Grit: A Leader’s Best Friend
Leadership is challenging, demanding, and a relentless endeavor that can test our willpower, stamina, and perseverance. To succeed as a leader, one must develop a unique set of qualities, skills, and attitudes that can withstand the ups and downs of the journey. One such quality that has gained much traction among leaders is grit.
Grit is a term coined by psychologist Angela Duckworth, who defined it as “passion and perseverance for long-term goals, coupled with the resilience to face obstacles and maintain effort.” Drawing from her extensive research, Duckworth delves into the mindset and qualities that cultivate grit, providing valuable insights for individuals striving to reach their full potential. You need to watch her famous TED Talk HERE, and you should get a copy of her book HERE.
Let’s break down the power of leadership grit and how it can help you overcome obstacles and achieve success.
Defining Grit
The first step to understanding the power of leadership grit is to define what it is and what it is not. Grit is not just determination, perseverance, or resilience; it is a combination of all three, focused on achieving long-term goals despite challenges, setbacks, and adversity. Gritty leaders have a clear vision of what they want to achieve, a deep passion for their work, and an unwavering commitment to seeing it through, no matter what may come. Grit is being dedicated to success no matter what the cost.
Developing Grit
Grit is not just something that you are born with; it is something that you can develop and cultivate over time. To develop grit, you need to focus on three key areas: your mindset, your habits, and your environment. Your mindset should be focused on growth, learning, and improvement rather than fixed on failure or defeat. Your habits should be aligned with your goals, promoting discipline, consistency, and effort. Your environment should be supportive, encouraging, and challenging, providing you with the resources, feedback, and opportunities to grow and improve. Every hardship provides an opportunity for the next level of grit in your life.
Practicing Grit
Grit is not a one-time event or a silver bullet that guarantees success. Instead, it is a daily practice that requires discipline, persistence, and resilience. To practice grit, you need to set clear goals, break them down into manageable steps, and pursue them relentlessly, even when faced with adversity or obstacles. You need to learn from failure, adapt to change, and stay committed to your vision, no matter how long it takes to achieve it. Like anything, the more we practice being gritty, the more resilient we become.
Leading with Grit
As a leader, your grit is contagious, inspiring others to follow your lead. To lead with grit, you need to be authentic, transparent, and passionate about your work, setting the tone for a culture of growth. You need to empower your team, providing them with the resources, training, and support they need to succeed. And don’t forget to celebrate their progress and achievements along the way. You need to be a role model for grit, embodying the qualities of determination, perseverance, and resilience, so you practice what you preach. People are influenced and impacted by those who live with grit.
The power of leadership grit cannot be overstated. It is a quality that can help you overcome obstacles, stay focused on your goals, and achieve success. So, go out there, be gritty, and achieve greatness by developing yourself!
