10 Ways to Develop a Progressive Mindset

A progressive mindset may not seem like an important asset, but it can go a long way towards helping you achieve your goals and be the best person you can be. Whether you’re pursuing more education, looking to change careers, or working on improving your personal life, it’s helpful to take the time to develop your progressive mindset before attempting any of these difficult tasks. To help you do that, here are 10 ways to develop a progressive mindset.

 

1) Keep an open mind

 If you want to make smarter, more effective decisions for yourself and your business, try keeping an open mind. Keeping an open mind allows you to consider several different approaches or options when making a decision. It also allows you to consider ideas from other people that are different from yours. It's easier than it sounds; as long as you are open-minded, then every time someone offers their opinion or has a suggestion, write it down on paper instead of dismissing it right away because it is different from your own ideas. You never know what valuable information you might be missing out on otherwise!

 

2) Have awareness of your biases

 Biases and stereotypes have a way of sneaking into our thinking. Some social psychologists attribute that to something called confirmation bias—our tendency to give greater weighting toward information that confirms our beliefs, even if it’s inaccurate. One study showed how powerful confirmation bias can be when it comes to biases: Researchers asked subjects to guess whether certain behaviors were more or less common among people belonging to different groups.

 

The participants guessed an out-group behavior was more common than an in-group behavior, when in fact they were equally prevalent. For example, white participants thought anti-black racial discrimination was more prevalent than anti-white racial discrimination, when there is no actual difference between them; both are equally likely.

 

3) Listen more than you speak

 According to Robert Cialdini, author of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, people are more likely to comply with requests from someone who has already said yes. It’s called social proof: People like doing things that other people are already doing. Plus, when we hear something interesting or important, our natural response is Tell me more! Listening and asking questions shows your conversational partner that you value their opinion. They’ll be naturally inclined to do what you ask because they think it will help both of you get closer to your shared goal.

 

4) Don’t assume others think like you do

Many people use cognitive shortcuts or rules of thumb, often without realizing it. People who don’t agree with your point of view may be weighing factors that you haven’t considered, and while they may not be right, they may have reasons for thinking as they do. Learning how to develop a progressive mindset means expanding your mind by recognizing your own biases and learning more about other people. Take time to listen actively and learn more about their perspective and worldview. Doing so can help you find areas where you can relate or bridge gaps in understanding.

 

5) Give people the benefit of the doubt

 The fact is, we all make mistakes. When you’re out in public and run into someone who clearly did something silly (like back into your car or spill their drink all over you), give them a break. Be nice! Forgive them! We’ve all been there before and know how much it sucks to be on that end of things. Next time it could be you who makes an embarrassing mistake—so treat people with kindness instead of harsh judgment.

 

You never know what they might have going on in their lives. Maybe they’re having a bad day. Maybe they had a fight with their spouse or are worried about money. Maybe they just aren’t thinking straight due to illness, lack of sleep, or intoxication. Whatever it is, cut them some slack and treat them like human beings instead of dirt beneath your feet. You never know when you might need another person's help someday—and karma does come around eventually!

 

6) Keep an open dialogue with others about what you believe

 There is no sense in trying to get better at something if you aren’t willing to tell others what you are working on. Keeping an open dialogue with family, friends, and co-workers will help you identify ways that you could improve yourself. Not only will they offer helpful tips and insight, but they will also offer valuable encouragement in your journey towards personal growth. If sharing openly about your goal feels awkward at first, remember that people want you to succeed as much as you do. They may even have some good suggestions for how you can work towards it! And really, nobody is going to care enough about your goals anyway that there won’t be consequences if things don’t go as planned or take longer than expected.

 

7) Use facts, not opinions

 Many people express opinions as facts, such as this doesn't work or that won't happen. While you may think you're being helpful by offering a rationale behind your statements, it's much more effective to explain why something doesn't work or what will happen. As an example, consider saying: I believe that going without meals won't help me lose weight because..., rather than just saying: going without meals won't help me lose weight. Not only is it more professional and better written; it also opens up further discussions in which other ideas are offered. Also avoid making blanket statements about yourself and others, like I'll never be able to do that or she's always late for everything.

 

8) Show respect even when disagreement occurs

 Being progressive can often be interpreted as being easily offended and angry—and rightfully so. When there's something that angers you, it's tempting to immediately react emotionally. It's important, however, to take a step back and try not to become personally offended when someone disagrees with you or takes an opposing point of view. This is easier said than done, of course, but creating a clear separation between your personal identity and beliefs (which are influenced by society) will allow you have more respect for differing viewpoints—even if they’re opposed to yours. By creating boundaries between yourself and social norms around you, it becomes easier not take other people’s comments personally.

 

9) Listen, listen, listen... then listen some more

.As you’re listening, take notes. Then follow up with your co-workers or employees and discuss what you heard. You’ll be surprised at how many things were missed in translation from one brain to another. At least one thing will get fixed as a result of each conversation (even if it isn’t what you wanted fixed). All of these small fixes add up over time, leading to a culture that is more focused on progress. It also allows people to feel like they are being heard—and it makes them more likely to listen when someone else has something important to say. This leads us nicely into our next point...

 

10) Tell your story by being real and showing emotion.

 Although it can be hard, I have found being vulnerable is one of most effective ways to connect with your audience. When you share personal stories and insights about who you are as a person and how those experiences have shaped you into who you are today, people listen. If what you’re sharing resonates with them, they will begin to relate and trust your advice much more than someone who comes across as scripted or rehearsed. After all, people connect with other people—not brands or companies.