1.1.11.3. Required Readings

The required readings for this lesson serve two purposes: to deepen conceptual understanding of mindset theory and to connect that understanding to leadership behavior in entrepreneurial contexts. You are not reading to collect information — you are reading to challenge assumptions, expose blind spots, and expand the frameworks through which you interpret challenge, growth, and responsibility.

Begin with Carol Dweck’s Mindset (Introduction and Chapter 1). This foundational work distinguishes between fixed and growth mindsets and demonstrates how belief systems directly affect performance outcomes, especially under pressure.

The second reading — the McKinsey Leadership Identity Brief — expands this conversation by exploring how identity influences leadership posture, delegation behavior, confidence, and decision-making velocity.

The third reading — Herminia Ibarra, Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader (Chapter 1 — The Outsight Principle) — introduces a pivotal concept for identity formation in leadership: behavior precedes belief. Rather than waiting for confidence, clarity, or readiness, Ibarra demonstrates that identity evolves through action, experimentation, and real-world engagement.

As you read, focus on how the Outsight Principle reframes leadership as a process of doing and adapting — not as a theoretical or introspective exercise. This chapter aligns directly with the entrepreneurial identity shift introduced in this lesson: execution expands capability, and behavior reshapes identity.

Once all readings are complete, document one belief you are ready to release — and one belief you intend to reinforce as you move into the next phase of your entrepreneurial leadership identity.