It was late at night, the only light in the room coming from the flickering images of „Rocky Balboa“ on the TV screen. As my sixteen-year-old brother sat next to me, the living room seemed to pulsate with his energy, his eyes mirroring the same unwavering determination we saw in Rocky’s. My brother’s hobby back then was triathlon, and part of his motivational strategy was watching such movies. This scene marks my first memory of drive and the ‚get up again and do it‘ spirit. It was a powerful lesson in enduring against the odds, and I guess a foundational memory that shaped my understanding of grit and resilience – a trait that has helped me not only endure my PhD and being an entrepreneur throughout my life.
A couple of years back, again late at night, when I saw Angela Duckworth’s TED talk it deeply resonated with me. Inspired by her words, I ordered her book and explored it to find out more about the fascinating overlap of grit and organizational alignment.
„Resilience outperformed brilliance and talent.“ This statement, if proclaimed by Angela Duckworth, would stop us in our tracks – because it challenges the conventional wisdom about success. Unfortunately, still the kind of wisdom that gets delivered to us in most schools.
The Foundation of Organizations
Duckworth’s research shows that clear goals and roles are essential for effective organisations. A company moves forward not because of bureaucracy or frills, but due to a clear and structured plan. Grit, or the dedicated quest towards long-term goals, finds rich soil in such smoothly run workplaces.
The Vitality of Grit
Duckworth champions the idea that grit, the blend of passion and perseverance, is a key indicator of success. My notes remind me that organizations flourish when their people don’t just show up, but persist through challenges with a clear vision in mind. It’s grit that keeps the engine of progress chugging, even when the tracks get steep. This is usually the environment where innovations happen, as they are hard work and not the one glossy idea that hit us overnight.
Angela Duckworth
From Personal to Collective – Cultivating Grit at Scale
Grit isn’t just a personal trait; it can be cultivated within teams and organizations. Duckworth’s work suggests that when leaders embody grit, they set a contagious example that cascades through the ranks. It’s about fostering an environment where resilience is recognized and rewarded, and perseverance becomes a shared value.
Lesson 1: Clarity Drives Innovation
We, as leaders, must ensure that every team member understands their role and the overarching goals. This clarity fosters an environment where innovation is directed and impactful, rather than scattered and unproductive. For more insights on enhancing this kind of environment, I recommend to look at the Progress Principle. Authored by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer, this principle emphasizes the motivational power of clear goals and immediate feedback. It illustrates how small wins, when recognized, can significantly boost employee morale and productivity.
"Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality."
Angela Duckworth
LESSON 2: Flexibility Within a Framework
We need to create a framework that is strong but also flexible enough to quickly adapt to new trends and technologies. A rigid structure limits our growth, while a flexible one allows us to embrace change without losing focus on our main goals.
LESSON 3: Cultivate Resilience
By valuing resilience like we do technical skills, we can nudge our team towards a more positive mindset (and maybe even fewer coffee breaks during tough projects). When we as leaders model and reward persistence, team members and peers are more likely to push through challenges and contribute to a sustainable, forward-moving organization. I guess by now, most of my students and coachees know that I love the speech by basketball coach Tara Lawson.
Outlook
As I close this exploration, it’s clear that organizational success isn’t serendipitous. It’s the product of aligning the grid – that Duckworth so insightfully discusses – with the unwavering commitment of its people. By embedding grit in the organizational fabric, we create real collaboration that propels institutions and individuals alike towards enduring excellence.
In applying Duckworth’s understanding, let’s strive to craft organizations where the clarity of the grid and the resilience of grit work in concert, turning the once daunting mountains of our objectives into molehills. Her research results can serve as an aspiration and a guiding blueprint for those who aim to pursue their own vision. Or, to say it with the words of Kara Lawson: „these are the people that get what they want.“
Eight leadership principles based on grit
I’ve distilled the learnings from Duckworth’s insights into eight leadership principles.
FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE
Now it’s your turn. Let’s get from theory to practice with three questions to reflect on, empowering you to apply these timeless and discipline-less insights in your leadership journey:
"Our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another."
Angela Duckworth
About Angela Duckworth
Angela Duckworth is a psychologist and popular science author who has pioneered the study of grit—a combination of passion and perseverance for long-term goals. She is the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, founder and CEO of Character Lab, a nonprofit that advances scientific insights that help children thrive. Duckworth’s book „Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance“ has been a New York Times bestseller and has helped redefine what drives success. Her TED Talk on the topic has reached millions, influencing educators, leaders, and individuals worldwide.
"In a fixed mindset, you want to hide your flaws so you’re not judged or labeled a failure. In a growth mindset, you see your failures as a wakeup call and embark on the challenging journey of improvement." – Carol S. Dweck
Further Readings & related work
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance" by Angela Duckworth
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck – This book complements Duckworth’s ideas by exploring the concept of a growth mindset and its impact on success.
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us" by Daniel H. Pink – Pink’s book examines the intricacies of human motivation, which align with Duckworth’s research on perseverance and passion.