The Power of Effort: How Praising Kids’ Effort Over Intelligence Shapes Success

As a mental health therapist, I often see how early life influences shape our resilience, self-worth, and approach to challenges. Psychologist Carol Dweck’s research on mindsets reveals powerful strategies for fostering these qualities, showing that the way we respond to children’s efforts can significantly impact their long-term success and confidence. By focusing on effort over intelligence, we can help children embrace challenges as opportunities for growth—a skill that serves them well into adulthood.

Dweck’s research centers on the concepts of “fixed” versus “growth” mindsets, and one pivotal study with children highlights the profound effects of praise. In this study, some kids were praised for their intelligence, while others were praised for their effort. The results were striking: those praised for their effort showed remarkable resilience. They were more likely to embrace challenges, persist through difficulties, and, importantly, performed better in subsequent tasks than those praised solely for intelligence.

This study underscores a key point: praising effort over innate ability can shape a child’s mindset and their approach to learning. When effort is celebrated, children start to believe that hard work, perseverance, and dedication are what lead to improvement and mastery. But does this mean that all praise should focus solely on effort, or could there be room for a balanced approach?

A Balanced Approach: Mixing Growth Mindset and Outcome-Based Praise

While growth mindset praise (like emphasizing effort, strategies, or persistence) is ideal for fostering resilience, research suggests that a blend of praise types can be beneficial, especially when recognizing meaningful achievements.

In a study by researchers at Stanford and the University of Toronto, it was found that acknowledging both effort and accomplishments can enhance children’s motivation without diminishing the benefits of a growth mindset. For example, combining phrases like “You worked so hard on this” with “and it turned out great!” recognizes both the process and the outcome, which can encourage children to see value in both persistence and results.

Another study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that when children received mixed praise—primarily effort-based with occasional outcome praise—they continued to approach challenges enthusiastically. This blend allowed them to feel recognized for their progress and achievement without reinforcing a fixed mindset about their abilities.

Practical Ways to Foster a Growth Mindset with Balanced Praise

So, how can we help children embrace a growth mindset in everyday interactions while also recognizing their accomplishments? Here are some common phrases and growth-oriented alternatives that focus on effort and resilience, with suggestions on how to mix in outcome-based praise thoughtfully:

• Focus on the Process: Instead of saying, “You’re so smart!” try, “I can see you worked really hard on that!” This shifts the focus from intelligence to the effort they put in, helping them see their progress as a result of their actions. Occasionally, you might add, “and look at the great result you achieved!” to acknowledge their success without implying it was due to innate ability.
• Normalize Mistakes: Rather than saying, “Don’t worry, you’ll get it perfect next time,” say, “Mistakes help us learn. What did this one teach you?” This normalizes mistakes and emphasizes that learning from them is valuable. Acknowledge any improvements as they go, such as, “Each time you try, you’re getting better and better!”
• Encourage Challenges: Swap out “That’s too hard; let’s pick something easier” with “This looks challenging! What’s one step you could try?” or “This might take some time, but that’s how we grow.” Encouraging kids to take on challenges with a positive outlook can build confidence in their ability to tackle hard things. Occasionally, after they succeed, add something like, “I’m proud of how you kept trying and reached your goal!” to help them see the rewards of persistence.
• Use Growth-Oriented Language: Instead of “You’re a natural at this!” try “You’re getting better because you keep practicing.” Or, when they’re struggling, replace “It’s okay if you can’t do it” with “You can’t do it yet, but keep at it, and you’ll see progress.” This encourages them to see learning as a process. You might sometimes add, “I knew your effort would pay off!” to acknowledge their success as a result of their work.

Building Long-Term Success with Growth and Outcome Praise

By fostering a mindset that values effort, persistence, and learning, we empower kids to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. Although innate talent and intelligence may play a role, long-term success is often built on a foundation of consistent effort, dedication, and a willingness to keep learning. As research shows, combining growth mindset praise with selective acknowledgment of outcomes can reinforce a child’s sense of accomplishment without undermining the benefits of effort-based praise.

In the end, a balanced approach—where effort is the focus, but achievements are also celebrated—can help children build resilience, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.