Grit: A non-cognitive trait

that impacts your

achievement
 Watch Angela Lee-Duckworth talk about
her theory of Grit

https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of
_passion_and_perseverance#t-3759
In regression analyses, Grit is a significant predictor of future outcomes

This a repeated across a number of domains, not just in education/

academia

Gritty individuals enjoy more success as a result of the perseverance they

display in pursuing their goals

This sounds familiar; many other motivational theories can explain the
correlation between hard work and outcomes, e.g. growth mindset

Grit is different in that it is associated with pursuit of goals over extended

periods of time
 How Gritty are you?
Measure your level of Grit using the Grit scale

https://angeladuckworth.com/grit-scale/

Follow the link on the results page to read more

about Grit
How to grow your Grit

5 strategies to try
Pursue your interests
• You’re going to have a hard time sticking to goals that don’t fascinate you.
• So, the first step to growing your grit is to find something interesting.
• But that doesn’t mean sitting around thinking about what your passion is.
• According to Angela Duckworth, it’s much more efficient to get out there
and try different things until you’ve found something you’re passionate
about.
• Once you’ve done that, it’s time to find a role model, mentor or coach to
help you improve.
Practice, practice, practice
• Hard work leads to competence, and we’re much more likely to stick
with things we’re good at.
• The most gritty people always want to improve, no matter what it
takes or how good they already are.
• So, when you’ve found your interest, put in the work to
get a little bit better every day.
• Compete with who you were yesterday.
• Do a slightly harder workout. Meditate a little longer. Stick with a
boring task even though you don’t want to.
Connect to a higher purpose
• People who connect what they do to a higher purpose are grittier.
• It’s not enough to have a compelling interest.
• You also have to take a step back and understand how what you do
contribute to the well-being of others.
• That is not only useful for increasing your grit. It also helps you enjoy
the task more.
• So, reflect on how what you do benefit the people around you.
Cultivate hope
• People who connect what they do to a higher purpose are grittier.
• It’s not enough to have a compelling interest.
• You also have to take a step back and understand how what you do
contribute to the well-being of others.
• That is not only useful for increasing your grit. It also helps you enjoy
the task more.
• So, reflect on how what you do benefit the people around you.
Cultivate hope
• If you want to reach your goals, you first need to believe it’s possible.
• Limiting beliefs about your abilities being fixed and unalterable affects your
grit negatively.
• And they are also plain wrong.
• Research has shown that you have the possibility to change your brain and
learn new skills throughout your life.
• Your brain is “plastic”, and you can reshape it through effort and experience.
• So, go after your goals with the belief that you can improve if you work
hard at it.
• Because you can.
Surround yourself with gritty people.
• The people around you have a huge influence on your thoughts,
feelings, and behaviours.
• When you spend enough time with a particular group of people the
way, they do things become the way you do things.
• Their norms and values will rub off on you and become your new
standard.
• So, one of the most efficient ways to grow your grit is a kind of
positive peer pressure.