset, and how these mental frameworks influence learning, risk-taking, and entrepreneurship. Clearly define the concepts of fixed and growth mindset. 

Fixed Mindset: The belief that intelligence, talent, or ability is static and unchangeable. People with a fixed mindset tend to avoid challenges, fear failure, and give up easily when things get hard.
Growth Mindset: The belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, feedback, and learning. People with a growth mindset embrace challenges and view failure as a chance to grow.

Use Relatable, Everyday Examples 

Introduce examples that students can connect with such as:

Academic Setting:

• Fixed mindset: “I’m just not good at maths, so I avoid finance related activities.”
• Growth mindset: “I find numbers tough now, but if I keep practising, I’ll improve.”

Entrepreneurship Context:

• Fixed mindset: “If my business idea doesn’t work first time, its probably because I’m not cut out to be an entrepreneur.”
• Growth mindset: “If the idea fails, I’ll learn something useful and adapt my approach.”

Creative Work:

• Fixed mindset: “They’re naturally talented at design—there’s no point trying.”
• Growth mindset: “They’ve probably practised a lot—I can improve if I keep at it.”

Social/Team Setting:

• Fixed mindset: “I’m just not a people person, so I can’t network.”
• Growth mindset: “Networking makes me nervous, but I can get better with experience.

Clarify with a video 

Show a short video (e.g., Carol Dweck’s TED Talk: "The Power of Believing That You Can Improve" - https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve ). Reinforce how a growth mindset is essential in entrepreneurship where failure, feedback, and setbacks are common.

Quick Interactive Activity (Optional)

Ask students to turn to a partner or join a small group and discuss:

• “When was a time you had a fixed mindset about something?”
• “Can you remember a time when a growth mindset helped you succeed?”

Bring the group back together and invite 1–2 volunteers to share examples if they’re comfortable. Now that learners understand the concept, explain that the rest of the session will help them identify their own mindset tendencies—and start building the habits that support a more entrepreneurial, resilient, and reflective mindset.

Discussion prompts:

•  "What happens to a business idea when the founder avoids failure?"
• "How might mindset impact innovation and opportunity?"

 2. Personal Mindset Reflection (10 mins)

Distribute a mindset self-assessment (example assessment attached) or prompt learners to write reflections:

•   "How do I usually respond to setbacks?"
•  "Do I believe people are naturally entrepreneurial, or can it be learned?"
•  "When was the last time I learnt from a mistake?"

Allow students to reflect quietly. Then, optionally, ask them to share one insight with a peer.

3. Enterprise Scenario Challenge – Group Work (25 mins)

Split the group into teams of 4–6. Each group receives a scenario of an enterprise dilemma:

•  A failed product launch
• Rejection from an investor
• Internal team conflict

 Part A: Identify Fixed Mindset Responses (10 mins)

•  What might a fixed mindset reaction be in this situation?
• How would it limit progress or learning?

Part B: Reframe with a Growth Mindset (10 mins)

•  What would a growth mindset response look like?
• How could the team adapt, learn, or see the opportunity?

 Part C: Prepare a Mindset Presentation in your team (5 mins)

• Summarise the problem within your scenario, of the fixed mindset approach, and then explain a new growth mindset solution.

4. Team Presentation & Peer Feedback (15 mins)

Each team presents their Mindset Presentation (2–3 minutes).

Encourage the audience to give constructive peer feedback:

• What worked well?
• What other options could the team consider?

Facilitator can prompt deeper thinking by asking follow-up questions such as:

• "What if your growth mindset response still fails? What next?"
• "Can you apply this thinking to your own business ideas?"

5. Reflection & Personal Action Plan (10–15 mins)

Ask learners to reflect individually and write a simple Mindset Action Plan:

• What mindset shift do I want to make?
• How will I apply this to my enterprise work?
• What will I do differently next time I face a challenge?

End the session with a short whole-group reflection. Invite volunteers to share one insight.

Skill Development:

• Build self-awareness around their mindset
• Develop resilience and openness to feedback
• Practice team collaboration and strategic thinking
• Learn to reframe failure as a key part of the entrepreneurial journey

Resources: 

• Sticky notes and pens
• Printed mindset quiz / reflection prompts
• Case study scenarios (enterprise dilemmas)
• Projector or screen for video/slides
• Templates for Mindset Action Plans (optional)

References:

• Dweck, C. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House.
• Neck, H.M., Neck, C.P., & Murray, E.L. (2017). Teaching Entrepreneurship: A Practice-Based Approach.       SAGE.
• Larsen, I. B., & Neergaard, H. (2024). What lies beneath: using student reflections to study the entrepreneurial mindset in entrepreneurship education. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 30(5), 1149–1176.