Mindset Triggers Assessment

Mindset triggers are common and predictable situations that move us along the mindset continuum between our fixed and growth mindset (remember, we all have both!).

What types of situations shift you into your fixed mindset, and which trigger a stronger growth-minded response?

Take our quiz to discover your personal mindset trigger profile!

This assessment is 12 questions, and takes around 5 minutes to complete.

For each question, you’ll read a brief scenario and choose from two thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that you might experience in that situation by tapping on that choice.

It’s possible, even likely, that you’ll experience both reactions presented in the response option. We ask that you choose the reaction that you experience the strongest.

Later today, you have your annual performance review with your supervisor. In this meeting, the two of you will discuss your accomplishments from throughout the year, as well as areas for future improvement. As you have been with the company for a year and a half so far, this will be your first formal performance review. Before the meeting, which option below reflects what you are thinking?(Required)

“I don’t want to talk about my failures and weak spots – let’s focus on what I’ve done best.”

“I hope we dedicate time to really dig into some of the things that didn’t go well this year, so that I can improve and grow.”

You’ve spent the last year taking classes to learn how to speak Japanese. In today’s class, your teacher announces a pop quiz on the new verb form you’ve been learning for the last week. Before the quiz, which option below reflects what you are thinking?(Required)

“If I don’t ace this quiz, I’m going to look like such a failure.”

“I’ve been working hard this week – I’m ready for the challenge.”

Your intramural tennis coach has been watching you at practice today more than ever. Which option below reflects what you are thinking as practice wraps up?(Required)

“I better hurry up and get out of here before Coach has a chance to confront me.”

“I should hang back to hear what Coach wants to tell me – maybe he has some tips for how I can improve my serve.”

You’re a software developer at a company that specializes in developing financial applications for international corporations. Recently, you’ve received reports of a bug in the newest update of your software, for which you were the primary programmer. You’ve reviewed your code over and over for days, but can’t figure out what’s causing the bug. Which option below reflects how you would handle this situation?(Required)

“I’ve tried everything I can think of – maybe I’m not meant to be a programmer.”

“I’ve tried everything I can think of – I should ask my co-worker for some help with this bug.”

You’ve begun attending a biweekly painting class at a local art studio. Your third class has you focusing on portraits. When the teacher announces that the session is over, you realize you just completed painting the eyes. When you look around, everyone else in the class seems to have completed their entire portraits. Which option below reflects how you would feel as you left the class that day?(Required)

“It shouldn’t be this hard! Clearly I’m never going to be good at painting this and should just give up.”

“Looks like I just haven’t figured out how to paint portraits well yet. But I bet if I keep coming, I’ll get better.”

You are the head of the charity board in town. You’ve been asked to start another charity in a nearby town because of your expertise. While you know you have the experience needed, you also know it’s going to be a lot of work. Which option below reflects how you’d make your decision?(Required)

“I’m really successful at what I already do, and wouldn’t want to give up the degree of comfort I have in my current seat.”

“Starting a new charity? That sounds like a challenge I’d really enjoy taking on.”

You’ve just presented the end results of your most recent project to the leaders at your organization, and one Director starts to pick apart your team’s approach, contrasting what you’ve done with other approaches you might have taken. You went into the meeting feeling pretty confident about your work, but now you’re not so sure. Which option below most accurately reflects what would be running through your mind as you received this feedback?(Required)

“This project was great. Clearly this Director is trying to make me look bad.”

“This project was good, but I hadn’t considered those other approaches. I’m grateful the Director took the time to give me such thoughtful feedback, because next time I’ll have a larger toolbox of strategies to pull from.”

You’ve been playing soccer on a community team for years, and really enjoy it and think you’re pretty good– so good, in fact, that your coach encourages you to try out for the more competitive team in your city. After your try-out, you get feedback from the judges that you didn’t make the cut for the team, but likely could make it next year with a little more skill development. Which option below most accurately reflects how you would take this advice?(Required)

“How frustrating! I think I’ll stick to the team where I shine.”

“Wow! Developing these skills will really help me grow as a player.”

You walk into the office one morning and a coworker immediately says, “We need to talk.” She/he confronts you about how you treated a mutual coworker last Friday in your rush to get out of the office. Which option below reflects how you’d respond?(Required)

“I didn’t mean anything by it – clearly our coworker is too sensitive.”

“I didn’t mean anything by it – thank you for telling me so that I can apologize to my colleague.”

A colleague at your non-profit just gave a stellar presentation to some potential donors. They seem really excited, and some have even talked about pledging a million dollars to your organization’s new project. That would be a huge company milestone! Which option below most accurately reflects how you’re feeling about your colleague right now?(Required)

“She’s so good at public speaking. I look really dumb compared to her.”

“She’s so good at public speaking. I’ll ask her what she does to prepare.”

Your friend was given the big solo in your community’s local choir. You’ve been hoping you’d be given the solo. After all, you’ve sung these songs in many choirs before. You both nailed your auditions, but you were surprised not to hear your name when the solo was announced. Which option below most accurately reflects how you’re feeling about not getting the solo?(Required)

“I can’t believe it! My audition was so much better than hers. I think I’m going to quit the choir.”

“We both had good auditions – but she was amazing and will do great with this solo. I’m going to work hard to make sure that I do an excellent job with my part so that our show is great.”

Your brother’s restaurant is nominated as one of the best in your city. When he announces it on social media, you congratulate him on his post. Which option below most accurately reflects how you’re feeling?(Required)

“I should lay low – I don’t need a reminder of how much more successful he is than me.”

“I better call him – that level of nomination deserves even more congratulations.”

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