The 5 Leadership Mindsets You Need to Succeed
“Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.” Marie Forleo
Picture This…
You’re stepping into a leadership role, leading a small team, managing a large project, or mentoring someone for the first time. You’ve read the books. You’ve watched the videos. You’ve got the technical skills down.
But something still feels off.
You second-guess decisions. You overthink feedback. You feel the pressure to always “have it together.”
Here’s the truth: leadership is less about what you know and more about how you think, especially when situations become chaotic, rapid, or unpredictable. This is where leadership mindsets play a crucial role. Today, we will explore five specific mindsets that every successful leader needs to develop to grow, guide, and lead with confidence.
If you’ve been wondering how to transform your leadership journey, buckle up. Here are five game-changing mindsets that will revolutionize how you lead and accelerate your career growth.
1. Growth Mindset: The Fuel for Lifelong Learning
Let’s start with the foundation. A growth mindset, made popular by psychologist Carol Dweck, is the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and effort.
In leadership, this looks like:
Admitting when you don’t know something
Asking for help without feeling “less than”
Seeking feedback—even when it stings
Embracing failure as part of growth
Real-life example:
When a team leader acknowledges a project mistake and uses it as a learning moment for the team rather than playing the blame game, that’s a growth mindset in action.
Try this:
Next time you get feedback, instead of feeling attacked, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?”
2. Abundance Mindset: There’s Room for Everyone to Win
An abundance mindset is the belief that there are enough opportunities, success, and recognition to go around.
Leaders with this mindset don’t compete out of fear. They collaborate, share credit, and help others rise to success.
Signs of an abundance-minded leader:
They celebrate others’ wins without jealousy.
They mentor younger team members.
They openly share ideas and resources.
They believe in building we, not just me.
Real-life example:
Instead of hoarding knowledge to stay “valuable,” a leader who trains their team to grow in skill shows real strength—and creates a stronger team.
Try this:
Find one way this week to share an opportunity or lift someone else up.
3. Resilience Mindset: Bouncing Back Stronger
Let’s be real: leadership is not all wins and applause. There will be setbacks, stress, and tough calls.
A resilience mindset is your ability to recover, refocus, and rise again when things don’t go your way.
Leaders with this mindset:
Don’t let failure define them.
Regroup quickly after tough days.
Stay calm during uncertainty.
Keep moving forward—even when it’s hard.
Real-life example:
Think about someone who kept showing up with grace after a public setback or team challenge. That’s leadership resilience.
Try this:
Write down three past challenges you’ve overcome. Let that be proof—you can handle what’s coming next.
4. Servant Mindset: Lead by Lifting Others
A servant mindset prioritizes the team. It’s about asking, “How can I help my people succeed?” rather than, “How can I look successful?”
Servant leaders:
Listen more than they talk.
Give credit and take responsibility.
Make decisions that benefit the whole.
Build trust by showing care.
Real-life example:
A manager who clears roadblocks so their team can thrive—and cheers them on from the background—is showing servant leadership.
Try this:
Ask your team or coworkers, “What’s one thing I can do to support you better this week?” And then actually do it.
5. Accountability Mindset: Own Your Role, Own Your Results
Finally, strong leaders take ownership. An accountability mindset means you stop blaming, avoid excuses, and take full responsibility for your work and your impact.
Leaders with this mindset:
Follow through on their promises.
Admit when they’ve dropped the ball.
Hold others to high standards with empathy and understanding.
Walk their talk
Real-life example:
When a leader is late on a deliverable and publicly owns it, then creates a better process to avoid it happening again, they’re modeling true accountability.
Try this:
Pick one task you’ve been avoiding. Just one. Take full ownership and get it done this week. No excuses.
Which One Do You Need Most?
You don’t need to master all five mindsets overnight. But you do need to choose one and start flexing that mental muscle.
Each mindset unlocks a distinct aspect of your leadership potential. Together, they build a leader who is trusted, respected, and ready to make a real impact.
This Week’s Challenge:
Pick one mindset from the list that you want to strengthen.
Write down one way you’ll practice it this week.
Reflect on how it changes the way you lead, even in small ways.
To help you go deeper, download this week’s worksheet: The Leadership Mindset Map, a tool that enables you to evaluate where you are and where you want to grow.
Coming Up Next Week…
In our final post of the series, we’re tackling the real blockers: fear, comparison, impostor syndrome, and how to overcome them. You’ll learn how to break through the mental walls that hold leaders back and find the tools to stay on track.
Final Word
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about having the right mindset, especially when things get hard, uncertain, or uncomfortable.
So… which mindset are you building this week?
Don’t forget to subscribe to the EXCEL2WIN Leadership Newsletter for bonus tools and inspiration to stay in growth mode every step of the way. Browse our free archives to find articles addressing your specific leadership challenges, and sign up to receive weekly leadership insights directly in your inbox at no cost!
Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.
I’ve recommended Dare to Lead by Brené Brown in earlier articles, and it deserves another spotlight, especially as we unpack “The 5 Leadership Mindsets You Need to Succeed.” This book isn’t just a leadership manual; it’s a call to lead with courage, vulnerability, and heart.
Brown dives deep into the emotional core of leadership, showing that bravery isn’t about charging forward with certainty. It’s about having the guts to show up when there are no guarantees. She teaches us how to build trust, hold tough conversations, and lead with integrity, all while staying connected to who we are. The book aligns beautifully with the mindsets we explored: growth, resilience, accountability, and especially servant leadership.
What makes Dare to Lead stand out is its honesty. It gives language to the messy parts of leadership, doubt, discomfort, and fear, and then offers tools to navigate them with strength and empathy. If you’re serious about becoming a leader who inspires trust and transformation, this book is your blueprint.
Pick up your copy of Dare to Lead and let it challenge the way you lead, think, and show up. And don’t forget to subscribe to the EXCEL2WIN Leadership Newsletter for weekly insights designed to build your leadership from the inside out.
