---
title: "Critique to catalyst - growth mindset"
course: "PSYC 140 · Work better with people"
unit: "Psychology for professional success"
lesson: 17 of 35
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/critique-to-catalyst-growth-mindset
publisher: Maestro College
---

# Critique to catalyst - growth mindset

Lesson 17 of 35 in **Work better with people** (PSYC 140), unit "Psychology for professional success". An open lesson from Maestro College.

## What the learner will be able to do
- Using Dweck’s growth mindset research (2006), reframe self-talk into growth-oriented statements that emphasize effort, strategies, persistence, and help-seeking

## Teaching notes
Base story: In her fourth month on the job, Naomi submits a major proposal for a new reporting and measurement approach. The review comes back with 30 critical comments, including one that says, “This approach is fundamentally flawed.” Naomi immediately internalizes it as, “I’m not good at big-picture thinking.” She ruminates, avoids opening the document for two days, and considers switching to a role with less responsibility.

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.

## When the lesson is done
The lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed above. Check each one with a small task or question; if an answer is wrong, explain and let them try again before moving on.
When every outcome is covered:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson 17 complete: Critique to catalyst - growth mindset."
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, "Taking the wheel - locus of control" (lesson 18 of 35), and give the learner its link: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/taking-the-wheel-locus-of-control.md. Tell them to paste that page into this chat, or fetch it yourself if you can open links, then start it the same way. Do not start teaching the next lesson's topic until the learner has it.

Previous lesson: Confidence reboot - self-efficacy
Next lesson: Taking the wheel - locus of control