Ruth Veloria, Executive Dean, University of Phoenix School of Business

Growth mindset, a term coined by Stanford University psychology professor Carol Dweck, is the idea of inspiring individual and organizational confidence to achieve goals. It is about believing that talents and abilities can be improved through effort and new strategies: a fixed mindset believes talents and abilities are set. A powerful approach to maintaining a positive rather than defeatist workplace, it calls for more time and greater flexibility from employers and employees alike. Business leaders can help employees to achieve and maintain a growth mindset in two ways: by verbally encouraging this mindset, and also by enabling it to thrive though the implementation of policies that inspire growth, empowerment, and learning.