Grit Themes

Grit Trumps Talent

The main point of Angela Duckworth’s book is that grit is a far more reliable predictor of success than talent is. Though talent has long been the measure by which college admissions teams, business hiring committees and the military select applicants, Duckworth shows that talent fails to predict success. Why? According to Duckworth, talent influences how quickly skills improve with effort. Talent alone, however, is merely unmet potential.

According to Duckworth’s formula, effort counts twice as much as talent. While talent is, to some degree, genetic, effort is within the control of the individual. Effort requires that a person persist. Perseverance is one of the two vital elements of grit. Gritty people put forth effort consistently over time. In the process, “talent becomes skill, and, at the very same time, effort makes skill productive.”

Duckworth’s research shows that people who rank high in perseverance also tend to rank high in passion, the second element of grit. To persevere in the face of challenges, a person needs to be passionate. Unlike the common notion of “passion” as deep emotion, Duckworth defines the trait as an overarching goal that serves as a compass for life. A coordinated hierarchy of lower- and middle-level goals serves as a somewhat flexible means to achieve the overarching goal, making the “passion” possible.

Grit, the combination of passion and perseverance, consistently predicts success in diverse fields such as education, the military and business and does so more consistently than talent, as measured by SAT scores, intelligence or physical fitness tests.

Grit’s “Plasticity”

Grit is not a “you-have-it-or-you-don’t” trait. Duckworth shows that even traits thought of as genetic and fixed, such as intelligence, are influenced by social and environmental factors. Like many personality traits, grit has some genetic components, but it is primarily influenced by environment and experience.

Grit appears to grow with age. Studies of people at different ages suggest that grit increases as people mature. While this could be due to generational differences, Duckworth contends it more likely indicates that people “develop the capacity for long-term passion and perseverance” with age. The experiences and challenges of life provide a context for the growth of grit.

Duckworth shows that grit can be developed in two ways: from the inside out and the outside in. Grit can be generated from the inside out, beginning with self-reflection. Without an overarching aim in life that serves as a compass, grit will not flourish. However, defining that aim takes time and a process of discovery. The process begins with finding an interest, then practicing to improve, “ripening” passion by finding purpose that in some way impacts others, and having hope throughout. In other words, we must believe that growth and change can occur and that we have some control over the process. Grit can also happen from the outside in. Parents, coaches, teachers and other caregivers can shape the grittiness of children by providing support and being appropriately demanding. Extracurricular activities, when pursued with follow-through, promote grit. Also, becoming a member of a gritty culture promotes grit because an individual’s identity is shaped by the group’s shared values and norms.

Helping Kids to Develop Grit

Parents, teachers, coaches and other caregivers can develop grit in children, but many do not know how. The way in which adult caregivers interact with children and the opportunities they provide can nurture grittiness. Although both liberal and conservative parenting styles can produce gritty children, wise parenting is the key. The wise parent is both supportive and demanding. Likewise, the wise teacher, coach or other significant adult sets high standards, respects the child and provides a caring environment. Also, these adults model grit for the children in their care. Duckworth’s “Hard Thing Rule” is a means of both modeling grit within a family and supporting the development of grit for each of its members. First, all members (including the adults) must do a hard thing. Second, a person may quit, but only at a natural stopping point. Third, each member gets to pick their hard thing.

Extracurricular activities play a crucial role in helping children to develop grit. However, follow-through is critical. Children who engage in one activity for at least two years tend to be grittier than those who pursue one or more activities for brief periods. The rationale is that as children pursue one area of interest, they engage in practice that necessitates working through challenges to improve. While follow-through may appear to signal rather than develop grit, evidence suggests that follow-through experience is transformative, causing children to contribute to the activity rather than simply participate. This contribution is the beginning of purpose—the point at which an individual pursues a goal outside of themselves, rather than their own satisfaction.