GRIT and Candidates at West Point

Identify the behaviors that truly drive results.

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
Share

When you are looking at your organizational chart, job roles, and culture, what consistently demonstrated behaviors truly drive results?  

Leadership Tools: What Behaviors Best Predict Success. Grit by Angela Duckworth.

Angela Duckworth has been studying the differences in achievement and she has boiled it down to a single major differentiating factor - GRIT.  The discipline to stick with something until it is complete without losing motivation.

Her simple 10 question “Grit Scale” was a better predictor of which candidates would make it through West Point’s first phase of training than their complex “Whole Candidate Score” system.

Peak Learning has an “Adversity Quotient” test for applicant screening

Jocko Willink constantly talks about discipline versus motivation as the foundation for achievement.  

Look at your top performers.  

  • How would you rate their grit?  
  • How well do they continue to focus and execute even when things are going poorly?
  • How would you rate your own?
  • What do you do to improve your own grit and that of your team?  

This is a trait that is like a muscle and can be built with disciplined practice and coaching.  




A Business Exists to Serve a Customer
Without satisfied and growing customers, nothing else a contractor does will matter. Few things are more profitable for contractors than recurring work negotiated with a select group of project owners.
Cash Flow Tip 12 - Rapid Close-Out = Good Cash Flow
If you effectively manage the startup and the close-out of the project, then the execution in-between mostly takes care of itself.
GRIT - Building an Internal Drive
Great leaders build an incredible degree of cohesion, skill and sheer determination in their teams. What is critically difficult is striking that balance between helping and helping too much.