Episode description

Doing, doing, doing. We can get stuck in a perpetual state of busyness to get things done. But being in a chronic “performance zone” can lead to stagnation over time. The “learning zone”, however, is when we take a step back to reflect on our experiences and look for ways to improve. That’s where a growth mindset comes in - actually believing that we can get better.

“In order to engage in learning, we need to believe that we can improve, we also need to understand how to improve and we need to have a reason or reason that we care to put in the effort to improve.” ~ Eduardo Briceño, Episode 374

Eduardo Briceño is a global keynote speaker, facilitator, and author who guides many of the world’s leading companies in developing cultures of learning and high performance. His TED Talks have been viewed over 9 million times. Alongside Carol Dweck, the leading growth mindset researcher, Eduardo has founded Mindset Works, an organization dedicated to fostering lifelong learning. 

On this episode of Behavioral Grooves, hosts Kurt and Tim talk to Eduardo about his new book “The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action” which is a practical guide on how to spend more of your time in the learning zone, instead of just the performance zone.

Eduardo provides tips for leaders to create a culture of learning, such as framing core values, identifying habits and systems to support both performance and learning, and modeling learning behaviors visibly.

To Tim’s delight, the conversation with Eduardo uses musical examples from Beyoncé and Dave Grohl to highlight the importance of practice and reflection. Overall, the discussion provides insights on overcoming barriers to a learning mindset and finding a balance between performance and growth in the workplace.

(4:09) Welcome and speed round questions.

(7:16) If we focus only on performance, our performance suffers. 

(10:19) How to tell if you’re in the learning zone or performance zone.

(20:14) How can leaders create a learning culture in the workplace?

(24:04) The performance zone isn’t necessarily a bad place to be.

(25:44) What can Beyoncé teach us about the learning zone?

(27:07) How can we get better at reflecting on our own performance?

(31:02) Overcoming resistance to learning at work.

(33:49) What we can learn from Dave Grohl’s pandemic drum battle.

(38:07) Be deliberate about improvement, not just working harder.

(41:47) What musical artists would  Eduardo Briceño take to a desert island?

(43:38) Grooving Session with Kurt and Tim on the learning zone.

© 2023 Behavioral Grooves

Eduardo Briceño’s book, “The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action”: https://amzn.to/487Ikd8 

Eduardo Briceño: https://briceno.com/ 

Carol Dweck, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success: https://amzn.to/468cVpg 

Anders Ericsson, “The Making of an Expert”: https://hbr.org/2007/07/the-making-of-an-expert 

Gordon McKenzie's “Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace’: https://amzn.to/44VMi5I 

Satya Nadella's efforts to shift Microsoft's culture to focus more on learning when he became CEO: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/how-microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-transformed-one-of-the-worlds-great-businesses/articleshow/94221616.cms 

Dave Grohl's vs Nandi Bushell drum battle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZBQW2gE0Ew 

Introduction to Experiential Learning, John Dewey: https://learning.northeastern.edu/introduction-to-experiential-learning/ 

Behavioral Grooves Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/behavioralgrooves 

The Beatles “Here, There and Everywhere”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FusIKjztap8 

Brian Eno “Garden of Stars”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlJDUcdUz8c