What Is Mindset? And Why It’s the Foundation of Great Leadership
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.” —Henry Ford
Imagine This…
You just got promoted. You’re leading your first team. Your heart is racing with excitement and a little fear. You’re asking yourself, “Am I really ready for this?” One part of you is pumped and full of ideas. Another part whispers doubts: “What if I mess this up?”
Sound familiar?
That inner tug-of-war isn’t about your skills. It’s not about your degree, your résumé, or how many years of experience you have. It’s your mindset, the way you think about yourself, your challenges, and your potential. And it’s the invisible force that shapes how far you’ll go as a leader.
This is the first post in a special 4-part series called The Mindset Advantage, where we’ll explore how to build the mental foundation for lasting leadership success. We’ll start with the basics: What is mindset, and why does it matter more than anything else?
What Is Mindset, Really?
At its simplest, mindset is the story you tell yourself about who you are and what’s possible.
It’s not just positive thinking. It’s the filter through which you see every challenge, every opportunity, every failure, and every win. Think of it like the operating system in your brain. If the system is outdated or glitchy, everything you run through it, your goals, your relationships, your decisions, gets affected.
Psychologist Carol Dweck, who literally wrote the book on this, explains that there are two main types of mindset:
Fixed Mindset: Believes abilities are set in stone. You’re either smart or you’re not. A leader or not. Successful or not.
Growth Mindset: Believes you can learn and grow through effort, feedback, and practice even when you fail.
The cool part? Your mindset isn’t permanent. It’s a skill. And like any skill, it can be developed.
Why It Matters for Leadership
Leadership isn’t just about having answers. It’s about being resilient when you don’t. It’s about showing up, again and again, when things get tough or unclear. And it’s about believing in yourself enough to bring others along for the ride.
That’s why mindset matters more than any leadership book, certification, or TED Talk. Your mindset shapes:
How you handle mistakes
How you respond to pressure
How you take feedback
How you lead others through uncertainty
Have you ever seen someone with all the “right” qualifications crash in a leadership role because they couldn’t take criticism or let go of control? That’s a mindset problem—not a skill problem.
On the flip side, people with a strong, flexible mindset often grow faster, lead better, and bounce back stronger—even if they don’t have all the fancy credentials.
Real Talk: We All Start Somewhere
You might be thinking, “Well, I’ve struggled with self-doubt or fear of failure. Does that mean I have a fixed mindset?”
Nope. It means you’re human.
We all have a mix of mindsets in different parts of our lives. You might have a growth mindset when it comes to learning new tech, but a fixed one around public speaking. The goal isn’t to be perfect—it’s to notice, challenge, and change the stories that hold you back.
The Leadership Mindset Series: What’s Next
Over the next three Mondays, we’ll build on this foundation:
Week 2: How to Build a Growth-Oriented Mindset (Even If You’ve Struggled Before)
Week 3: The 5 Leadership Mindsets You Need to Succeed
Week 4: Mindset Blocks: How to Overcome the Mental Roadblocks Holding You Back
Each post will include simple tools, real-world examples, and action steps you can apply immediately.
One Simple Action: Reflect on Your Story
Here’s a quick challenge: Think about a recent moment where you held yourself back. Maybe you didn’t speak up in a meeting, or you second-guessed your idea. What story were you telling yourself in that moment?
Write it down. Then ask: Is that story 100% true? Or is it just a mindset I’ve outgrown?
When you name the story, you can start rewriting it.
Ready to Lead From the Inside Out?
Your leadership journey starts in your mind, not the corner office. Whether you’re leading a team or just leading yourself right now, your mindset will shape every step.
So here’s your next step:
Download the free worksheet below to reflect on your current mindset, challenge your old stories, and set a fresh direction for your growth. It only takes 10 minutes—and it could change the way you lead this year.
And don’t forget to subscribe to the EXCEL2WIN Leadership Newsletter so you never miss a Monday post in this series. Let’s grow together, one mindset shift at a time.
Leadership Mindset 2.0: The Psychology and Neuroscience of Reaching Your Full Potential
If you’ve ever wondered what’s really holding you back from becoming the leader you’re meant to be, Leadership Mindset 2.0 by R. Michael Anderson might be your game-changer. With a powerful blend of psychology, neuroscience, and real-world leadership experience, Anderson delivers a fresh and practical guide for rewiring the way leaders think, feel, and present themselves.
This book doesn’t just talk about mindset—it transforms it. From shifting out of fear-based thinking to building emotional resilience, Anderson shows how your internal operating system directly impacts your leadership impact. His insights perfectly echo what we explored in this article, “What Is Mindset? And Why It’s the Foundation of Great Leadership”—that mindset is more than motivation; it’s the foundation for every confident decision, breakthrough moment, and bounce-back after failure.
Whether you’re new to leadership or ready to level up, this book gives you the science and the strategy to grow from the inside out. Think of it as a field guide for unlocking the leader within—no fluff, just bold, practical growth.
Ready to shift your mindset and lead with purpose? Grab your copy of Leadership Mindset 2.0 today.
And don’t forget to subscribe to the EXCEL2WIN Leadership Newsletter for more tools, inspiration, and mindset breakthroughs!
