In this third and final part of the series, I take a look at why having a growth mindset is relevant to business (not just life) and also how this can benefit clients. For me, because I am human and full of flaws I am always making mistakes, this means I am always learning and then reducing future repetitions of the same mistakes.

This can cascade down into many aspects of client care and delivery. The tone used on a call, or the way an email is phrased, the delivery of advice or something as fundamental as the purpose of the task or goal of a client project.

In my case, after I move past the sense of embarrassment or shame that comes as a result of falling short in these areas, by adopting a GM, I usually spend significant time figuring out how I can ensure it doesn’t happen again – or as a minimum, dramatically decrease the chances. Not only does this provide a sense of personal achievement (or healing if it’s an emotional response), but it will (and has) invariably made the journey better for the client moving forward. This has paid dividends for me in my career in my most recent years.

Because our business is a people business, and so much of what we do at FRP is based on building good relationships, the client journey is absolutely critical to the firms success. My experience is that a GM helps us develop and grow in emotional intelligence, as well as industry knowledge and skill, which only further benefits this client journey.

Let’s look further into the relationship between a GM and business.

So, why is a GM mindset relevant to business?

It leads to consistent innovation and change in approach, which is key in all relationships, business or otherwise. People with a GM are more likely to be open to new ideas and to take risks. This can lead to increased innovation in the workplace and the client service.

It develops improved problem-solving skills. Reframing a challenge or a setback as an opportunity to grow and learn, by default will lead to a greater ability to problem solve. It’s like exercising a muscle. After time, when presented with new issues and problems the brain naturally starts to remain calmer and move towards solution. This is a key skillset for restructuring experts and something FRP prides itself on.

Greater resilience. Resilience is an interesting topic in itself but by adapting to setbacks, solving problems, and converting challenge into opportunity – resilience naturally grows.

Being open minded and willing to receive feedback, as we have established, is fundamental to a GM and this leads to enhanced collaboration. Collaboration is incredibly powerful when it comes to client service delivery and indeed any business structure.

What does a GM give to the client of your business? 

It shows that the business is committed to continuous improvement. Clients want to work with businesses that are always looking for ways to improve their products and services. A GM culture shows that the business is willing to invest in its employees and to learn from its mistakes.

It shows that the business is open to new ideas. We all want to work with businesses that are open to new ideas and that are willing to experiment. A GM shows that the business is not afraid to take risks and to try new things.

It highlights that the business is customer-focused. It’s a fundamental principle that businesses that are committed to providing the best possible service will win. By business leaders and staff adopting a GM, it shows that the business is willing to listen to feedback and to make changes based on what the clients need.

Trust is everything

This all leads back to one place, creating more trust, which in turn means stronger relationships and a greater, more consistent, client base. At FRP we focus on delivering results in (what are usually) challenging times. A GM is something we at FRP are looking to implement more over the coming year, and we look forward to helping our clients even further as a result. It is also something that has ultimately helped reshape my life profoundly, so I cannot speak highly enough of the concept.