More and more I am realizing that people operate in one of two modes: protection mode or creation mode.
Which mode are you operating in?
Protection Mode
When someone is operating in protection mode, their primary desires and direction is fueled by a need to self-protect.
Here are some typical protection mode desires:
- Desire to look good
- Desire to be right (or at least seen as being right)
- Desire to avoid problems
- Desire to get ahead
Pause here: are these bad desires? Well, they are certainly easy to justify. I mean, who wants to look bad, be wrong, have problems, and get passed up? No one, right. But the problem with these desires is that they are self-focused and generally lead to collateral damage to those around them.
Further, their purpose and direction are set to personal success.
From my observations, I believe that “protection mode” is the human default mode.
Creation Mode
When someone is operating in creation mode, their primary desires and direction is fueled by a need to create and advance something for the greater good of others.
Here are some typical creation mode desires:
- Desire to learn and grow
- Desire to think optimally
- Desire to reach goals
- Desire to help others succeed
Pause here: where are these desires focused? Generally, they are away from one’s self and toward something greater than them.
Their purpose and direction are not toward personal success, but toward making some contribution to the lives of others.
It is my observation that few people operate in creation mode.
Examples
Let me give a couple quick examples to make these ideas come to life.
Employees
First compare two workers. A protection-mode employee is largely a time-card puncher, there to put in some time, and in return, get a paycheck. They generally do what they are told, and they can even do it at a high level. But, at their core, they are not fully engaged in their job. This mode can generally be seen when the organization makes an ask of them: stay late, reorganize, or take on an added responsibility. In those instances, their protection mode prompts them to get defensive and push back or resist. These employees are either a neutral or negative influence in their workplace
A creation-mode employee sees his or her work as an opportunity to contribute and make a difference. They are genuinely excited about going to work. Rather than seek to do the bare minimum, they seek to excel. When the organization makes an ask of them, they seek to see the wisdom and value in it. These employees are a positive influence within their workplace and toward their organization’s customers.
Parents
Second, compare two parents. A protection-mode parent wants his/her life to be easy, comfortable, and problem-free. They generally can be quite controlling as a way to make sure their life is as easy, comfortable, and problem-free as possible. Of course they don’t want their children to fall behind, but at the same time, they generally don’t even think about or put forth concerted effort toward helping their children excel.
A creation-mode parent knows that parenting is not easy, comfortable, or problem-free. Rather than try to make their own life as comfortable as possible, they have a purpose that generally is focused on helping their children reach their potential, but not in a controlling way (when parents control their kids, they are usually doing it for themselves, not their kids). They are intentional about creating an atmosphere where their children can thrive. When difficulties arise, rather than see them as a fire to be put out, they see them as an opportunity to patiently teach.
Why do people get into protection mode?
Why do some (if not most) people operate in protection mode? I think there is three primary reasons:
- I think that is the human default mode (it takes being purposeful and intentional to be in creation mode).
- Our life experience, our upbringing, or unmet emotional needs has, in one way or another, created a hole within us that causes us to subconsciously prioritize filling that hole, or at least protecting it.
- The culture in the environment we operate in incentivizes (e.g., socially, financially) looking good, being right, avoiding problems, and getting ahead. It is a competitive non-psychologically safe environment.
Where This Gets Tricky (and interesting)
Would you say that college students (master’s or undergrad) are more commonly in creation mode or protection mode?
At the surface, it appears that they should be in creation mode. They are in an environment that focuses on learning and growing, and they are creating a better life for themselves, right?
While there are students that approach their education like that, I recently had all of my students take my mindset assessment (3 classes: one MBA, two senior-level). Here are their collective results:
What this tells me, is that most students are not operating as though they are the creators of their future. Rather, they are operating in protection mode, just trying to survive.
Now, that obviously isn’t all students. But, only 7% of students have all four of the positive mindsets. Just think how much more these students are going to get out of their education, since they are operating like a creator of their brighter future.
Conclusion
I believe that operating in creation mode is a choice, and it takes purpose and intention.
What mode are you operating in?
Let me invite you to make the choice to take purpose and intention, and become more of a creator.
If you would like to do this mindset assessment with your employees to see the degree to which they are operating in creation vs protection mode, let’s connect:
For more information about doing a collective mindset assessment with your organization, check this out: Assessing the Collective Mindsets of Your Organization, Department, or Team
142 Responses
This makes so much sense! Both at work (with employees) and at home (with family. Loved reading this.
Thanks for letting me know. And, glad you found it helpful.
Certainly agree, I see and deal with both aspects of employees. Work with them and help them both “modes” to improvise, that is perhaps use the excelling mode to help out and get the protection kind of associates.
nice
Nice!
Wonderful to know.
It’s a great research about our mindset. Then we can base on this research to make more effort for engaging our associates to turn on the creation mode.
Interesting to see the research regarding students. This is apparent in the work force as well, because many younger employees simply go through the motions
Good stuff.
New learning for me, and interesting.
This was really an eye opener for me! Sometimes I feel like I am in a protective mode at the Hotel. It is competitive, not only inside the building, but in our comp set and every week when the Marriott scorecard is released.
More interesting to me though was the section on parenting. I spoke with my wife immediately about it and we agreed that the relationship that we have with each of our three boys also plays a part in whether or not we’re being creative or protective.
Some really great insights!
I am so happy to hear! Thank you for sharing.
I find in my work with leaders, that it is easier for leaders to practice more elevated leadership with their families before making that shift in their business environment (it probably feels safer to do so).
I can imagine most of us operate in Protection Mode. We worry too much about what other people think and strive to keep up with the Jones’. It is the same at work as it is in the work life. Society has taught us to “Look Out For #1” before anything else.
I am learning that the best leaders and people rise above the pull of society. Hopefully, the more we recognize this continuum, the more we can step into value creator mode.
New learning here. Would like to share with the team to see what mode they are in, and impart the knowledge gained.
Great to hear! And, if it is helpful, you can use my mindset assessment to help people awaken to the mode that they tend to operate in: https://ryangottfredson.com/personal-mindset-assessment
New learning here. Would like to share with the team to see what mode they are in, and impart the knowledge gained.
Great learning experience
This was very helpful it really makes a lot of sense.
After reading this, I do see that I have a protection mode outset.
Definitely is an eye-opener. One has to always consciously be aware not to continually slip into the protection mode outset.
This is great information!
New learning for me, and interesting.
Enjoying this class. So much to learn!
Good Stuff!
It is very nice to be able to understand stress better. I have always struggled to realize when I am stressed.
Thank you for this information. I will try to put this into practice to manage stress better
Sometimes we transition between both mindsets due to the situation and circumstance
Agreed. Here is a video + blog post on just that: https://ryangottfredson.com/blog/2024/05/13/what-is-the-quality-of-your-being-side/
I think it is worth us asking: Are we being intentional about our mindsets (i.e., the driver), or are we allowing our mindsets be determined by our situation (i.e., the passenger)?
Great insights
Great information – thank you for what you do!
Great insight glad you shared
I suppose the 2 different mode is changing and living in my mind together 😄
Both modes are certailny part of everyone’s daily process. Coworkers I work with we all agree that’s the case for most everyone. Learning to utilize both is what can help you maximize your staffing challenges, when you know how to work around optimizing the strengths of those creative individuals this can turn out to be a good approach to help those in the protective mode.
Very helpful information. Thank you for sharing.
very helpful suggestions
I can relate to both. Is that possible?
Very good read.
Yes, it is possible to relate to both. When we are feeling safe, our bodies are more willing to move into value creation mode. When we are feeling unsafe, our bodies are wanting to move into self-protection mode.
One of the keys of vertical development is improving our ability to move into and stay in value creation mode, even when we are feeling a little unsafe and uncomfortable.
This was a super interesting read, I have never really thought about it in this capacity, and the research backing students approach while at University is super intriguing.
Very interesting content
Good information to know
This really helpful. I never took the time to recognize how I shed off my levels of stress to my team. I noticed after I watched this that they too pick up my stress level when one of them asked me if I was ok? Interesting to me
Very insightful
Great article! very useful
Excellent mind opener.
Insightful. very good.
INSIGHTFUL
Insightful
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it makes a lot of sense
some situations I have both specially tasks with deadlines,
This is such an eye opening read
Very Insightful
A lot of keys takes away from the Video
Very helpful. Learned something from here.
very useful
This has brought in a very different prospective to how I see myself as a leader. I am confident that I will be able to be more focus towards achieving a creation mode style of approach.
So great to hear!
This makes sense. Thank you.
This is very useful information for me and has given me a lot of inspiration.
I find this knowledge to be incredibly helpful, and it has inspired me greatly.
Highly insightful and got me into thinking mode!
Highly insightful. Got me into thinking mode.
Highly insightful. Got me into thinking mode.
Very Insightful
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Good read!
Very nice to have this read put these modes into perspective like this
Great read! Thank you for this!
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So true!
Very interesting and helpful.
Really great insight. Definitely got me thinking differently.
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really good information.
actually it is true if you apply it in daily day to day functions.
So very true and it makes so much sense. Sometimes it is just easier to read about it than actually putting it into practice.
This is a good one, can be apply professionally and personally.
This is not only useful in professional work area but also very important factor and learning in our personal life.
This is so real and useful in our day to day life
Nice one to read and good analysis to understand the mid set of the people.
That is very nice information and analysis. Thank you for the input.
New learning and interesting
Interesting and very onformative
Super interesting article to read. Very useful to apply in one’s professional life
I can see how applying this mindset would be beneficial to myself and others!
Great insight, we miss so many signs in day to day work..
Nice
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Good Read.
Good article
This is a great insight into our thinking process. It will not only help me with professional life but also personal life.
Good
Nice
Protection Mode vs. Creation Mode: Recognizing the difference between these two modes helps identify where individuals may be focusing their energy—either on self-preservation or on contributing to the greater good.
Very good
Very good assesment
New Learning & Interesting
Wow..
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Love it
Good insight
This is very insightful and such a great read. I am happy to learn about these as I have not yet come across it although aware somehow of the concept.
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I agree, we stress ourselves too much! we need to take it day by day. stress is the number one cause of sickness. worry only about the day that is guarantee to you. tomorrow always worry about itself.
Nice, thanks for sharing
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At home we are protective as a parent or guardian because we are doing it for the good of our children, it maybe for us at first but outcome wise is for our kids, we are just doing a parenting. but for work we are doing both because we are protective at times and creative because while we are guiding our team, we are also adopting to creativity. all members of the team are contributing to the success of the company through respective responsibilities.
Very insightful
Very Interesting
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Such a nice read, thank you for sharing this!
New Learning
Very interesting.
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New learning
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Interesting
Help full and right direction to achieve a goal.