Episode 4: Mindset

EPISODE 4 SHOW NOTES:  The Importance of Mindset with Dean CrispRecorded Sept 16, 2019  | Released Sept 30, 2019Opening Quote:“Mindset influences your attitude, which directly influences your actions. Change your mindset and change your actions.” - Dean CrispThe most often asked question of me by my students is ,“What is the number one thing I can do to change my leadership?” My answer is – your mindset.Mindset defined is a current state of thought based on expectations and impacted by immediate events.Mindset comes from your paradigm. Paradigm is defined as the way we are pre-conditioned to think about the circumstances we encounter that were formed by our cultural, social, political, and religious events formed over time and based on our experiences.An individual thought, event, or experience can influence our mindset. Mindset can be emotionally hijacked in an instant from the experience of an external event. For leaders to be effective, they must find a way to not let these events dictate their response. Often, I talk in my classes about the difference of reacting (emotional) vs responding (thoughtful). You are still addressing the situation, but you have taken the time to decide how you want to be perceived and how you want to address the circumstance rather than reacting, which tends to be driven by emotion and often doesn’t solve the situation.Two works I recommend are: Carol Dweck’s book on Mindset and/or her TedTalk.Kevin Gilmartin’s landmark work “Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement”. Dweck’s book discusses the difference between having a fixed vs growth mindset.Gilmartin discusses how law enforcement officers are impacted by hypervigilance.The show has these points:Recognize what mindset you tend to fall in (growth vs fixed) and resolve to change it by changing your point of view.Give yourself a reason to change your mindset (be a better parent or leader) through a conscious effort.See the bigger picture.Most importantly, understand that the most important thing you can do everyday is to grow future leaders.Dean ends the podcast by challenging listeners to consider this phrase as they think about how they can change their mindset:  “I ‘CHOOSE’ vs I ‘HAVE’ to do this ... (activity, job function, etc.). When you put it in that frame of mind, you will likely have a better attitude about it and thus a more positive mindset."© 2026 Dean Crisp and LHLN (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED).