How to Develop Grit and Perseverance?
Most of us have heard of the term grit, and think that it is good to be “gritty”. When we think about how best to define it, Angela Duckworth does a pretty good job in her book. She is also a wildly talented speaker and has a great Ted Talk on the subject. Feel free to check it out here.
Grit - What is it?
In short, grit is our ability to persevere in overcoming a challenge, especially when faced with difficulties. It is our ability to stick with things even when they aren’t going so well. It is the choice to dig in and do the hard work of sustaining efforts and dedication over a long period of time, not just fleeting moments or interests.
Developing Grit and Perseverance?
How do you develop more grit and perseverance?
The amount of grit and perseverance we have (or do not have) is a big predictor of our success. This makes good sense because if you do not persevere and tend to give up easily, you are unlikely to overcome challenges and achieve what you set out to do. Someone who is gritty can typically outperform someone with higher natural talent in the long run, simply because they keep at it and are determined to master their craft.
That isn’t to say that natural talent doesn’t matter. For instance, I could be really gritty at basketball, but without some natural talent or decent height, I am probably not going to play in the NBA. The real magic happens when we find something we are passionate about, have some natural talent and are committed to getting better and sticking with it despite set backs and failures.
Using Mindset to Develop Grit and Perseverance
So if grit is such a good thing, how do we make ourselves grittier?
As with most things, how we think or orient towards challenges matters. If we adopt what is called a “growth mindset” rather than a “fixed mindset”, it can be a pretty good place to start.
A growth mindset is one in which we hold the view that we are capable of learning and overcoming challenges, whereas a fixed mindset simply assumes we either are good or bad at something; We either got it or we don’t. A growth mindset is the idea that we are malleable, capable of change and development. Your abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work, and not just because you’re naturally good at something.
Think about those people who say, “I am bad at math” and proceed to give up or not try once they get frustrated and hit a roadblock. This is a good example of having a fixed mindset. Refusal to dig in and feel the uncomfortable feelings of not being that good at something; a typical yet unhelpful response if we are looking to get better or overcome a challenging task or situation.
Having a growth mindset means that we consider setbacks as an opportunity to learn; “that was tough, I will do better next time” or, “that one hurt, but I think I know how I would do it differently”.
A person with a growth mindset will seek to test personal limits with the understanding that failure is an inevitable part of learning, getting better and stretching to improve. For example, practicing against someone more skilled than you at a sport or hobby, or reaching beyond your limits at the gym to the point of failure (but doing so intentionally and safely).
A person with a growth mindset seeks progress with the understanding that failure is a necessary part of the journey to achieve success, and not as a weakness or personal deficit. Pretty gritty right? We think so.
Need Help Developing Your Grit and Perseverance?
So the next time you encounter a challenge or obstacle, that’s not the place to give up and walk away. Pause and try to adopt a growth mindset. For example, how can I use this challenge to develop or refine my skills? How can I approach this problem differently? How can I manage my frustration and challenge unhelpful thoughts; fixed thoughts that tell me I am either good or bad at something rather than viewing myself as flexible and capable of making improvements.
Remember, we need adversity, setbacks and failure to improve; those are the ingredients we need to get gritty. It is also how we can learn to grow in our personal development, as we often need to practice making the changes we want in our lives and this usually means experiencing some setbacks along the way. If you’re feeling stuck or struggling to stay motivated, know that you’re not alone. Developing grit and a growth mindset is a process, and reaching out for support can help you with that.
Whether you're looking to build resilience or are moving through one of life’s many challenges, we’re here for you. Book a free consultation and let’s take the next step together.
