Join host Steve Perkins and Greenhouse Team members Gabe Smith and Chris Payne for a transformative dive into mindset on the Roots Up Podcast. Cutting through the buzzword noise, this episode explores how thoughts, emotions, and awareness shape leadership and personal growth. With humorous hiking anecdotes and raw insights, the trio unpacks the brain’s role in processing emotions, the shift from victimhood to agency, and practical tools to foster mindfulness. Steve challenges shallow positivity, Gabe advocates slowing down, and Chris offers strategies for navigating workplace challenges, empowering listeners to take control of their mindset and growth journey.

Key Discussion Points:

Mindset’s Physiological Roots: The brain processes sensory input through emotions before logic, shaping how leaders perceive and respond to challenges.
Emotional Vocabulary Gap: Many lack language for emotions, leading to suppressed feelings or relational disconnect; tools like the Feelings Wheel bridge this gap.
Thoughts to Beliefs Cycle: Daily thoughts form beliefs that drive behavior, making awareness of thought patterns critical for growth.
Victim vs. Agency Mindset: A victim mindset blames external factors, draining energy, while an agency mindset embraces choice, fueling creativity and action.
Energy and Mindset: High-energy states (playful, joyful) arise from agency; low-energy states (shame, fear) stem from feeling powerless.
Beyond Growth vs. Scarcity: Workplace “growth mindset” narratives often oversimplify; true growth requires radical honesty and mindfulness, not forced optimism.
Practical Mindset Shifts: Journaling, rituals (e.g., changing clothes to transition), and candid workplace conversations help leaders reclaim agency.

Action Items:

Self-Audit: Pause during daily transitions (e.g., morning routine, between meetings) to journal: How am I feeling? What thoughts are recurring? Use the Feelings Wheel for clarity.
Team Check-In: Start a team meeting with, “How are we showing up today?” Use the Feelings Wheel or cards to foster emotional awareness.
Find Agency: In tough situations, ask, “Where do I have choice?” Identify one step, like a candid conversation or renegotiating a role.
Build Rituals: Create a small ritual (e.g., changing clothes after work) to trigger a mindset shift during transitions.

Resources Mentioned:

Quotes:

“Mindset is about reality—naming what’s true in the moment, not just seeing the positive.”

“Adults make agreements. If the agreement isn’t working, renegotiate it.”

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) Intro (00:01:03) Hiking Stories (00:02:49) Why Does Mindset Matter (00:05:37) How Feelings Play Into Mindset (00:09:26) How Aware Are We of Thought Themes (00:10:15) The 2 General Mindsets (00:15:09) Growth vs. Scarcity Mindset (00:16:17) How to Shift Mindsets (00:23:45) Do We Always Have Agency? (00:29:02) Steve’s Takeaway

Take Steve’s challenge: Pause during a daily transition to audit your mindset—how are you feeling, and what’s driving your thoughts? Use the Feelings Wheel to name emotions, and try a team check-in to spark connection. Share your experience with us!

#251 - Mindset, Awareness and the Path to Growth