Episode 320: You Have The Capacity To Handle Change w/ Ben Granger

What if the discomfort you’re trying to avoid is the very thing making you stronger?

Steve sits down with Ben Granger, Chief Workplace Psychologist at Qualtrics and author of A Leader Worth Following, to unpack what growth mindset really looks like in the real world: under pressure, inside messy organizations, and in moments where you don’t feel ready.

Ben shares how he grew up with a fixed mindset (“I’m just not good at that”), what neuroscience and practice actually prove about improvement, and why people who experience more change can end up psychologically better off than those who experience less.

They also go deep on leadership... why trust isn’t built on competence alone, why “benevolence” is the most overlooked ingredient, and how you can build a healthy team climate even inside a tough culture.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Ben’s definition of being GrowthReady: a mental orientation toward learning
• Fixed mindset in childhood (and why it’s so common in athletes and kids)
• The “internal bell curve”: how you can improve beyond your starting point
• A surprising global finding: more change → better psychological outcomes
• Why “knowing” isn’t the same as integrating (and how to make it your own)
• Learning vs performance orientations (prove / avoid / learn)
• How leaders can build trust: competence, integrity, and benevolence
• Culture vs climate and how to build psychological safety from the inside out
• Where to find Ben’s book (plus the playlist that goes with it)

Connect with Ben:

• Website: benjamangranger.com (book + writing + podcast links + playlist)

#growthready #leadership #mindset #personalgrowth #resilience #highperformance #performanceunderpressure