One is the ‘fixed mindset’, which is a belief that our qualities are set in stone, and results in us continually needing to prove ourselves over and over. When the children in the original studies were praised for their raw intelligence, they were being encouraged to think with a fixed mindset. The other mindset, encouraged in those who were given praise based on their effort, is the ‘growth mindset’, and it is founded on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts.14 Dweck’s enlightening observation is that, although people do obviously differ in their abilities, ‘everyone can change and grow through application and experience’. If you can give praise for effort and persistence, rather than simply for innate talent, you’re more likely to be able to help yourself – and anyone you’re working with – to reach their goals