In this post we will explore what grit is, how motivation fuels it and if it is so important to success, then how do we encourage it in others and grow it in ourselves?
What is grit?
The term “grit” was first coined by American psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth. Her primary research focus is the role grit plays in determining success. She defines grit as “passion and sustained perseverance applied in achieving long-term and meaningful goals”. Accordingly, she says that grit is:
- Working really hard to make a planned future a reality
- Passion and perseverance for long term goals
- Exercising stamina
- Sticking to a future goal, day in and day out for years, not weeks or months at a time
- Living life like you are running a marathon and not a sprint
Why is grit important?
Increasingly, psychologists are finding that the one characteristic that is emerging as a significant predictor of success is grit. Interestingly, grit can be inversely or unrelated to a seemingly advantageous starting point such as talent. Some who are very talented have been shown not to succeed in their talent area. Whereas someone else who is determined and displays tenacity, without starting off with much talent, excels. Accordingly, Duckworth notes that grit is not determined by IQ, talent, physical health or good looks.
5 Characteristics of having grit
Duckworth herself is the first to say that the essence of grit remains elusive. However, there are five common characteristics of grit which can make figuring things out clearer. How do you measure up?
- Courage is about taking a chance or continuing to persevere where others won’t. Courage is required when sticking to your beliefs or doing the right thing is unpopular and an easier option is available. Courage is therefore not the absence of fear but rather the triumph over it.
- Conscientiousness implies a dedication to do something the right way and to follow through on a task until it is correctly completed. Conscientious people are usually thorough, careful and vigilant in their approach to things; often operating with a single-minded intent to ensure that things are done “the right way” from start to finish.
- Perseverance is purposeful practicing. It is made obvious when someone steadfastly continues on the path towards a goal that they have set, despite challenges or setbacks. Perseverance, when combined with a long-term goal, is often the distinguishing characteristic between someone who succeeds and someone who spends a lot of time just doing something.
- Resilience is “toughness” – it is the internal capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. Generally, those who are optimistic and can reframe situations to see a lighter side, tend to show greater resilience.
- Passion generates a deep sense of purpose and self-motivation. Creating a momentum that won’t easily be deterred. Passion fosters an attitude of “where there is a will, there’s a way”. Often passionate people find opportunities to achieve their goals where others dismiss a possibility.
What is motivation?
Motivation gets you started. Together with self-discipline, it provides us with stimulation to get us working towards completing a task or achieving a goal. According to social worker Lisa Marcow, there are two sources of motivation – intrinsic and extrinsic. Neither one is necessarily better than the other; in fact, sometimes motivation can come from both intrinsic and extrinsic sources.
When someone is intrinsically motivated, they are incentivised by the sheer joy of fulfilling a task and enjoy doing things for the inner rewards they derive from them. For instance, we see this when someone pursues a hobby.
Tangible rewards and incentives are extrinsic motivators. Someone pursuing something that is extrinsically motivated often derives positive feelings from the environment around them. For most people getting paid is the extrinsic motivator to keep going to work.
Motivating yourself
Understanding where you get the most motivation from, is helpful to remaining motivated when you are trying to achieve a goal. Especially in the long term. If you need tangible rewards to keep working on something, then remember to factor rewards into your plan to achieve your goal. Alternatively, if you gain satisfaction from being able to mentally “tick” something off, then pause and enjoy the feeling of success as something is completed while working towards achieving your goal.
Can you grow Grit?
YES! Grit is something that can be nurtured in oneself and encouraged to grow in others. Both adults and children can be taught grit. Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck proposes that when someone believes that their basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work, they create a love of learning and resilience which is essential to succeeding across all areas of their life. She calls this a “growth mindset”.
5 Ways to cultivate grit through a growth mindset:
- Embrace challenges as a way to grow and strengthen your existing abilities
- Learn from criticism, weighing it up as potentially valuable advice rather than as a demotivator
- See the effort it takes to master something as a means to your end goal
- Persist when there are setbacks and rather than give up, ask how something could be done differently and more successfully
- Surround yourself with people who succeed and enjoy celebrating their success as you find inspiration in their examples
Grit is built up over time
Grit isn’t something we are born or given. Grit can be fostered and encouraged in yourself and others. Essentially, it is something we can individually work on throughout our lives. It is built up overtime. By nurturing its characteristics and motivating ourselves through the setting of goals, we can determine what level of success we could enjoy across many areas of our lives.
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Credit- SACAP. Published by- Dr. Sabiha : www.drsabiha.blogspot.com
