Mastery Orientation

There are two well-documented orientations on the pursuit of achievement:

1. Mastery Orientation: self-improvement and the mastery of one’s domain are used to judge competence. When failure occurs, mastery-oriented people respond with curiosity and a desire to improve.
2. Ego orientation: external validation and comparison are used to measure competence. When failure occurs, ego-oriented people respond with embarrassment and a sense that one’s self-worth is threatened.

Two very different perspectives, measuring sticks, and responses to failure with — perhaps as no surprise — very different outcomes.

Mastery-oriented individuals are associated with greater persistence, resilience, and more positive outcomes.

Growth is not driven just by choosing to get back up when challenges knock you down, but also by the attitude we bring.

Leave the ego at the door and embrace curiosity.