Navigating Beyond Our Horizon: Challenging the Status Quo

Mindset Shift: The First Step to Igniting Social Innovation

Welcome to our blog, "Navigating Beyond Our Horizon”. As pioneers at the helm of our newly launched Social Innovation Lab, we're not just participating in change; we're actively crafting it. Here, we challenge not only what is but imagine and forge what could be. In this space, we begin with a fundamental concept that is both a starting point and a continuous journey: the Mindset Shift.

Why a Mindset Shift?

Before we go into innovative strategies or transformative technologies, let's take a step back and consider our viewpoints—the mental models we use to understand and interact with the world. Our mindset shapes everything from daily interactions to major policy decisions. It influences how we define problems and conceive solutions. But here's the challenge: our traditional frameworks often confine us to the "status quo," that comfort zone buffered by the known and the predictable. To truly innovate, we need to step outside these bounds and look at problems from fresh, unexplored perspectives. This is what we mean by a mindset shift. It's about changing how we think to open up new possibilities for action and impact.

Shifting from Fixed to Growth

In her groundbreaking work, psychologist Carol Dweck distinguishes between two primary mindsets: fixed and growth. Those with a fixed mindset believe their abilities are static, leading them to avoid challenges and fear failure. On the other hand, those with a growth mindset thrive on challenges, seeing failures as opportunities to learn and grow. Applying a growth mindset to social innovation means believing that we can develop better systems and solutions. It compels us to approach social problems with the curiosity of a scientist and the creativity of an artist. This approach doesn't just allow us to adapt; it allows us to transform.

Practical Steps for Cultivating a Growth Mindset

➔     Embrace Challenges: Each challenge is an opportunity to expand our understanding and test new ideas. When we embrace challenges, we make significant strides in our personal and collective growth.

➔     Persist in the Face of Setbacks: Understand that setbacks are not indicators of failure but are part of the process of achieving something greater. Learning from these setbacks is a step toward success.

➔     Learn from Criticism: View criticism as valuable feedback that provides insights and guidance, not as a personal attack or a deterrent.

➔     Celebrate Successes (Even the Small Ones): Every small success is a step in the right direction. Celebrating these moments can boost morale and encourage a continual drive for improvement.

➔     Encourage Collaboration: A diverse team brings diverse thoughts. Collaboration not only brings multiple perspectives to the table but also facilitates complex problem-solving.

Mindset Shift in Action at Social Innovation Lab: Social Innovator in Residence Program (SIRP)

In our journey to foster a thriving social innovation ecosystem in Newfoundland and Labrador, CSCNL through the Social Innovation Lab is launching the Social Innovators in Residence Program (SIRP), the first of its kind in NL. This initiative exemplifies a mindset shift by offering organizations the chance to engage with innovative leaders who are making a significant impact on fostering creativity and promoting social change. Through SIRP, we are inviting social innovators who embody strategic foresight, empathy, and entrepreneurial thinking to support organizations exploring new ways of fulfilling their missions. This program is a practical manifestation of adopting a growth mindset in the realm of social innovation.

For more information and/or to apply, please click here Social Innovators in Residence Program (SIRP)

The Journey Ahead

As we continue to challenge the status quo through our blog and our actions at the Social Innovation Lab, we invite you to join us. Engage with us, challenge us, and perhaps most importantly, challenge yourself. A mindset shift isn't a one-time tick on a checklist; it's a continuous process of learning, unlearning, and relearning. We look forward to navigating beyond our horizon together, where the only constant is change, and the biggest risk is standing still.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. Let's rethink, reshape, and revolutionize our world, one mindset at a time. Stay tuned for more insights and stories from the front lines of the Social Innovation Lab

Catherine Iheme, MBA

Social Enterprise Analyst, CSCNL